Maryland's 2015 recruiting class heavy on linemen

By foxsports
Published

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Maryland loaded up on the front lines with its 2015 recruiting class.

Eager to build a physical team that can be a consistent winner in the Big Ten, coach Randy Edsall signed nine linemen Wednesday - six on offense, three on defense. That constitutes half of Maryland's 18 recruits.

''We wanted to build our team from the inside-out,'' Edsall said. ''That's where you win ballgames, especially in the Big Ten. It's a lineman league. You win up front.''

The Terrapins fared well in their debut season in the league, going 4-4 in the conference. Next season, they should be beefier up front.

Maryland's recruiting campaign received a significant boost in early December when four-star defensive tackle Adam McLean announced his commitment. The 6-foot-1, 293-pound product of Quince Orchard High in Gaithersburg (Maryland) was rated the No. 1 player in the state by Scout.com.

McLean originally gave a verbal commitment to Penn State, but changed his mind after sustaining a season-ending knee injury six games into his senior campaign. He had been selected to appear in the Under Armour All-American game and was the 13th best player at his position, as ranked by Rivals.com.

Maryland's recruiting class not rated highly by either of the top recruiting websites, getting No. 43 by Scout and 52 by Rivals. The Terrapins moved up a few spots on Tuesday night when consensus four-star offensive guard Quarvez Boulware committed.

Boulware, who attends Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington, D.C., is a 6-3, 283-pounder. He chose Maryland after mulling over Alabama, Florida, Wake Forest and many others.

Edsall and the Terrapins suffered a late blow when in-state standout Isaiah Prince selected Ohio State on Wednesday. Prince, who attends Eleanor Roosevelt in Greenbelt - about 10 minutes away from Maryland's campus - was rated the nation's No. 4 offensive tackle and the top prospect in Maryland by Rivals. The 6-6, 270-pounder had given a brief verbal to Alabama, but quickly retracted it and visited both Maryland and Ohio State.

Maryland went down to the wire for one other top target, but Trinity-Pawling (NY) defensive end Austrian Robinson chose Mississippi.

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MARYLAND

TOP 25 Class: No

Best in class: Adam McLean, DT, Quince Orchard High, Gaithersburg, Md.

Best of the rest: D.J. Moore, WR, Imhotep Institute, Philadelphia, Pa.

Late addition: Quarvez Boulware, OG, Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington, D.C.

One that got away: Isaiah Prince, OT, Eleanor Roosevelt High, Greenbelt, Md.