4-star DT Cam Spence commits to Maryland: Terps land blue-chip IMG Academy talent

Blue-chip IMG Academy (Fla.) defensive tackle Cam Spence verbally committed on Friday morning to play his college football at Maryland. He's the most important commit yet in Maryland's 2017 class.

Spence, a Baltimore native, is rated as a four-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite. He had his choice of just about any school in the country, and Maryland was competing in a final-10 list loaded with prestigious programs: Alabama, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Penn State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida and USC.

The former Gilman (Md.) talent and IMG transfer is an elite prospect, but Maryland always had one particular advantage. IMG Academy players typically transfer to that school from elsewhere earlier in their careers, and it's common for them to return back to their home regions after high school.

That was Maryland's in with Spence, and he seemed to very much enjoy a visit to College Park with four teammates at the end of March. It remains to be seen if any of his teammates will also commit, but Spence is an important start to Maryland's aim of making a mark at the Florida powerhouse.

Maryland's recruitment of Spence isn't over. He'll doubtlessly continue to hear from some of the country's best programs over the course of his senior season, and verbal commitments mean very little. But for today, that shouldn't detract from an impressive pickup for DJ Durkin and his staff.

Spence is the third member of Maryland's 2017 class, joining Virginia tight end Andrew Park and local cornerback Fofie Bazzie.

Here's video of Spence: