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Maryland has added another piece to their 2014 class, as long-snapper Nate Adams has committed to the Terrapins. It is unusual for long-snappers to get scholarship offers, but it is an important position that Maryland has had good fortune with over the past half-decade with Tim Downs and Greg Parcher.
Just committed to the University of Maryland! 🏈 #Terps
— nate adams (@nate33adams) December 19, 2013
Listed at 6'2" and 213 pounds, Adams attends Greenway High School in Phoenix, Arizona. The 247sports composite rates him as a two-star prospect, ranking him as the seventh-best long-snapper in the class and the 64th-best prospect in the state.
The Terrapins were not Adams' first offer -- he also holds one from Air Force, so you can safely denote that he's very strong academically. Maryland has Christian Carpenter, Will Rosenblum and Joe Marchese as long-snappers already on the roster, but health was a concern (as was consistent play), and you can expect Adams to have the inside track for the job next season.
The nice thing about locking up a long snapper is it's a position where you can just have one guy for four years (with a walk-on backup in case of injury). There's no fear of early exit to the NFL, and you absolutely need a good one for your special teams unit to perform adequately.
Adams will be playing in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl this January, along with some of the top prospects in the country. Here are some highlights:
Here's another video, via commenter CockeyTerp.