Jacksonville linebacker Eriq Gilyard is the first recruit to commit to Maryland football’s 2018 recruiting class.
Gilyard, a three-star outside linebacker, announced his commitment Thursday on Twitter. He’s the No. 26 outside linebacker recruit in the Class of 2018 and the No. 54 recruit in Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Proud to announce that I am Verbally Committed to the University of Maryland #GoTerps pic.twitter.com/NrSnwTY197
— Eriq Gilyard (@eriqgilyard3) November 17, 2016
Maryland needs linebacker recruits, as starters Jermaine Carter Jr. and Shane Cockerille will both be gone by the time Gilyard gets to College Park in 2018.
Maryland isn’t yet finished wrapping up its 2017 recruiting class, which won’t be finalized until National Signing Day in February.
Gilyard has a long way to go until his commitment is official. He can’t sign his National Letter of Intent for a little under 15 months.
Gilyard also had offers from Michigan, Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Virginia Tech and Nebraska, among other schools.
This commitment represents Maryland head coach DJ Durkin’s continued mining of the Florida recruiting area. Durkin signed seven players from Florida in his first class at Maryland, and has two Florida recruits verbally committed in the Class of 2017.