Video: Kenny Tate's announcement
Here's the YouTube video of DeMatha wide receiver Kenny Tate announcing his commitment to Maryland. The announcement was televised on Comcast SportsNet.
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January 31, 2008
Tate picks the Terps
The Maryland football team picked up its 20th verbal commitment for the class of 2008 today, and it was a big one.
DeMatha wide receiver Kenny Tate chose the Terps over Illinois and Penn State among others during an appearance on Washington Post Live this afternoon.
Tate, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, called Maryland a “home away from home” that’s still close to his family.
Tate, Rivals.com’s No. 23 wide receiver in the country, caught 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns during DeMatha’s 10-2 season.
Tate becomes Maryland’s third four-star wide receiver commitment in the class of 2008, joining Forestville’s Kevin Dorsey and Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith’s Kerry Boykins.
The Sun will have more on Tate’s commitment tomorrow.
Meet Davin Meggett
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Davin Meggett
Birthdate: 3/22/90
Birthplace: Upper Marlboro
Hometown: Upper Marlboro
Nicknames: D-Megg
Height: 5’9
Weight: 210
Position: Running back
High School: Surrattsville
Senior statistics: 1,784 yards and 27 touchdowns on 169 carries; Nine receptions for 410 yards and six touchdowns
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Three stars, No. 16 player in Maryland. Scout.com -- Two stars, No. 152 RB.
Bench max: 360
40-yard dash: 4.49
Runner-up: James Madison
Other scholarships offered: Delaware, Old Dominion
Favorite NFL player: Bob Sanders
Favorite NFL team: New Orleans Saints
Favorite all-time Terp: Bruce Perry
Favorite music: Common, Mos Def, Y2K
Favorite book: The Bible and Football Physics by Timothy James Gay
Favorite movie: Double Take starring Eddie Griffin and Orlando Jones
Favorite TV show: The Boondocks on the Cartoon Network
Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese, subs
Favorite high school class: AP Government
Favorite thing about College Park: “The energy of the students and just the livelihood, how real they are.”
Other high school sports: Indoor track and outdoor track
Hobbies: Playbooks, making new plays, coming up with blocking schemes and checks
Intended major: Political Science and Education
Something that not many people know about you: “The fact that I don’t really see my father (former New York Giants running back Dave Meggett) much. ... And my name is pronounced Day-vin, not Dah-vin or Duh-vahn.”
Best football moment: “The Gwynn Park game [this season]. The score was about 13-6, we had the ball and the lead. The first play from scrimmage I go 70 yards on the ground for a touchdown. And that was kind of like the back-breaker. I felt good on that one.”
Role model: “My coach, coach [Tom] Green because the way he carries himself throughout every day is amazing. He’s hilarious and he always makes the right decisions. He’s a great guy, probably one of the best men you’ll ever meet in your life.”
Why Maryland? “Great program, some of my family already graduated from there. Close to home. It’s always great playing for the home school and I had the opportunity to do that, so I was going to take it.”
January 30, 2008
Terps get Quince Orchard DT
Maryland picked up its 19th football commitment for the class of 2008 today when Quince Orchard defensive tackle Zach Kerr made his decision public.
Read the full commitment story from Yahoo.com here.
Check back later this week for more on Kerr’s commitment.
Meet Eteyen Edet
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Eteyen Edet
Birthdate: 12/18/89
Birthplace: Staten Island, N.Y.
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Nicknames: E.T.
Height: 6’2
Weight: 245
Position: Linebacker
High School: Fort Washington Friendly High School
Senior statistics: 110 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recovery
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Two stars. Scout.com -- Three stars, No. 41 middle linebacker.
Bench max: 315
40-yard dash: 4.6
Runner-up: Michigan State or Louisville
Favorite NFL player: Brian Dawkins
Favorite NFL team: Philadelphia Eagles
Favorite all-time Terp: E.J. Henderson
Favorite music: 50 Cent, Jay-Z
Favorite book: MacBeth by William Shakespeare
Favorite movie: 300
Favorite TV show: Martin
Favorite food: Tofu
Favorite high school class: Psychology
Favorite thing about College Park: “Everything.”
Other high school sports: None
Hobbies: “Lifting weights, hitting the club.”
Intended major: Business or Communications
Something that not many people know about you: “That I’m African. My parents were born in Nigeria.”
Best football moment: “It had to be back at Susan Wagner [High School] in Staten Island where I played [as a freshman and sophomore]. We played against my best friend’s team and I had 16 tackles in the game and in overtime we won the game. It’s the most tackles I ever recorded in a game.”
Role model: “I don’t really have a role model, but I admire my mother so much because of all that she does. I don’t have a father figure and she plays both roles for me.”
Why Maryland? “They just kept it real with me and real straight up and honest. I just felt like everything they were saying was so truthful. They didn’t BS around. They kept it real honest with me. ... And I was grateful.”
• Click here for a profile of Edet.
• Bonus quotes on Edet from Friendly head coach George Earley:
On Edet as a player and person: “He’s a great player. He’s a mature young man. He handled himself well on and off the football field. I wish we had him for another year. He’s a mature young man. He understands he made mistakes coming into high school, but he turned himself around. He’s an honor student and a good kid.”
On Edet’s commitment to Maryland: “I knew he was up for visit [last weekend], but we had no idea they were going to offer him. But once they saw his film, you can’t let your good players get away from the area. They saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. [Some schools] were waiting for his grades to change, but Maryland came right at him. They offered and he accepted. He likes the area, he feels comfortable. They caught his eye and he likes it. That’s the main thing. He’s happy.”
New Terps LB commitment talks Maryland
Six months ago, Fort Washington Friendly linebacker Eteyen Edet’s plan was to earn a GED and enroll in a junior college. Football was the farthest thing from his mind.
But after a standout season for Friendly, Edet took an official visit to College Park last weekend, received a scholarship offer and accepted, becoming part of Maryland’s 2008 class.
“I kind of [expected to get offered],” Edet said. “I’m a big-time football player, so I was expecting something to come out of [the visit].”
Edet spent the majority of his life in Staten Island, N.Y. before moving onto Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy for this junior year of high school.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker had drummed up a bit of recruiting interest, but instead of being able to go to camps during the summer and get noticed, Edet was preoccupied with figuring out where he would spend his senior year of high school.
“I was at prep school at Fork Union Military Academy and I couldn’t afford it anymore, so I had to find a new location,” Edet said. “Honestly, during the summertime I didn’t even think I’d be playing high school football anymore. I thought I was going to get my GED.”
One option for Edet was moving back to New York. But that was a possibility that Edet really did not want to consider.
“I didn’t want to be in New York City,” Edet said. “I didn’t want to be over there no more. There was nothing positive in the place I was from. ... My life, struggling, coming from the ghetto -- I was ready to change my situation. A lot of kids were dropping out from school. It just was not the right environment.”
Finally in September, Edet found a home. His aunt, Victoria Bassey, agreed to take him in to her Fort Washington home.
Edet quickly enrolled at Friendly and joined the football team. He sat out a game while transfer issues were ironed out, and then proceeded to accumulate 110 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
After the season, recruiting started to pick up for Edet. Louisville, Michigan State, NC State, Ohio, Tennessee and Boston College all expressed interest.
But when schools found out Edet was a few points shy of a qualifying test score, many backed off.
“A lot of schools dropped me because of academics,” Edet said. “That’s one of the reasons I liked Maryland. They believed in me. And I feel real positive about Maryland.”
Edet took the SAT again last week, and is scheduled for another test in June -- just in case. For now, though, he’s confident that he’ll qualify, and excited that after years of uncertainty, he can call Maryland his home for another four years.
“It’s a big relief and it’s a blessing,” Edet said. “I just didn’t imagine this. I’m living my dream right now.”
Thanks to blog reader Russ for the link to Edet’s You Tube highlight reel.
January 29, 2008
Quick football recruiting links
It’s almost decision time for DeMatha wide receiver Kenny Tate.
The Washington Post’s Josh Barr is reporting that Tate will announce his college choice Thursday on Washington Post Live. The show airs from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet.
