As one of the many participants in Maryland’s recent court storming, 2016 Imhotep (Pa.) tight end Naseir Upshur found joy in his latest visit to the University of Maryland. Upshur, who has visited Maryland four times, found his latest visit particularly special as it allowed for his mom to visit a college campus with him for the first time.
"Maryland is a good school," said Upshur. "They’ve been recruiting me for a long time. I’ve been up there probably four times. It was really fun this past visit because it was the first time my mom was able to visit a college campus. She was really into the basketball game, so that was good."
Dwayne Haskins, who has been target No. 1 amongst Maryland coaches and fans alike, has been advocating for Upshur to join forces with him in college. Haskins has not only acted as a recruiter to Upshur, but also a motivator.
"Dwayne is great," Upshur said. "He is always behind me and motivating me to keep proving people wrong. He thinks I’m the best tight end in the country and he wants me to go wherever he decides to go."
Upshur, the No. 5 tight end according to the 247sports Composite, also plays defensive end for Imhotep, the Philadelphia school where Maryland nabbed D.J. Moore from. After visiting with Maryland, and going through the recruitment process, the Terrapin coaches find that the best way to utilize Upshur’s talents is to keep him on offense.
"The coaches have just been saying that they see me as someone who can be a really good player for them," he said. "They tell me about all the ways they would get me the ball."
Upshur liked what he saw from Maryland in its first Big Ten season.
"I think they did well. They hung in there with Michigan State, which is impressive, " he said. "I think they did a good job overall."
Playing in a conference that recently won a national championship also sits well with the star tight end.
"I think the Big Ten as a whole is underrated," he said. "The Big Ten just won a national championship, so the way people talk about the SEC, people should be talking about the Big Ten like they do the SEC."
Upshur recently visited Miami for Junior Day, and was blown away by his trip.
"That visit was great. It was probably my best visit," he said. "I got a chance to go out with the players. I visited the school. They took me out to eat with them and got me excited about the program. I like how they utilize their tight ends. It was great. Everything about it was great."
The 6’3, 233 pound-tight end is in no hurry to end his recruitment process. Upshur, whose latest offers come from LSU and USC, plans to focus on his senior year and hopes to sign in February 2016.
"Not yet," he said when asked if there was a final list of schools in the making. "I’m taking everything slow. I’m just focused on my senior year at this point. Most likely, I’ll be committed by Signing Day."