Notes from Randy Edsall's Signing Day presser
After an absolutely delightful drive down I-95 from Baltimore to College Park today, I sauntered into Gossett Team House roughly 10 minutes into Randy Edsall's first Signing Day press conference as Maryland's coach.
The former UConn coach spoke about his vision for the program, being “upfront and honest” on the field and in the classroom, and focusing future recruiting endeavors within a five- or six-hour radius of campus.
Edsall didn’t discuss each recruit individually, as former coach Ralph Friedgen used to do. And he cracked considerably fewer jokes than his predecessor behind the podium. But Edsall did weigh in on a variety of important recruiting-related topics during his roughly 30-minute address. Here are the highlights:
• Woodland Hills (Pa.) defensive end Quinton Jefferson was Edsall’s first commitment at Maryland, but Friedgen’s staff laid the groundwork there. Edsall credited wide receivers coach Lee Hull for keeping the three-star prospect interested in the Terps. Edsall, Hull and defensive coordinator Don Brown traveled to Pittsburgh for an in-home visit with Jefferson and his family. As the three Terps coaches pulled up to their hotel after the visit, Jefferson called Hull to offer his pledge.
• While the Maryland coaching search played out in the media, “a lot of people” tried to make a move on the Terps’ commitments. Edsall said he was impressed by “the character” Maryland’s recruits demonstrated by honoring their commitments. Edsall said he chose not to pursue any UConn commitments once he got the Terps job. That included Calvert Hall safety Adrian Amos, a former Huskies commitment who signed with Penn State today.
• Our own Jeff Barker asked Edsall to discuss recruits the Terps lost in the coaching transition – either by the staff’s choice or the player’s. “There were some that decided to move on based on our decisions, and there were some we moved on based on our own decisions.” Edsall couldn't mention any recruits that didn't sign by name, but Point Pleasant (N.J.) tight end Ryan Malleck (Virginia Tech) and Island Coast (Fla.) linebacker Jimmy Stewart were two that Maryland wanted to keep. The Terps decided to part ways with Fork Union offensive tackle Larry Mazyck and Hertford County (N.C.) defensive end Dontez Tyler. Mazyck had reportedly committed to Vanderbilt, but didn’t sign his letter of intent today and could be headed to prep school. Tyler signed with Old Dominion.
• “Who can help us win an ACC championship?” That’s the question Edsall will ask when evaluating each potential recruit. Desire to get a Maryland degree, possessing a work ethic and having “great character” were the three characteristics he listed as necessary requirements for a prospective Terp. No mention of actual football acumen here, but that probably goes without saying. The gist is that Edsall doesn’t plan on taking chances on kids with questionable character and/or grades.
• Replacing Dave Sollazzo as Maryland’s recruiting coordinator will be tight ends coach John Dunn, who came to College Park after a grad-assistant stint at LSU. Ryan Steinberg, who Edsall said played an important role in keeping the 2011 class together, will stay on as the assistant recruiting coordinator. Edsall envisions a team effort among the assistants in recruiting. “Everybody … will have a role in what we do,” he said. Edsall also said he plans to be very “hands on” with recruiting.
• The Terps didn’t sign a quarterback in this class, but that was by design, according to Edsall. There are five scholarship quarterbacks – Danny O’Brien, Jamarr Robinson, C.J. Brown, Tyler Smith, Devin Burns – on Maryland’s roster. Adding a sixth this year, Edsall said, didn’t make sense because “only one quarterback can play at a time.” Edsall said he does plan to recruit a quarterback for the 2012 class.
• It’s probably safe to say that Edsall doesn’t spend his free time scouring Rivals.com and Scout.com to look up the star rankings of Maryland’s recruits. “People get caught up too much in these rankings,” he said. “The only ranking that really matters is what me and my staff think.” Edsall acknowledged that his recruiting classes at UConn were generally lowly ranked by the scouting services, but the Huskies still “went out and won games.” The biggest takeaway from this portion of the presser? “You don’t win championships in February.”
• Edsall was hesitant to discuss the differences in recruiting for Maryland vs. recruiting for UConn. But in general, he does expect to sign a better class in 2012 simply because he will have an entire year to evaluate prospects and build relationships, instead of just a month.
• Nate Clarke, Ryan Doyle, Stephen Grommer, Evan Mulrooney and Andrew Zeller compose Maryland’s five-man offensive line class, giving the Terps 16 O-linemen on the roster. That’s just about Edsall’s ideal number for the position. Seventeen would be the max, he said.
