As you all know, Maryland has been emphasizing keeping local talent at home. "If you look at the press guide, 60 percent of the team is from this area," Fridge said in announcing the recruiting class last spring. "I've always put a lot of stock in it."

One local product who decided to leave the region is North Carolina defensive lineman Marvin Austin, from Washington's Ballou High School. He'll be visiting home when the Tar Heels play at Maryland Saturday.

"I get to go back and a lot of people in my family and around the area want to see me play in person," Austin said yesterday, according to North Carolina's Web site. "A lot of them have not had that opportunity, so it is going to be a pretty special game."

Austin, a sophomore, was rated one of the nation's top defensive tackles when he came out of high school.

Austin has 29 tackles, four quarterback hurries and a blocked kick this season.