5-star DE Chase Young commits to Ohio State: Maryland football misses out on top local prospect

Five-star DeMatha Catholic defensive end Chase Young has committed to play football at Ohio State, he confirmed on Twitter after multiple outlets reported it on Friday night.

Young was arguably Maryland’s highest-rated target left in the class of 2017. He is the No. 3 weak-side defensive end in the country and the top player in Maryland, per the 247Sports Composite.

Maryland was reportedly high on Young’s list, and after years of missing out on DeMatha recruits, the Terps finally connected in 2016, landing four recruits from the high school that sits just down the road from campus.

DJ Durkin obviously would have loved to add Young to his 2017 class, as his addition would have given the Terps a third blue-chip defensive line recruit and a frightening compliment to Maryland commit Josh Kaindoh, another five-star defensive end.

Testudo Times caught up with Young at The Opening, Nike’s top recruiting showcase, just two weeks ago. He said "It'd be real" to play with Kaindoh, but clearly hadn't been put over the top by Maryland's recruiting efforts.

Maryland will certainly try to change Young’s mind. National Signing Day isn’t until February, and his commitment won’t be official until then. That task won’t be easy, though, as Ohio State just keeps adding more talent to what is already the top-rated class in the country.

In the meantime, the Terps will keep their focus on running back Anthony McFarland, Young’s teammate at DeMatha and the No. 2 recruit in Maryland.