2011 Season Preview: Randy Edsall looks far and wide for first Terps recruiting class

Over time, one of new Maryland coach Randy Edsall’s recruiting priorities will come in persuading more of the Maryland-DC area’s top prospects to stay close to home.

But for now, Edsall is ranging far and wide in piecing together his first recruiting classes.

Last February, 10 states were represented on Maryland’s 21-man list of signees, led by the state of Florida with four, and followed by North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland with three each.

This week, the Terps’ far-ranging recruiting outlook, coupled with a strong South Carolina connection facilitated by new Maryland running backs coach Andre Powell, landed the Terps a commitment from Caleb Rowe, a quarterback from Blue Ridge High in Greer, SC.

Widely considered to be SC’s top in-state quarterback for the 2012 cycle, Rowe picked up – and jumped at – his first FBS offer after turning in back-to-back impressive performances during camps at Clemson and Maryland.

Rowe became Maryland’s fifth 2012 commitment, and its second quarterback, joining Perry Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. With five quarterbacks currently on its roster, Maryland did not sign a player at the position last February.

In building on the overall solid foundation in place from Ralph Friedgen’s long run at College Park, Edsall said last winter that his recruiting approach starts with a simple, goal-oriented question: ‘Who can help us win an ACC championship?’

In his first recruiting season at Maryland, Edsall moved to strengthen the Terps on the offensive side of the ball with a dozen signees. He added eight defenders and one kicker, for a 21-man class that was ranked 43rd nationally by Rivals and 52nd by Scout.

Maryland’s previous two classes were ranked 36th and 26th nationally by Rivals and 42nd and 28th by Scout.

Last season’s headliner was 6-5, 310-pound offensive tackle Natheniel Clarke, out of Fork Union Military – the only four-star recruit in the group.

The Terps loaded up at the three-star level, however.

Edsall went into south Florida and nabbed defensive backs Undray Clark from Miami and Makinton Dorleant of Naples, defensive tackle Keith Bowers of West Palm Beach and linebacker Lucas Forman from Naples.

He re-signed wide receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro – originally a 2010 signee – out of Fork Union, and dipped back into the southeast for offensive linemen Stephen Grommer of Spartanburg, SC and Ryan Doyle of Wake Forest, NC, running backs Tyler Cierski of Hoschton, GA and Justus Pickett of Charlotte, NC, and wide receiver Marcus Leak of Monroe, NC.

From Maryland’s backyard, he signed defensive back Jeremiah Handy from Bowie MD, linebacker Alex Twine of North Potomac, MD, and defensive back Michael Williams of Hyattsville, MD, as well as a pair of players from Wilmington, DE – offensive lineman Evan Mulrooney and running back Brandon Ross.

Rivals ranked Edsall’s first recruiting class ninth in the ACC behind FSU, Clemson, UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami, Boston College and Georgia Tech, and ahead of Wake Forest, Duke and NC State.

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