Mike Locksley didn’t just take a job when he came back to College Park; he took on a decades-old geographical curse. For years, the University of Maryland football recruiting strategy was basically a cautionary tale of "what could have been." You had the DMV—the District, Maryland, and Virginia—producing some of the most elite, NFL-ready talent in the country, yet those kids were hopping on planes to Tuscaloosa, Columbus, or Clemson before their senior year highlights even hit YouTube. It was frustrating for fans. It was a disaster for the win-loss column.
Things are changing. Finally.
If you look at the 2024 and 2025 cycles, you see a shift that isn't just about "vibes" or cool jerseys. It is about cold, hard logistics and relationships. Maryland is no longer just "the local school" that gets a courtesy visit; they are winning legitimate battles against the blue bloods for four-star and five-star talent. But how? And more importantly, is it sustainable in an era where Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money talks louder than any fight song?
The "Fence" is Being Built, One Brick at a Time
The "Best in Class" mantra isn't just a hashtag. It’s a survival mechanism. To understand University of Maryland football recruiting today, you have to look at the historical drain of talent. Players like Stefon Diggs were the exception, not the rule. Usually, the top dog at St. Frances Academy or DeMatha Catholic was already measured for a Buckeyes helmet by his junior year.
Locksley’s superpower is his deep, almost spiritual connection to these high school programs. He knows the coaches. He knows the mentors. He knows which barbershops the kids go to. This "insider" status has allowed Maryland to get into the room earlier than they used to. Look at the recruitment of Jeff Exinor Jr. out of McDonogh. That’s a massive 2025 win. When you keep a 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete who has offers from Penn State and Michigan at home, you aren’t just filling a roster spot. You’re sending a message to every other junior in the state: You don't have to leave to be seen.
The Under Armour Factor and the Jones-Hill House
Facilities used to be the big "L" Maryland would take on the recruiting trail. You can’t tell a kid he’s a priority and then show him a locker room from the 1990s. The opening of the Jones-Hill House changed the math. It is, quite frankly, a temple to modern football. We’re talking about a $149 million facility that covers 212,000 square feet. It has everything from a sensory deprivation tank for recovery to a weight room that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie.
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When a recruit walks through those doors, the "Maryland is a basketball school" argument starts to wither. The partnership with Kevin Plank and Under Armour also provides a brand identity that appeals to teenagers. It’s flashy. It’s "DMV." It feels like home, but a version of home that has professional-grade resources.
NIL and the "One Maryland" Collective Reality
Let’s be real for a second. Conversations about University of Maryland football recruiting are hollow if you don't talk about money. In 2026, the "love of the game" is backed by a bank account. Maryland’s NIL situation, primarily driven by the One Maryland Collective, has had to evolve rapidly.
Early on, Maryland was lagging. They weren't prepared for the sheer volume of cash being thrown around by the SEC and Big Ten rivals. They've caught up, but they play the game differently. Instead of just throwing a bag at every five-star, they tend to target specific positions of need—specifically offensive tackles and edge rushers—where the ROI is highest. It’s a calculated risk. They might lose a bidding war for a flashy wide receiver to a school like Oregon, but they’ll fight tooth and nail for a local kid who can protect the quarterback.
- Quarterback Stability: Transitioning away from the Taulia Tagovailoa era was a massive hurdle. Recruiting at the QB position is now about finding "Big Ten bodies"—guys who can handle the physical toll of a November game in Ann Arbor or Columbus.
- The Transfer Portal: Maryland uses the portal as a "patch" rather than a foundation. They want high school recruits, but they’ll take a disgruntled former four-star from the SEC in a heartbeat if he fills a hole at cornerback.
Why the Big Ten Expansion Matters
The Big Ten isn't just a Midwest conference anymore. With USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington in the mix, the Maryland brand now gets beamed into homes in Los Angeles and Seattle. This has a weirdly positive effect on recruiting. A kid from Baltimore now knows he’ll get to play on the biggest stages in the country, from the Rose Bowl to the Big House. It makes Maryland feel "bigger" than it did five years ago.
However, it also makes the schedule a gauntlet. Recruits are smart. They look at the path to the NFL. If they see Maryland getting bullied by the new-look Big Ten, they might hesitate. That’s why winning the "middle of the pack" games is so vital for recruiting momentum. You have to prove you belong in the upper echelon of this new super-conference.
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The St. Frances Academy Pipeline
You cannot talk about Maryland football without talking about St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. For a while, that school was essentially a feeder program for Nick Saban. It was painful to watch. Locksley has worked tirelessly to repair that bridge.
The recruitment of players like Neeo Avery and others from that program signifies a "border wall" being erected. When the best players from the best program in your state start staying home, the domino effect is real. Younger players see their "big brothers" staying in College Park and suddenly, Maryland becomes the "cool" choice. It’s a social contagion. Once you get three or four alphas from the same area, the rest want to join the party.
The Struggle with the "Blue Blood" Shadow
Maryland is still fighting an uphill battle. When Ohio State comes into the DMV, they bring a decades-long tradition of national championships. Maryland can’t offer that yet. They have to sell a "vision." They have to sell the idea of being the "first" to do something great in College Park.
Some recruits want the guaranteed ring. They go to Georgia. Others want to be the hometown hero. Those are the ones Maryland wins. The staff has become elite at identifying which kids have that "hometown pride" chip on their shoulder. They aren't looking for every recruit; they are looking for the right recruits who won't jump into the portal the moment things get tough.
Tactical Shifts in Evaluation
Maryland has also moved away from just chasing stars. They’ve started leaning into "projection" recruiting. This means taking a kid who is a 3-star athlete but has a 6-foot-7 frame and 10-inch hands, betting that their strength and conditioning program can turn him into an NFL draft pick in three years. It’s the "Iowa model" but with better local athletes. It’s about finding the diamonds in the rough that the scouting services missed because they weren't playing on a national 7-on-7 circuit.
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What's Next for Maryland Recruiting?
The trajectory is pointing up, but the margin for error is razor-thin. One bad season can undo three years of relationship-building. To stay relevant, Maryland has to do three things:
- Dominate the 301 and 410: If a top-10 player in Maryland leaves the state, it has to be because Maryland didn't want him, not because they got outworked.
- Win the "Big" NIL Battles: They don't need to outspend everyone, but they need to be competitive enough that money isn't the only reason a kid goes elsewhere.
- Show NFL Results: Recruiting is about the Sunday league. If Maryland keeps putting cornerbacks and wide receivers into the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, the recruiting will take care of itself.
If you are following University of Maryland football recruiting, keep your eyes on the late signing period. That is where the flips happen. That is where the coaching staff earns their paycheck by keeping the local stars from getting cold feet when the traditional powers come calling with last-minute offers.
The fence is getting taller. It’s not finished, but for the first time in a long time, the best players in the DMV are actually looking at the University of Maryland as a destination, not a backup plan.
Actionable Next Steps for Maryland Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the 2026 In-State Rankings: Keep a close eye on the top 15 players in the Maryland/DC area via 247Sports or On3. If Maryland is in the top 3 for more than half of them, the strategy is working.
- Track Defensive Line Offers: Maryland has struggled with depth in the trenches. Watch specifically for how many interior defensive linemen they land from the DMV vs. the portal; this is the clearest indicator of "trench health."
- Support Local NIL Initiatives: For the program to compete with the "big money" schools, the collective needs broad-based support, not just reliance on a few wealthy boosters.
- Watch the "Flip" Window: The two weeks before National Signing Day are crucial. Follow local beat writers who have eyes on the ground at high school practices to see which commits are taking "secret" visits elsewhere.