4-star Fla. WR Tre Nixon on Maryland: 'They can go to the next level'

Each recruit has his own core values when making their announcement. Some may look for early playing time. Others may want great facilities at their disposal for four to five years. For four-star Viera (Fla.) wide receiver Tre Nixon, he wants a closer connection.

"I'm looking for a coach that can definitely develop me as a player and as a young man too," he said to Testudo Times. "I'm looking for somebody who I can really be personal with, kind of like a father figure to me. I also want to see who I'm surrounded by in the locker room. Those guys are going to be my family for the next four or five years, so if I go out-of-state, and out of my comfort zone, I want to feel at home. I'll look at them like my family."

Maryland extended an offer to the prospect in late October, and impressed Nixon in their first season of Big Ten play.

"I definitely see that they're on the rise," he said. "They have a lot of young guys that can definitely help them out in the future. With all of the experience at the coaching positions, and a couple of key players added, they can go to the next level. They have a lot of potential and they're definitely a school on the rise."

Nixon's primary recruiters have been wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart.

"Coach Stewart stops by my school and checks in on me, but I talk with Coach McCardell more," he said. "[McCardell] sees me as a big play guy, someone who is very athletic, who can take a screen play and go down the field and make big plays for him. He sees a lot of potential in me as an all-around athlete who can make big plays at any point in the game.

"Those are two very personal guys and very family-oriented guys who have shown a lot of interest in me and I really appreciate that from them. I can relate to them really easily. The way they can develop a receiver like Stefon Diggs for example is impressive. There is a lot of tradition at Maryland, and they have a lot of experience with their coaches."

The Terrapins' top priority in the 2016 class is star local quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a high four-star prospect who has connections to many of the top recruits in the region. Haskins' influence extends beyond the DMV, however -- Nixon is friends with the Bullis signal-caller.

"I've been starting to talk to him a lot recently," he said. "We've been able to connect really easily. We would definitely be a good combination. He has a very good arm, and has a dual-threat aspect too. It would definitely benefit me to connect with him and go to the same school, but you never know what will happen in the future."

Nixon currently holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State and Penn State, among many others. The junior is in the planning process of cutting his list and plans on committing before signing day, but knows things are open to change.

"Right now, I'm looking to trim my list by the beginning of spring or end of summer. I'm not sure when I'll trim it exactly. I'm looking to commit definitely before signing day. It'll probably be around the beginning or middle of my senior year."