National Signing Day was always going to be a challenge for Maryland because of their recent coaching change. A couple recruits, including tight end Ryan Malleck, went back on their commitments to old coach Ralph Friedgen and went to other schools. However, new coach Randy Edsall still managed to keep a number of the commitments Friedgen secured, including Jeremiah Hendy, a three-star defensive back from Bowie that decided to look at other options in December when Friedgen was fired.
Overall, Edsall secured 20 commitments, mostly from three-star players according to Rivals.com. The headliner is Nathaniel Clark, a four-star recruit from Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. However, he is the only four-star recruit in the class. The Terps also had a late addition to the list, signing Tennessee pinter Nathan Renfro to replace the graduated Travis Baltz.
In a press conference earlier today, Edsall proclaimed that while others have higher-ranking classes, that alone does not determine success on this level. Via Patrick Stevens of D1Scourse:
"People get too caught up in these rankings. ... The only ranking that really matters is what me and my staff think."
Edsall also proclaimed that the surrounding area has to be where Maryland succeeds in the years to come. For more, head over to Testudo Times.