• UM linebacker recruit Cole Farrand -- who also begins his senior season this weekend -- receives special mention from the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger in its high school football preview.

Maryland has found a good one in Cole Farrand, Pope John's senior linebacker. He's a 6-4, 235-pound specimen who puts great demands on opposing offenses. He is considered one of the top prospects in the state at his position.

• The News Journal this week profiled Maryland running back commitment Brandon Ross, who hopes to lead the Charter School of Wilmington (Del.) to its first playoff berth of his high school career.

"I think about it all the time," said the 5-foot-11 Ross, who has verbally accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Maryland. "This is my senior year, my last one. We have a very good group here and we want to win. I've never been in the playoffs in organized football. I've been on hard-working teams, but not one that made the playoffs. I like this group here and I'm excited about this season."

• The Washington Post has video of Terps pledge Delonte Morton's dominating performance in DeMatha's win over Loyola last weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound senior missed last season after shredding his right knee, but made a fine return in the Stags' season opener, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-31 victory over Loyola Blakefield in the I-95 Kickoff Classic.

• ESPN.com's Jamie Newberg reports that the Terps will host a highly touted visitor Saturday for their game against Morgan State.

Travis Hughes (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) will visit Maryland.

Hughes was also on hand for the Terps' win over Navy at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I was actually impressed by the fan support Maryland had,” he said. “It was crazy. The whole parking lot was filled with red. That was my first time actually seeing that and I’ve been to a couple games since eighth grade. This last game was pretty big for them.”

• Terps target Darius Jennings leads Gilman tonight against Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) at Morgan State's Hughes Stadium.

Gilman playmaker Darius Jennings made his presence felt early and often in the Greyhounds' 28-7 win over then-nationally ranked Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) last week. Jennings, a senior quarterback, ran for a touchdown to give his team the lead less than three minutes into the game and also threw for a score and finished the contest with 142 yards rushing.

• In a reader mailbag, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chip Towers was asked if Good Counsel cornerback and UM target Blake Countess is a Georgia Tech lean. Here's his reply.

As for Countess, it’s hard to tell what this 5-10, 175-pound athlete from Maryland is going to do. He plans to take all his official visits but not until after the season is over. So he’s going to be a late decision.

Basketball recruiting

• Rivals.com analyst Jerry Meyer thinks Arkansas is in good shape with Terps power forward target Antwan Space.

Odds look promising for Arkansas to land Space, who visited the school on Labor Day weekend along with Young. A hybrid forward, Space is known for his ability to create shots off the dribble and to shoot with range.

Space spoke to NWAOnline.com about his visit to Little Rock.

“It was great,” Space said. “Great atmosphere, great people, and I liked the city. I was able to see everything I’m looking for in a college.”

• Jacob Lawson, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward from Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy, committed to Purdue on Monday.

Lawson, who also had scholarship offers from West Virginia, Maryland, Ole Miss and Seton Hall, averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks a game during the 2010 AAU season.