Despite Maryland football’s overall success on special teams this season, the team struggled kicking the football. Now, the Terps have brought in help to stabilize the position for the future, signing Joseph Petrino to its 2018 class on Wednesday.
It's up... It's GOOD !
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) December 20, 2017
Welcome to #TerpNation, Joseph Petrino (@joseph_petrino)! #GAtoUMD | #Shell18 pic.twitter.com/qSZDcewWcl
Petrino committed to the Terps back in July after picking up an offer at Maryland’s kicking camp earlier in the summer. He took his official visit over the weekend before affirming his commitment when the early signing period kicked off.
Petrino is ranked the No. 21 kicker in his class and is a five-star specialist, per Kohl’s Kicking. The 247Sports Composite rankings have him as the No. 12 kicker in the class and a three-star recruit overall.
The Richmond Hill, Georgia, native’s recruitment picked up during the kicking camp circuit, where he won Clemson’s showcase and finished in the top two at Florida’s. Petrino showed off his leg again on Twitter in September, knocking in a 60-yard field goal with his right foot, and then a 50-footer with his left.
60 yard field goal right foot✅
— Joseph Petrino (@joseph_petrino) September 5, 2017
50 yard field goal left foot✅ @BleacherReport @RecruitGeorgia pic.twitter.com/1l3nP7Vg3I
With Adam Greene, Henry Darmstadter and Danny Sutton all graduating this spring, Maryland needed to add a kicker this cycle. Petrino gives the Terps a college-ready leg; only Mike Shinsky stands between him and immediate playing time.
Head coach DJ Durkin has not had an elite leg in his time with the Terps, and Petrino is already kicking off-foot 50-yarders with four years to develop and refine his kicking skills.