Tate has narrowed his list to Maryland and Illinois, Barr reports.
While it was intimated that Tate had eliminated Penn State from consideration earlier this month, Stags Coach Bill McGregor last night said that earlier in the day he had talked with Penn State super-recruiter Larry Johnson to tell Johnson that the Nittany Lions were indeed out of the running.
From more Tate reading, check out this ESPN.com profile from former Sun reporter Heather Dinich.
• South Carolina linebacker Sterling Lucas committed to North Carolina State today, according to the [Orangeburg, S.C.] Times and Democrat. Lucas picked the Wolfpack over Maryland, South Carolina and Michigan State among others.
“That is where I feel comfortable,” Lucas said. “I love the players. I have a good relationship with the players, and they have a great coaching staff. I just love the environment.”
Meet Justin Lewis
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Justin Lewis
Birthdate: 3/3/90
Birthplace: New Haven, Conn.
Hometown: Johnsonville, S.C.
Nicknames: Big Easy
Height: 6’4 1/2
Weight: 315
Position: Offensive guard
High School: Johnsonville
Senior statistics: 36 tackles, one sack, five tackles for loss, nine quarterback pressures and one recovered fumble
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Three stars, No. 61 OG. Scout.com -- Two stars, No. 105 OT
Bench max: 350
40-yard dash: 5.25
Runner-up: Clemson
Other schools considered: South Carolina, North Carolina State
Favorite NFL player: Ray Lewis
Favorite NFL team: Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants
Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman
Favorite music: Young Dro, Jay-Z, Plies
Favorite book: I Am Third by Gale Sayers
Favorite movie: Friday Night Lights
Favorite TV show: Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Favorite food: Fried chicken
Favorite high school class: Government
Favorite thing about College Park: “There’s so much to do there. It’s not boring.”
Other high school sports: Basketball, Track (shot put and discus, big man relay)
Hobbies: “I rap, I make beats on my computer. I play a lot of video games.”
Intended major: Business management
Something that not many people know about you: “I watch a lot of news. I like knowing current events. I watch a lot of CNN.”
Best football moment: “It would probably have to be when we beat Hemingway my junior season. We hadn’t beat Hemingway in years, so we were the first Johnsonville team in like six or seven years to beat Hemingway in football. They were winning, we drove the whole field and scored and we ended up being up by, I think, five points. They had two minutes to go, drove it in our territory to about the 40 and we just held them from there and beat them.”
Role model: “My mom because she keeps me in line. Even though I sometimes don’t like the stuff she tells me, I know it’s right and I make myself do it.”
Why Maryland? “I enjoy being around the coaches. I like the coaches a lot and I like the environment because it’s like a family. Everyone gets along good and I see how the linemen interact. And they’re a good program overall academically and athletically. It reminds me a lot of Johnsonville and that’s what I want because I love Johnsonville.”
January 28, 2008
Meet Teddy Dargan
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Teddy Dargan
Birthdate: 1/25/89
Birthplace: Baltimore
Hometown: Baltimore
Height: 6’3
Weight: 310
Position: Defensive line
High School: Milford Mill
Senior statistics: 57 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Four stars, No. 23 DT, No. 8 player in Maryland. Scout.com -- Three stars, No. 47 DT.
Bench max: 335
40-yard dash: 5.0
Runner-up: Tennessee
Other schools considered: Pittsburgh, Virginia, Bowie State
Favorite NFL player: Michael Strahan
Favorite NFL team: Indianapolis Colts
Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman
Favorite music: Lil Wayne
Favorite book: None
Favorite movie: History of Violence
Favorite TV show: 48 Hours on CBS
Favorite food: Orange chicken
Favorite high school class: English
Favorite thing about College Park: “I like the campus, the dorm rooms, the classrooms.”
Other high school sports: None
Hobbies: “Working (J.C. Penney in the Owings Mills Mall), going to school, really just staying out of trouble.”
Intended major: Business
Something that not many people know about you: “I’m a very chilled-back dude. Just cool, collected. I like to stay to myself, really.”
