Maryland’s next three games may mean more to coming seasons than its current bowl hopes. Either the Terrapins prove competitive against Florida State, Virginia and Virginia Tech over successive weeks or prospective recruits could choose those marquee programs.
Fortunately, Maryland (3-4, 1-3 ACC) already has 18 verbal commitments from high school seniors as it prepares for No.5 Florida State (6-1, 4-1) on Saturday at Byrd Stadium. It was the strongest early recruiting season since coach Ralph Friedgen’s arrival in 2001, which has led to three 10-win years, two bowl victories and an ACC championship. Rivals.com ranks the Terps crop as the nation’s eighth best. Maryland continues to shop for a quarterback with its handful of remaining scholarships.
With the national signing date being Feb.15, competitors have time to whisper to recruits that the Terps are fading in the newly expanded ACC. Miami has joined Florida State as the conference’s elite programs, while Virginia Tech and Virginia have moved past Maryland. Beating Florida State, No.14 Virginia or No.23 Virginia Tech will bolster Maryland’s argument that the young roster was merely in a transition year and can rebound next season.
“How successful we are [against elite teams] is really going to determine the direction of our program,” Friedgen said. “That’s why, as a goal, we want to beat a top-10 team, and once you do that I think you reach a certain status.”
Maryland’s recent rise has been tied to signing top local prospects. There are more ACC players from the Baltimore to Northern Virginia region than highly regarded South Florida. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden called it “one of the best areas in the country” for recruiting.
Friedgen has effectively sealed the border from competitors with 44 in-state players. There’s also seven from Northern Virginia and three from the District. Friedgen admits Dunbar High tight end Vernon Davis and Gwynn Park linebacker Wesley Jefferson — jewels of the 2003 class — would have gone elsewhere before the Terps’ revival.
Florida State only has Chris Hall, a punter from Centreville, Va., from the Washington area. Virginia has four Maryland players along with two from the District and 14 from Northern Virginia. Virginia Tech has five from Maryland, three from the District and 15 from Northern Virginia.
“If we have a really good one in this area,” Friedgen said, “we’re fighting Florida State for him. Right now, we’re holding our own. We don’t get every great player here, but we’re getting a majority of them and that hasn’t happened in a long time. It’s tough to go into Florida and get that great player, too.”
Beating an elite competitor not only provides offseason bragging rights, but also an edge when competing for a recruit. Given colleges begin contacting players in 10th grade, current victories provide a ripple effect for two years.
“I think if we could win one of these games here it would do tremendous things to our confidence,” Friedgen said, “and who knows what could happen after that? Right now I’m focusing on the Florida State game and giving that our best effort.”
It also would prevent defections to other programs. While the Terps honor verbal obligations even if a player is later hurt, prospects sometimes change their minds. Friedgen advocates an early signing period like basketball to prevent competitors from tampering with players already pledged.
“I hope kids who had committed to us remain with us,” Friedgen said. “We’ve had some kids who were injured we’ve stayed with. I’m sure other teams will pound us, but I would think other kids would see [the Terps inexperience as] more opportunity to play.”
Penn State went 28-0-1 against Maryland from 1962 to ’93 before the Terps ended the series following a 70-7 loss. It was no coincidence the Nittany Lions usually landed any prominent player they wanted over the Terps during that span.
Florida State is 14-0 against Maryland, including 12 wins since joining the ACC in 1992. The Terps believe they’re overdue against the Seminoles and a victory will help keep Florida State out of the living rooms of Maryland prospects.
“[The streak is] one of the reasons we believe we can beat them,” Friedgen said. “I don’t think Florida State has seen how we can play yet.”
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