Maryland football recruiting: Local QB Nick Johns commits to Virginia

Top local prospect Nick Johns will be spending his collegiate days at Virginia, the quarterback announced on his Twitter account Tuesday morning.

I am committed to play quarterback for the University of Virginia. Again, I want to thank all of the coaches who recruited me. #HOOS

— Nick Johns (@nick5johns) May 6, 2014

Johns, a three-star prospect out of Gonzaga (D.C.), also considered Maryland and NC State. The 247sports composite rates him as the 21st-best pro-style quarterback in the nation and the seventh-best player in the District.

The rising senior is considered the third-best quarterback prospect in the area, behind Maryland prospects Kai Locksley and David Sills. Sills committed to USC when he was 13 (it's safe to say, three Trojan head coaches later, his recruitment is open), and Locksley is the son of Maryland's offensive coordinator, Mike. Johns and Locksley were considered the top targets for Maryland at the quarterback position in the Class of 2015, and the Terps are rumored to be looking at bringing in two signal-callers in the class (this may have been why Johns decided to commit to Virginia, as he told us he wanted to be the only quarterback in the class).

For Maryland, the commitment drought continues (heading closer and closer to seven months), as fans continue to become worried about the upcoming class. The team should still have close to double-digit commitments by the time the season rolls around -- there are plenty of players with high interest in the Terps and a lot of time between now and the opener against James Madison -- but Johns is another top target Maryland has struck out on.

So who's left for the Terps at quarterback? Locksley's obviously the big fish, but they could make a harder push at three-star North Point prospect Brandon Battle, Ohio three-star Joe Burrow and New Jersey quarterback Ryan Adzima. There's also Sills, who visited campus in April, but he's rumored to be favoring Michigan if he decides to decommit from the Trojans.

That being said, it's not like Maryland's in a terrible position at quarterback. C.J. Brown leaves after this season, with Caleb Rowe as his likely replacement (although Perry Hills and Shane Cockerille could challenge). Cockerille will be a redshirt freshman this season, and Will Ulmer is another young option, if he doesn't move out to a skill position. The coaches still want two quarterbacks in the class, but they don't necessarily need to hit two home runs.