Best football moment: “It’s when in my tenth-grade year we almost made it to the states.”
Role model: “My stepfather and [Milford Mill head] coach [Reggie] White. My stepfather because he’s been there for me all this time and he really didn’t have to -- he’s not even my father. Coach White is a role model for me and a good role model for everyone. He could understand what’s going on at home. We’re trying to get where he’s at. He’s a father figure.”
Why Maryland? “I always wanted to go to Maryland when I was young. I just wanted to stay close to home, really. Maryland, it’s a good football program and academic program, so why not?”
Terps pick up another commit
Another weekend, another commitment for the Maryland football team.
Fort Washington Friendly linebacker Eteyen Edet made a verbal commitment to the Terps yesterday.
Read the full commitment story from Yahoo.com here.
Check back later this week for more on Edet’s commitment.
January 27, 2008
Meet Cody Blue
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Cody Blue
Birthdate: 1/31/90
Birthplace: Baltimore
Hometown: Columbia
Nicknames: None
Height: 6’5
Weight: 270
Position: Defensive tackle
High School: Wilde Lake
Senior statistics: 38 tackles and four sacks
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Two stars, No. 19 player in Maryland. Scout.com -- Three stars, No. 64 DT.
Bench max: 290
40-yard dash: 5.0
Runner-up: Illinois
Other schools considered: Connecticut, Boston College, Virginia Tech
Favorite NFL player: Brian Urlacher
Favorite NFL team: Denver Broncos
Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman
Favorite music: Lil Wayne
Favorite book: Lord of the Rings
Favorite movie: The Last Samurai
Favorite TV show: True Life on MTV
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite high school class: Weight training
Favorite thing about College Park: “The coaches are cool, it’s a good campus and the people are cool.”
Other high school sports: Track and field (shot put)
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, watching movies, talking on the phone, football
Intended major: Criminal Justice
Something that not many people know about you: “I’m not as scary as I look.”
Best football moment: “It was my first start on varsity and I was only a sophomore, so it was pretty cool because everyone else was older than me. I was the only sophomore on the field.”
Role model: “Probably my mom. She’s a strong person and she’s always been there.”
Why Maryland? “It’s a great team, a great staff and the school has all the support I need for when I start taking classes. It’s close to home and I’ll get the best education there.”
January 26, 2008
Weekly recruiting roundup
Here’s your weekly roundup of notable Maryland football and basketball recruiting links ...
• SI.com’s Andy Staples names Terps quarterback target Nathan Stanley as one of 2008’s top uncommitted prospects.
Update: Stanley will visit Ole Miss this weekend, and he already has visited Maryland and Florida Atlantic. Stanley was recruited by Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt's staff while Nutt was at Arkansas.
• The Terps were/are trying to bring South Carolina linebacker Sterling Lucas in for a visit. According to The State, Lucas is spending this weekend in South Carolina, leaving just one more weekend for the Terps to receive a visit.
Linebacker Sterling Lucas (6-2, 220) of Orangeburg-Wilkinson moved up his official visit to USC to this weekend.
One thing to keep in mind regarding this recruitment which may or may not be significant -- Gamecocks defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder left South Carolina this week (after just a month on the job) to become the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator.
For VanGorder, the job as defensive coordinator will be his sixth different position in five seasons. He served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Georgia 2001-2004. In 2005, he was the linebackers coach at Jacksonville, then accepted the head coach position at Georgia Southern in 2006. After one year in the college ranks, he jumped to the Falcons as part of Petrino's staff in 2007, but left to go to South Carolina last month.
• One potential Maryland football target is off the table. This week Anderson, S.C. defensive back Lee Butler went from a Duke ‘soft commitment’ to a very solid Georgia Tech commitment.
”I can’t stress to you enough that I am through with my recruiting. I’ve already called Duke and de-committed and I am excited about becoming a Yellow Jacket. My recruiting is done and I will not be visiting Vanderbilt, that visit is cancelled.”
• Terps fans may not want to read this (depending on what happens between now and Signing Day), but Zach Brown received some lofty praise this week from ESPN.com scout Billy Tucker.
