Terps’ class of 22 gets ranked 28th

Maryland secured 22 football players on national signing day, a group that should provide a boost at offensive skill positions.

Still, the class, which is ranked No. 28 by rivals.com, might be remembered most for what could have been after Penn State swooped in to nab seven of the top nine recruits in Maryland.

“Some of the areas, some of the athletes, address some needs,” said Andrew Joyner, the ACC editor for rivals.com. “What it’s hard to get away from is really who’s not in it. You look at the kind of guys like [offensive lineman] Antonio Logan-El and others that appeared to be Maryland locks, appeared such in Maryland’s corner, and then there was this wave of momentum that went against them.

“It’s been hard for me to imagine it sits too well, but I don’t think they have a disappointing class.”

Maryland, which has bolstered its in-state recruiting since Coach Ralph Friedgen arrived, struggled to keep local talent at home this year. Logan-El, a Forestville native who verbally committed to the Terps two years ago before switching his decision to Penn State in a nationally televised press conference in Baltimore last week, is the best known of the contingent that spurned Maryland.

Cornerback Pha’Terrell Washington of Waldorf (at No. 10) was the top in-state recruit for Maryland, which landed four of the top 25 prospects in the state.

“I never get disappointed with the kids you don’t get,” Friedgen said. “Obviously I would like kids to stay in-state here, but they have to make their choices, and we have to go on about our way, too. We’ll continue to recruit the state as hard as we possibly can.”

Maryland won an ACC title and two bowl games in Friedgen’s first three seasons, but the Terrapins are coming off consecutive 5-6 seasons. The two-year bowl drought made the job of first-year recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo more difficult than it would have been with sustained success.

“Kids obviously are looking for rings,” Sollazzo said. “When you go into a kid’s home, you want to flash a ring. Fortunately, we have three rings.”

Among the notable recruits is Jeremy Ricker, one of the top signal-callers in Pennsylvania. Joyner said Ricker is “by far the best quarterback Ralph Friedgen has signed.”

The Terps also picked up tight end Drew Gloster from Germantown, who could eventually fill the void left by Vernon Davis; fullback/linebacker Cory Jackson; and 6-foot-7 Bruce Campbell, a lineman who could play on either side of the ball. Tailback Da’Rel Scott, a Pennsylvania product who adds to Maryland’s backfield depth, was also a prize recruit.

“If they have good grades and they can run, I’ll take him,” Friedgen said. “We’ll find a place for them. God only made so many of those guys.”

For the second straight year, defensive end Melvin Alaeze committed to the Terps. The 6-foot-2, 280-pound Baltimore native was the prize of last year’s class but didn’t qualify academically and attended Hargrave Military Academy.

Two other players who originally committed to Maryland last year are part of the class — running back Morgan Green (Hargrave) and linebacker Chris Clinton (Fork Union Academy). Clinton, Green and wide receiver Stephen Smalls are already enrolled and will participate in spring drills.

The class does not include quarterback Josh Portis, who transferred from Florida and is enrolled at Maryland this semester. Portis will sit out next season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.

Maryland’s class ranked fourth in the conference, behind Florida State, Miami and Clemson and just ahead of North Carolina.

“If you look in the ACC, Virginia and N.C. State actually were more along those lines,” Joyner said. “Maryland’s still 28th nationally. That isn’t a bad position in terms of ranking.”