Lance LeGendre will get an early chance to compete for Maryland football’s QB job

Our summer profile series is back and we’re previewing Maryland football one position group at a time. This week, we’re starting with the quarterbacks.

Lila kicked off the series by profiling Tyrrell Pigrome on Monday, Sean looked at Tyler DeSue Tuesday and Justin wrote about Max Bortenschlager yesterday. Quarterbacks Week rolls on with freshman Lance LeGendre, the youngest quarterback on the Terps’ roster.

Lance LeGendre, QB, No. 12

Height: 6’3
Weight: 212 lbs.
Year: Freshman
Hometown: New Orleans
High school: Warren Easton HS

The background

LeGendre (pronounced Luh-ZHON) gave his commitment on the traditional National Signing Day in February, a big-time win for head coach Mike Locksley. The New Orleans native and former Kansas commit was widely expected to give his pledge to Florida State, with all six crystal balls on 247Sports pointing to the Seminoles. Instead, LeGendre chose College Park, much to the delight of the new coaching staff.

Locksley had been recruiting the four-star passer to Alabama, but all it took was two weeks of pitching Maryland for him to sell the Louisiana native. LeGendre was the last available four-star passer on the market, coming in ranked as the No. 9 dual-threat quarterback in the class and No. 279 ranked player overall, per the 247Sports Composite. He’s the only quarterback Locksley took in the class, though Maryland would later add Virginia Tech graduate transfer Josh Jackson.

LeGendre now joins a quarterback room that has three returners in tow and a grad transfer on the way (Kasim Hill is still listed on the roster, but is both in the transfer portal and on the mend from his second ACL tear in two seasons).

LeGendre will have a shot to compete from the jump.

With Maryland coming in with an entirely new coaching staff and system, LeGendre will have his shot at the starting quarterback job. He fits the bill of a dual-threat and the system Locksley and staff are trying to implement. LeGendre also comes in with a track record of winning, having come within eight points of leading Warren Easton to a 4A title his senior year.

Here’s what Wes had to say about his playing style on Signing Day:

Per LeGendre’s Hudl page, he measures in at 6’3, 212 pounds and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. Dual-threat is certainly a correct way to label LeGendre, as he displayed a strong arm and quick legs throughout his high school career. Specifically during his senior season, LeGendre showed great decision-making skills and an ability to protect himself in the open field.

LeGendre comes into a crowded quarterback room.

While LeGendre comes in highly rated, he’ll face stiff competition for the starting job. In addition to Jackson, the true freshman will have to compete with returners Pigrome, DeSue and Bortenschlager for snaps this fall. That trio has already spent the spring learning the new offensive system, with DeSue and Bortenschlager premiering it in the spring game. Jackson, a grad transfer with two seasons of eligibility, is considered the favorite for the job, but no one is expected to concede it without a fight.

If someone else wins the starting job for 2019, it would afford Maryland the opportunity to bring LeGendre along slowly. Under the current redshirt rules, LeGendre would be able to appear in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility. Maryland took advantage of that rule change with DeSue, who now heads into his redshirt freshman year looking more prepared for the college game.