Brown was one of the faster linebackers in last year's 2007 class, utilizing his state champion sprinter speed to chase down opposing ball carriers sideline-to-sideline. When evaluating this fall's Hargrave film, it is apparent the extra year of postgraduate school assisted with his physical development while still retaining his great burst and closing speed to the football. Coverage skills and awareness appear to have improved as well, increasing the probability he could see the field next fall if eligibility standards are met.
• Maryland and Duke do battle on the court this Sunday. Off it, the rivals are competing for the services of 2009 New Jersey center Greg Echenique. PrepStars.com recruiting analyst Rob Harrington gave The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer a breakdown of Echenique’s game.
“He’s not as skilled as a lot of the other big guys Duke has had like an Elton Brand or a Shelden Williams,” Harrington said. “But he’s big, he’s tough and he’s aggressive and he’s a true (center). He’s not going to be a guy who entertains thoughts of facing the basket. He’s a (center). He knows he’s a (center) and I think that would create good cohesion between him and Duke’s more skilled players.”
Rivals.com analyst Jerry Meyer gave his own take on Echenique in this USA Today article.
[Samardo] Samuels teammate Greg Echenique was also a dominating presence on the court, scoring 12 points on 4-5 shooting, 4-4 from the line to go along with 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assists and 1 turnover. Working his way into one of the top post prospects in the 2009 class, Echenique's constantly improving physique bodes well for his future. Although he is not an overwhelming athlete, he is thick and immovable in a Kevin Love type fashion.
• 2009 Terps small forward commitment Jin Soo Kim will be playing for a new coach next year at South Kent (Conn.) Prep, according to SI.com.
South Kent Prep coach Raphael Chillious, who is in his fifth year at the school, will leave the team Wednesday to take a position with Nike as the Elite Youth Basketball manager. Chillious, who is well thought of on the prep scene, saw his team lose 90-68 to the Hargave Military Academy. "Coach informed us two weeks ago when we got back from break and it took be by surprise," said point guard Isaiah Thomas. "He just has to do what is best for his family."
January 25, 2008
New Terps assistants and recruiting
For those that missed it, the Maryland football staff hired two new assistants on Thursday.
Kasey Dunn left Baylor to become Maryland’s wide receivers coach, while Danny Pearman takes over tight ends and special teams for the Terps following a one-year stint at Duke.
Here’s a look at each coach’s potential recruiting abilities with some outside opinions sprinkled in:
Kasey Dunn
Before I get to the outside opinions, here’s what Ralph Friedgen had to say about Dunn.
“We’re excited to add Kasey to the staff,” Friedgen said. “He has the resources to help take us to a new level. He’s been at a lot of good programs around the country. His experience should really help us in recruiting. Kasey will also contribute to our offensive game plan.”
Dunn spent the 2004-06 seasons coaching running backs at Arizona. Josh Gershon of GoAZCats.com was kind enough to offer his take (via e-mail) on Dunn.
Kasey Dunn did a good job at Arizona and is credited with the development of three NFL running backs in Denver’s Mike Bell, Tennessee’s Chris Henry and Kansas City's Gilbert Harris. He was also the lead recruiter on the UA’s current starting running back, Nicolas Grigsby, who had one of the best true freshman seasons for a running back in school history.
For those that didn’t get a chance to see Grigsby this past season, you missed out. Dunn definitely unearthed a gem in Grigsby (and managed to keep the California native from the in-state schools).
Danny Pearman
First, here are Friedgen’s thoughts on Pearman:
“We’re excited to have Danny on board,” Friedgen said. “He’s a good fit because of his experience in the ACC and his success with special teams and working with tight ends. We feel like he can make a tremendous contribution to our staff.”
Since Pearman spent just one season at Duke (and before that, one season at North Carolina), I tabbed a couple Virginia Tech sources to weigh in on Pearman’s recruiting ability. Pearman spent eight seasons in Blacksburg.
