8 players Maryland football is recruiting on defense

We’re almost a whole week into April and Maryland only has one football commit... don’t panic! Everything is going to be all right. The Terps are recruiting some studs on offense, and the following guys could be making plays on the other side of the ball for Maryland in the next few years.

Eyabi Anoma, defensive end

247Sports Composite ranking: four stars (0.9702)
High school: St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland

Anoma is the best defensive end on what may end up being one of the best high school teams in the nation next season. He’s ultra-athletic and has a high motor, which, even if his technique lets him down, usually keeps him involved in the play. Maryland is a player, but has been beaten out for top local defensive line talent in recent years. The Terps will have to fend off Alabama, Penn State and other traditional powers if they want to keep Anoma in-state.

Austin Fontaine, defensive tackle

247Sports Composite ranking: four stars (0.9690)
High school: DeMatha, Hyattsville, Maryland

At 6’2, 312 pounds, Fontaine is a brick wall in the run game and is equally as forceful while rushing the passer. He’s got a high football IQ, especially while pass rushing, as he seems to know just when to get his hands up to knock down passes. Maryland may have an early lead, partly due to its recent success landing DeMatha players, but will have to fend off elite area recruiter Larry Johnson at Ohio State. Penn State will push as well.

Keshon Artis, linebacker

247Sports Composite ranking: three stars (0.8862)
High school: Oscar Smith, Chesapeake, Virginia

Arguably the Terps’ top target at linebacker for this class, Artis is a tackling machine. From the middle linebacker position, Artis accounted for 110 tackles and four sacks during his junior season. In DJ Durkin’s base 4-2-5 defense, a linebacker who can cover a lot of ground is a must, and Artis appears to be exactly that. He’s from Chesapeake, Virginia, which is just south of Norfolk — an area traditionally dominated by Virginia Tech, but wide receivers coach Chris Beatty’s connections in the state have helped the Terps make up ground lately.

Juan Wallace, linebacker

247Sports Composite ranking: three stars (0.8333)
High school: Woodson H.D., Washington D.C.

Wallace is one of several players from Woodson drawing attention from Maryland this cycle. He, like Artis, is a tackling machine, accounting for 114 tackles and six sacks during his junior season. He can play any of the linebacker positions and is one of those guys who always seems to be around the ball. With defensive backs coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim’s outstanding area recruiting acumen, Maryland may have the inside track here.

Anthony Lytton, defensive back

247Sports Composite ranking: five stars (0.9836)
High school: Wise, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Disclaimer: Lytton, at this point in time, more than likely will not be playing college football at Maryland. That being said, recruiting is a wild game and things could change at any time, so Maryland’s staff should continue to push, especially for a player of Lytton’s caliber. He’s not quite six feet tall, but he’s faster than pretty much everybody else. Florida State is the clear-cut favorite here.

Judson Tallandier, defensive back

247Sports Composite ranking: three stars (0.8477)
High school: DeMatha, Hyattsville, Maryland

At 6’2, 180 pounds, Tallandier fits the profile of the long, physical type of cornerback Durkin has been recruiting since taking over 16 months ago. He’s a rangy cornerback who can play press man coverage or drop into a zone; he can also play safety if needed. Maryland looks like the leader here for right now.

Raymond Boone, defensive back

247Sports Composite ranking: Unrated
High school: Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Maryland

Boone is an exceptional athlete from the same school that produced 2017 signee Lawtez Rogers and former four-star offensive tackle Isaiah Prince, who plays at Ohio State. Combine his athleticism with his 6’1, 193-pound stature and you’ve got a potentially game-changing player, who also fits the long, physical profile Durkin is looking for at defensive back. Boone isn’t rated yet, but when he is, it’ll probably be around an 83 or an 84. Maryland appears to be the leader here.

Noah Boykin, defensive back

247Sports Composite ranking: three stars (0.8704)
High school: Woodson H.D., Washington D.C.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Boykin, at 6’2, 170 pounds, fits the long and physical profile that Durkin looks for in defensive back prospects. Boykin is another player from Woodson that Maryland is trying to bring in this cycle, replicating a haul similar to the one it pulled off from Bishop Sullivan last cycle or DeMatha the one before. It’s too early to project where Boykin will end up, but Maryland will be a player, if only because of Abdul-Rahim’s presence.

This week’s offers:

2019 offensive tackle Darnell Wright:

2020 athlete Chris Tyree:

JuCo offensive tackle TJ Bradley:

2018 defensive end Azeez Ojulari:

2018 defensive end Patrick Joyner:

2019 wide receiver Ramel Keyton:

2019 athlete Isaiah Williams:

2019 offensive lineman Will Putnam:

2018 outside linebacker Alan Tisdale:

Other recruiting news

Maryland hosted a bunch of visitors since our offensive installment of this series last Thursday.

The Gaddy twins were here over the weekend.

Maryland hosted a bunch of eighth-graders from Virginia ... so there’s that.

They must be really good.

High school freshmen Valerian Johnson and Tyric Gould visited as well.