MM 5.28: NCAA extends recruiting dead period through July 31

The NCAA has announced that the ongoing recruiting dead period will continue due the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing on Wednesday that it will extend until July 31.

This comes just two weeks after the NCAA Council Coordination Committee pushed the dead period through June 30, with its next evaluation in potentially ending it expected to come in late June or early July. As a result, coaches will still not be able to make in-person contact with recruits, though other forms of contact will still be permitted.

For Division I football programs, this voids the regularly scheduled period of July 25-31 that allows recruits to attend visits on campus, likely eliminating the possibility of official visits occurring this summer. Men’s and women’s basketball programs would have each had two separate recruit evaluation periods in July as well, with those no longer happening either.

All Maryland sports will now likely be forced to try to attract recruits this summer without being able to allow them to visit/tour its on-campus facilities until at least August, barring any decision from the NCAA in the coming weeks.

In other news

Maryland football continued to add to what’s looking like a stacked 2021 defensive line class, picking up a commitment from 4-star defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote on Wednesday.

Maryland basketball congratulated its four Academic All-Big Ten Honorees from this season.

Maryland women’s basketball introduced a new YouTube series called “The Program”, providing an in-depth breakdown of some of the best single game performances from the Terps this season. The first episode features Stephanie Jones and her play in this year’s Big Ten championship game.

Ayinde Eley was featured on this week’s episode of #Unlocked.