Anthony McFarland commits to Maryland: Terps land 4-star DeMatha RB

Maryland football has a commitment it’s been waiting for all year.

Four-star DeMatha Catholic running back Anthony McFarland Jr. announced his plans to become a Terp Friday on Bleacher Report’s Snapchat account. Maryland and Miami were competing neck-and-neck to get him, and after a series of Snapchats that lasted over two hours, the local squad won out in the end.

McFarland had narrowed his choices down to Miami and Maryland, and was scheduled to announce his commitment on Wednesday. Experts’ predictions were almost unanimously trending toward the Hurricanes. Then he decided late Tuesday night that he needed more time. Whatever Maryland did in its last-ditch efforts with him, it worked.

Bleacher Report’s Snapchat account followed McFarland around, tracking him from DeMatha to the Metro to an airport, where he said “gotta catch a flight.”

This didn't look good for Maryland, because there didn't appear to be muxh reason for him to fly somewhere in-state.

After all that craziness, however, McFarland still chose the Terps.

He’s part of a huge recruiting class in DJ Durkin’s first full cycle as Maryland’s head coach. With five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh no longer committed and out of the picture, McFarland gives this class some star power.

He’s been one of Maryland’s most sought-after targets throughout the Class of 2017. McFarland can play both as a running back and a slot receiver, and should give offensive coordinator a bevy of options to go along with what’s already some electrifying backfield talent. Ty Johnson returns for his junior year after averaging 8.9 yards per carry, and shifty freshman Lorenzo Harrison might be returning to the team after his suspension for his role in that airsoft gun incident.

McFarland goes to school just down the road from Maryland at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville. His teammate, five-star defensive end Chase Young, committed to Ohio State in July. Blue-chip DeMatha offensive lineman Marcus Minor committed to Maryland in August.

Four of McFarland’s former DeMatha teammates played as true freshman this season at Maryland, and they undoubtedly played a role in his commitment.

"It's been some time since there's been a DeMatha player in this program," Durkin said at last year’s National Signing Day press conference. "I can tell you one thing: We're going back there next year, too. We're going to try to stake claim there as much as we can.”