• David Walker’s stint as Maryland’s running backs coach was a short one. The former Pittsburgh assistant has been hired by the Indianapolis Colts. Edsall joked that former UConn star and current Colts running back Donald Brown might have had something to do with that move. Edsall wished Walker well and thanked him for his recruiting efforts.
• Check back with Recruiting Report later this week for more from Hull and Dunn on their roles in recruiting.
Baltimore Sun photo of Randy Edsall by Karl Merton Ferron / Feb. 2, 2010
Comments
This class is fairly weak. Not much gain on d-line, LB, or RB. And really, no marquee players. Hate to say it, but if Leach had been selected, you know top prospects would have at least listened to him. The process will be very slow for the Terps to go from good to great.
Posted by: PeteyPablo | February 3, 2011 8:52 AM
good to great? Can't see them ever being a great program. They lack the two most important factors for building a great program.... top notch facilities (their facilities are mediocre at best) and historical dominance. MD is a hoops school and with the exception of a few schools Ohio St & Florida, you are either one or the other. If they can maintain a good program that would be a
Posted by: RJ | February 3, 2011 9:49 AM
Petey, Was Alex Wujciak a marquee recruit? Danny O'Brien? Torrey Smith? Da'Rell Scott, Dave Meggett? ... Heck... ANY of the starters from last season with the exception of Kenny Tate and Antwine Perez? I think the highest rated guy on the team coming out of High school was one of the backup Olinemen.... yet these non "marquee" players were one game away from playing for the ACC title.
As for Leach doing any better, the guy admittedly dislikes recruiting even more then Friedgen did so I have serious doubts he would have been able to do any better in the limited time he would have had. Wait till next year to judge, or better yet... 3 years from now when we actually know how good these kids might or might not be.
Posted by: Sean | February 3, 2011 10:55 AM
Mr. Edsall can you see if Lamont Jordan would like to be your Running Backs Coach. He is a former running back at Md. and the NFL and is from the area and lives in the area it would be great for recruiting and a great personality for your staff. The best players that achieve are the hard working ones and well educated ones. Not the 5star ones premadonas. Keep u[p the good work and just bring Championships and slience your haters.
Posted by: Coach Hall | February 3, 2011 11:21 AM
Petey obviously does not follow college football very closely, or the NFL for that matter.
I'm actually fine with this class. Add the fact that there was a coaching change and it is steller under those circumstances.
The WR corps is very good and 5 Olineman is a great way to build depth. Now, redshirt them and stockpile like that year after year.
In 2012, obviously we need a QB, 2 RBs, LBs and DTs. And again, take 4-5 more Olineman.
Posted by: BuddhaUMD | February 3, 2011 12:25 PM
Da'Rell Scott was a 4 star recruit, as were Perez and Tate. Tate's class had 5 or 6 4 star recruits in it. This year's class wasn't shaping up to be very good even with Ralph. We maybe lost out on Darius Jennings and Travis Hughes after Ralph was fired. Jennings was a 4 star and depending on the scouting service, Hughes was a 4 or 5 star recruit. This class was a result of a 2-10 season the previous year. Next year's class will be better.
Enough of the math from previous classes. I have a question for Matt about Cyrus Kouandjio. His quotes from yesterday seem to me to be an indication that he doesn't want to get too far from home. Otherwise, wouldn't he have just gone to Alabama with his brother?
Do you think there's any chance Maryland can get back in on him? Stay home, see your family...be close to your roots?
If a miracle happens and he comes to Maryland, might he be Maryland's equivalent to Penn State's signing of Derrick Williams several years ago? When they signed him, it opened a flood gate of Maryland players going to PSU for about 2 or 3 years. It made PSU a "hot" school for Maryland high school football players. It seems to me all Maryland needs is that one big local name to get the gates open.
Posted by: Math Major | February 3, 2011 1:16 PM
Math Major -- I don't see Kouandjio as a realistic possibility. He would have certainly been a statement recruit. For the Derrick Williams comparison, you need a highly touted guy, but also a strong personality that everyone follows. I don't know CK enough to know if he's that type of kid.
Posted by: Matt Bracken | February 3, 2011 4:01 PM
I believe they should look hard for a RB coach that can also recruit locally, since not too many guys on the staff have really strong ties. I'd like the idea of Lamont Jordan, or of former Dunbar coach Craig Jeffries, who knows the DC metro area and would have a kids ear in any living room he walked into
Posted by: Tony | February 4, 2011 12:17 PM