Brian Mohr of HokieHaven.com said Pearman was around before he started covering Virginia Tech, but he didn’t recall him being a “major force in recruiting circles.” Mohr did say he was a solid tight ends coach, citing the development of Jeff King, an all-ACC tight end and current member of the Carolina Panthers.
Another Hokies source noted that Pearman and Virginia Tech parted ways in 2006 when Frank Beamer brought in Curt Newsome, then an assistant at James Madison that was viewed as ‘a terrific recruiter.’ The same source indicated that Pearman wasn’t assigned a very fruitful recruiting area. Sounds like the jury’s out on his recruiting prowess.
Overview
All in all, it looks like a couple of quality additions to the UM coaching staff. Dunn can apparently recruit and he’s got the background as an excellent college wide receiver (a three-time All-American at Idaho). Pearman has a ton of experience in the ACC (played at Clemson, coached at Virginia Tech, Duke and North Carolina) and he’s a well-regarded tight ends coach. Plus, it can’t hurt having a special teams coordinator that learned the trade at Virginia Tech.
Recruiting Report programming note: I’ll post the ‘Weekly recruiting roundup’ tomorrow.
January 24, 2008
Meet Masengo Kabongo
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Masengo Kabongo
Birthdate: 5/23/90
Birthplace: Lubumbashi, Congo
Hometown: Lubumbashi and Stratford, Conn.
Nicknames: Maska (his middle name)
Height: 6’2 1/2
Weight: 285
Position: Defensive line
High School: Fairfield (Conn.) Prep
Senior statistics: 47 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 8 quarterback knockdowns and 3 forced fumbles
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Four stars, No. 24 DT, No. 2 player in Connecticut. Scout.com -- Three stars, No. 33 DT.
Bench max: 380
40-yard dash: 4.9
Runner-up: Illinois or Florida
Other schools considered: Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Clemson, Boston College, UConn
Favorite NFL player: Jason Taylor
Favorite NFL team: New England Patriots
Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman
Favorite music: Lil Wayne, gospel, African music
Favorite book: Beowulf
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite TV show: Chappelle’s Show
Favorite food: African food, sombe’ with rice and chicken
Favorite high school class: Math
Favorite thing about College Park: “The University of Maryland. The town itself is not that great, but the school is what’s nice about it. And I like the dorms. The dorms are really nice.”
Other high school sports: Track and basketball (freshman and sophomore years)
Hobbies: Go to movies, play sports, lift, hang out with friends
Intended major: Economics and/or International Business, Engineering
Something that not many people know about you: “Most people don’t know about my personality. They just don’t know the person of Maska.”
Best football moment: “My best football moment was probably my first game as a sophomore and maybe the third play of the game I had a sack.”
Role model: “My father because I consider him to be Superman.”
Why Maryland? “I feel like it would be a great fit for me and I like the location of the school because it’s right in between DC and Baltimore and I’m looking to professionally work at the international level somehow. That will help me, with the location of the school. I love the feeling that I had when I visited there, so I went with it.”
January 23, 2008
Meet Tyler Bass
This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 6. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.
Name: Tyler Bass
Birthdate: 12/20/89
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
Hometown: Atlanta
Nicknames: T-Bass
Height: 6’3
Weight: 220
Position: Quarterback
High School: Stockbridge
Senior statistics: 99-of-181 for 1203 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions; 81 carries for 606 yards and 11 touchdowns
Bench max: 315
40-yard dash: 4.6
Runner-up: Louisville
Other scholarships offered: Western Kentucky, Memphis, East Carolina
Favorite NFL player: Wes Welker
Favorite NFL team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman, E.J. Henderson
Favorite music: Gucci Mane, Shawty Lo
Favorite book: The White Fox Chronicles by Gary Paulsen
Favorite movie: Gladiator
Favorite TV show: Naruto on the Cartoon Network, Lost
Favorite food: Deep south food
Favorite high school class: Economics, English
Favorite thing about College Park: “The diversity of the people. You see all types of people there. And then the area, that it’s in between DC and Baltimore.”
Other high school sports: Wrestling, Baseball, Basketball
Hobbies: “Lifting weights and playing 7-on-7 flag football with my older cousin.”
