Recruiting round-up: Talking Maryland with Austrian Robinson and Adam McLean

This space this week was going to be used to analyze Isaiah Prince, the top player in the state of Maryland who was considering the Terrapins until he committed to Alabama on Wednesday. With less than two weeks until National Signing Day, the four-star tackle was UMD’s best chance at landing a top-notch recruit.

Instead, the Terps will have to settle for a more underwhelming finish to the Class of 2015. Florida wide receiver Ryan Davis* is the only four-star recruit still publicly considering Maryland, and even he seems to be a bit of a longshot. If the St. Petersburg product chooses elsewhere, the Terrapins would be left with only two commits rated at four stars — defensive tackle Adam McLean and interior lineman Quarvez Boulware, both locals — by the 247sports composite in the class.

*Next week we'll take a look at Davis, who is set to make his decision next Wednesday.

It’s probably fair to say National Signing Day on Feb. 5 has lost a bit of its luster for UMD fans.

Even with Prince gone — and with him the wonderful potential of he and Damian Prince opening the floodgates for Spin Doctors references — the movement’s momentum isn’t squashed and its effect on the 2015 class isn’t dead.

"I hear about it all the time," said Austrian Robinson, a three-star strong-side defensive end from New York and Maryland lean. "I like it. They see something there and if I do go there, I know where their heads are."

But inevitably, the attention will shift to the Class of 2016, and deservedly so. Led by quarterback Dwayne Haskins, athletes Trevon Diggs and Tino Ellis and tackle Jauan Williams, the group of talent in the DMV is as deep as any in recent memory.

"I feel very comfortable with the guys we can get and my ability to show the younger guys the future," said McLean, who had successful knee surgery to repair a torn ACL last week. "And show them the light of what this program is gonna be doing."

According to a Twitter conversation he had this past week, 2016 was always going to be the big step for the Movement.

@ToddGingrich @MD_Pride no 2015 was the introduction

— *Next Level* (@MoneyMakeinAdam) January 23, 2015

So chin up Terps fans, there’s always next year.

With National Signing Day approaching, recruiting news is back on the rise. Here’s a quick round-up of what went down in the past week:

• Maryland is already off to a good start in the Class of 2016 thanks to two commitments from DeMatha Catholic High School. Darryl Turner, a currently unranked athlete, joined three-star running back Lorenzo Harrison as junior Stags committed to the Terrapins, while four-star outside linebacker pledge Keandre Jones goes to Good Counsel.

• Turner’s commitment added another bit of momentum for UMD’s promising 2016 class and has DeMatha’s star taking notice. Four-star athlete Tino Ellis is one of the Terps’ priorities in the class and if he follows through with his plans he’ll have Maryland fans thrilled.

• Elsewhere in the Class of 2016, the Terrapins were busy making offers. First was three-star Pennsylvania athlete Khaleke Hudson, who projects as a safety.

• Then came an offer to five-star Texas safety Brandon Jones.

• Earlier in the week, UMD hosted a visit from Landon School linebacker Keith Simms, who's a three-star prospect in the Class of 2016.

• Penn State is dipping back into the state of Maryland as head coach James Franklin offered a scholarship to Gilman School lineman Devery Hamilton. The Terrapins are still the early frontrunner for the three-star Class of 2016 prospect.

• The Nittany Lions also landed a three-star UMD target in the Class of 2015. Robert Windsor, a defensive tackle from Fond du Lac High School in Wisconsin, committed to PSU during an official visit to State College, Pa., 247sports reported, leaving the Terrapins still in search of additional help on the defensive line.

• The Terps are making a late push for some defensive players in the Class of 2015 with National Signing Day approaching. Greg Simmons, a three-star inside linebacker from Fort Pierce Central High School in Florida, landed an offer from the Terrapins earlier this week. Simmons also has interest from Cincinnati and Florida Atlantic.