Ralph Friedgen pulled a major recruiting coup yesterday by securing a verbal commitment from Masengo Kabongo, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle from Fairfield (Conn.) College Prep.

Kabongo, a four-star player and Rivals.com’s No. 8 defensive tackle for 2008, joins an already strong class of defensive linemen for the Terps. Friedgen has scored commitments from Milford Mill Academy’s Teddy Dargan (a four-star player according to Rivals), A.J. Francis from Gonzaga College High School in D.C. and defensive end sleeper Tyler Urban, a Pennsylvania product.

The Terps were seemingly always in contention for his services, but as of May, Kabongo was still holding out for an offer from Notre Dame – especially following a particularly impressive visit to South Bend for the Blue & Gold game. According to USA Today, that visit bumped the Fighting Irish into the lead.

"The coaches also did bring up offering. They told me that they obviously like my tape, but then said Notre Dame doesn't just offer by tape. They want to get to know me more as a person and not just as a player. I'm pretty cool with that. Overall the visit was great and it's something I really want to be a part of."

"I liked it a lot and I don't have many doubts that they are my leader," he said.

After narrowing his list down to three finalists in July, it became fairly clear that Maryland had a great shot. The Terps made that list of three along with Florida and Notre Dame.

According to the Rivals and Scout databases, Kabongo’s Florida and Notre Dame offers never came. But that certainly doesn’t mean he wasn’t worthy. ND filled up most of its class in a hurry – which includes five defensive linemen – so Kabongo not getting an offer might be because of that more than anything else. There were a bevy of respectable suitors that were after Kabongo – namely Clemson, UConn, Colorado, Illinois, NC State and Syracuse.

With a 3.5 GPA and fluency in three languages, the Ivy League was also under consideration for a bit, according to The Connecticut Post.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Kabongo’s story is the relative lack of experience he has playing football. Kabongo has played just three seasons of football, having moved to Connecticut from the Congo. It seems as if he’s done alright from a statistical standpoint thus far.

He started to catch a few eyes as a sophomore. As a junior, Kabongo made 87 tackles (27 for a loss) and had 10 sacks. He was an all-state Class LL selection, and was a Connecticut Post first-team player.

To recap, Maryland got itself a guy who rates high in the eyes of the Terps staff, scouting services and numerous other college coaches across the country. Once he steps on the field in College Park, I have a feeling Terp fans will hold Kabongo in similar regard.