Intended major: Pre-Dentistry or Communications
Something that not many people know about you: “I’m petrified of needles. Those Hypodermic needles -- I’m terrified of those.”
Best football moment: “It came in my junior year and we played the school I went to (Dutchtown) and the coach that never let me play quarterback. I think I ran for like 150 and threw for like 180. And my favorite part of the whole career is when I ran, stiff-armed this guy’s head into the ground and then dove into the end zone.”
Role model: “I have to say my momma, because she’s a strong woman. She’s instilled in me a lot of discipline and put football second and school first. Just looking at her, what a great job she’s done with me and my sister makes me want to be like her when I’m older.”
Why Maryland? “Just the diversity and I looked at the education where, if for some reason football doesn’t work out, a degree from Maryland goes a long way. It means a lot. Also the chance to play against top competition in the ACC.”
Click here for a profile of Bass.
New Terps QB commitment talks Maryland
Growing up in Prince George’s County and graduating from Gwynn Park High School, Harold Bass held a longstanding affinity for all things Maryland.
So when his son, Stockbridge, Ga. quarterback Tyler Bass had the opportunity to take an official visit to College Park last weekend, the elder Bass was happy to tag along.
“He loved it,” Tyler Bass said of his father. “He’s from PG County … so he enjoyed going home and was excited going to Maryland. It was the school he wanted to go to, but he went to Tuskegee [University in Alabama]. But he lived in PG County his whole life, so he was happy [when I told him] I was going to Maryland.”
Bass committed to the Terps on Saturday night during dinner at Maryland’s student union. Maryland started heavily recruiting Bass during the late fall.
Bass also seriously considered Louisville, Western Kentucky and Memphis. The latter two actually wanted Bass to start as a true freshman, according to Stockbridge head coach Steve Collins.
But Bass was less concerned with how soon he could get on the field, and more focused on the academics of each school. With a 3.3 grade point average and an 830 on his SAT, Bass was fully qualified per NCAA requirements. But that wasn’t enough for the Terps’ staff, according to Bass.
“It was the only school that asked me to do better on my SAT score,” Bass said. “Everyone else said I was qualified. That showed Maryland was looking at me more as a man than a football player.”
So Bass retook the SAT and gave the ACT a shot. When the scores came back, Bass saw a 110-point improvement in the SAT in addition to notching a 20 on the ACT.
“I called [offensive line] coach [Tom] Brattan and I actually told him I got a 20 on the ACT and he was like, ‘that’s real good.’ He was really happy I did better.”
Brattan, Bass’ recruiter, was instrumental in wooing the 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback from Georgia to College Park.
“Coach Brattan recruited me,” Bass said. “He’s a cool guy. He’s a real good guy. He’s just down to earth, a really good guy. Just laid back, chill, that’s coach Brattan all the way.”
As for Bass’ game, Collins said his starting quarterback for the past two seasons possesses talents that could be molded to fit just about any offensive system.
“He’s a dual-threat type quarterback,” Collins said. “He ran for a lot of yards and threw for a lot of yards. He’s very strong. ... But he can adapt to probably a [number of different systems]. He’s a multifaceted guy who can do a lot of things.”
Bass started two years at quarterback for the Stockbridge varsity, going 99-of-181 for 1,203 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 606 yards and 11 touchdowns on 81 carries during his senior season.
Bass has been backed by a rather vocal, passionate cheering section of family and supporters during his high school football years, so there might be a bit of an adjustment period being so far away from home.
But if that first start at quarterback comes at Maryland, Bass can expect a similarly fervent fan base.
“It’s been said and planned that for my first start, my mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, sister and friends are going to get an RV to come see me,” Bass said. “I’m sure my mom, she’ll come to just about every game. Other ACC games are not that far of a drive [from home].”
Still, the distance doesn’t bother Bass at all. He has an aunt in Reisterstown, a father familiar with the area and excitement for the school and program that overrides any such concerns.
“I can bring some southern hospitality. Maryland is diverse, so I’m sure I’m not the only southern guy there. ... [But] I feel welcome there and I feel at home.”