3-star WR Eric Kumah talks Maryland, top 5, upcoming decision

With a myriad of issues revolving around the receiving corps, head coach Randy Edsall and company have been left to fill the void left by promising playmakers that should have been key contributors this upcoming season. While sophomore-to-be Juwann Winfree’s suspension length is undetermined, the unit that was looked upon to provide a continued spark post Stefon Diggs and Deon Long is now alarmingly shorthanded. In the blink of an eye, recruiting the wide receiver position has been pivotal, as depth and productivity are in high demand in College Park. 2016 Virginia wide receiver Eric Kumah could be a key cog in the 2016 recruiting class could turn around the Terrapin’s rough luck with wide outs.

"I don’t really do camps," said Kumah when asked about his offseason. "I recently started vertimax training. I did the first session and now I’ll do it every Tuesday and Thursday until school starts." With the help of the vertimax training, Kumah hopes that it will help him "get better and be the best that he can be."

The Terrapins offered the prospect in September 2014, and through the long-lasting recruiting process, Kumah has grown to develop an admiration for the university as well as an established bond with wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell.

"I like it. I like the wide receivers coach. Him and coach (Lyndon) Johnson is who I have close relationships with. I like how I have a good relationship with them, the campus overall and how close to home it is to me" – Kumah lives only 40 minutes away from College Park. "That’s a plus for me."

The Cole Field House renovation project has really resonated with the 2016 recruits, and Kumah is not to be excluded from that group.

"I had a chance to see it. I saw the outline of it all when I went there for the Junior Day."

Wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell has gained an impressive reputation during the early stages of his tenure on the Maryland sidelines. From establishing relationships in Texas, to helping Stefon Diggs fulfill his professional dream, McCardell is positioning himself well with many of the top wide receivers in the area. Kumah and McCardell haven’t been in contact about a layout for the future should the prospect commit to Maryland, but know there is the possibility of playing multiple receiver spots.

"(McCardell) hasn’t really talked about a layout of my future. He just says you’re the 6’3 receiver that I want," Kumah said." "He says that I could play both [outside or slot]."

Kumah, a three-star prospect according to the 247Sports composite, recently visited Virginia Tech. Having combined his previous visits with the opportunity to view the new facility first-hand, the 6’3, 205-pound receiver walked away from Blacksburg with high praise for the Hokies.

"I was just there. It was a good visit. I had been there a lot, so this time when I went, I was able to look at the new facility that opened up. I had seen everything else, but that was my first time seeing that though." After stepping inside the new facility, Kumah stated "It’s amazing. It’s one of the best facilities I’ve been in."

Even with a newly listed top-5, Kumah pointed out two schools that have made their voices louder than others throughout the process.

"I would say Virginia Tech and NC State," said Kumah on who he hears from the most. "I like the location and how close it is to home, the relationships I have with the coaches and just the campus. I love that campus."

Having a set criterion of facets to consider when making a college decision has been key for Kumah, but the question of leaving home to pursue athletic and academic endeavors remains.

"Coaching stability is one of the main things, debating on whether to stay home or do I want to go far away and which school gives me the chance of playing early. With Edsall not shying away from playing true freshman, Kumah touched on whether or not the coaches have told him about early playing time by stating "Not directly, but I feel like I could."

After releasing his latest list of top-5 schools, an announcement is on the horizon.

"I’m thinking about announcing this month. I’ll be announcing this month."