Storyline: “The Movement” is a slogan going around Maryland and DC metro area. It’s about prospects staying home for college and playing for the University of Maryland. Will DJ Durkin be able to recruit homegrown talent?
Courtesy: twitter.com
National Signing Day. For Maryland Terps fans that day was about “The Movement.” Is it alive? Can it gain momentum?
“The Movement” is a slogan going around Maryland and DC metro area. It’s about prospects staying home for college and playing for the University of Maryland.
“The Movement” gained traction after highly-touted, 4-star quarterback Dwanye Haskins Jr. (Bullis) committed to Maryland in spring 2015. picking the Terps over the likes of Ohio State and Florida.
With Haskins in the fold, Maryland seemed to be a prime place to go for DMV recruits. Maryland landed 4- star WR Tino Ellis (DeMatha) and 4-star offensive lineman Terrance Davis (DeMatha). Even 5-star WR/CB Trevon Diggs (Avalon) considered making a move to the Terps.
But the main part of this year’s recruiting class came from the now-departed Randy Edsall/Mike Locksley regime. Locksley was huge in getting the 4-and 5-star recruits to consider Maryland–before Edsall was fired halfway through the ’15 season. Locksley then became the interm coach, but Maryland still finished a dismal 3-9.
Courtesy: baltimoresun.com
Maryland then lured DJ Durkin away from Michigan. But would Mike Locksley stay? Is the recruiting class in jeopardy?
Answers came quickly: the dominoes began to fall. The Terps announced that Locksley would not return in ’16. And, in January, quarterback Dwanye Haskins flipped his commitment to Ohio State. After Haskins de-committed, 4-star linebacker Keandre Jones (Good Counsel) also flipped his commitment to Ohio State. Trevon Diggs then re-affirmed his November commitment to Alabama.
On signing day Maryland signed two of its original commits: Tino Ellis and Terrance Davis.
So the major question for the future is this: Is “The Movement” still alive? Can it gain momentum? Will DJ Durkin be able to recruit homegrown talent?
Well, we’ll just have to see.
