Terps WR recruit A.J. Liddell has 'big upside'
For the past two years, A.J. Liddell has been Gwynn Park’s loss and Georgia high school football’s gain.
Liddell, a Prince George’s County native, moved to Douglasville, Ga., at the end of his ninth-grade year, and joined the Chapel Hill High football program as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3 ½, 195-pound wide receiver has thrived down south, but when the opportunity to come home presented itself in the form of a Maryland scholarship offer, Liddell jumped at the chance. The rising senior committed to the Terps on Sunday.
“We’re proud of him,” said Chapel Hill coach Chris Parker. “Sometimes recruiting is exciting, but it’s also a difficult time. It’s nice for him … and it’s nice for Maryland that he went ahead and committed early. Now he can have a good last year of high school and play at Maryland next year.”
Liddell’s first season with the Panthers was spent mostly on the JV, save for an occasional varsity call-up. The future Terp had to pick up the nuances of the game and get acclimated to Chapel Hill’s offensive system. But Parker said he and his coaching staff “knew immediately” that Liddell was a future Division I player.
As a junior, Liddell put all those pieces of potential together, catching around 50 passes for 700 yards and eight touchdowns. All season long, Liddell was Parker’s “go-to guy.” In addition to wide receiver, Liddell also saw time at safety and just about every special team imaginable.
“We had a punter who got hurt in the summer, so we got through the end of July and needed a punter,” Parker said. “A.J. had never punted in his life, and he actually led the region in punting. He’s not going to punt for Maryland, but it just shows the natural athleticism he has. He’s definitely an ACC-caliber player.”
Liddell also considered offers from Connecticut, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt, while Auburn, Tennessee and several others were in contact with Parker. Maryland, meanwhile, got involved early in the process, with Terps offensive line coach Tom Brattan visiting Chapel Hill in the spring. The Maryland coaches had a clear vision for Liddell from the start.
“He’s probably going to be a stretch-the-field guy,” Parker said. “He really kind of looks young, and he’s going to get bigger. … As an outside receiver, his ability to go get the ball in the air is probably the best I’ve ever had – and we’ve had some good ones over the time that I’ve coached. [My expectation for him in college is] probably as an outside receiver, stretching the field and making a couple big plays a game. His potential is really big. He’s got a big, big upside. There’s a lot of strength he can still gain, but I think it’ll be a good fit.”
Parker said Liddell still has many friends and family – including his father – that lives in Maryland. The Chapel Hill coach said his star receiver couldn’t be more excited about his return.
“A.J. is the type of kid that wants to go home,” Parker said. “He might have gotten offered by 100 schools. It’s a good fit for Maryland, a good fit for him.”
Comments
Matt
Thanks again for all you do.
Obviously we'll hear only good on these NR recruits. Will they eventually be rated by Rivals & Scouts?? I know these ratings are NOT an exact science but it would be nice to hear from a NEUTRAL source re our recent verbals.
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Don I: Good question. The scouting services will eventually update their rankings again, maybe at the end of the summer. They probably don't have film on some of these guys. -- Matt
Posted by: Don I | June 28, 2011 12:52 PM
I just looked at the youtube link - this kid is really good. I don't understand why he isn't rated. Great pickup for the Terps.
Posted by: MJ | June 28, 2011 5:07 PM
Randy Edsall has a great eye for talent, i have no worries . i know he will lead us to the promise land, ACC title, then national championship welcome to Terp land A.J. Liddell.
Wasup Matt any idea of how many athletes Terps will sign this year? hopeful for a big class.
Posted by: Obafemi | June 28, 2011 7:57 PM
Wow...this kid really knows how to go up and get the ball. Could be a really nice redzone threat down the road
Posted by: Fort Liquordale | June 30, 2011 1:50 AM