Lawrence wasn’t taken aback by Culmer’s decision last month based on a variety of reasons -- most notably Culmer’s familiarity with the Terps program. Lawrence took his team to two team camps at Maryland, and Culmer also came to College Park for a Junior Day event in the spring. His fourth visit to Maryland was the day he committed.

“[Culmer] and his mother loved the campus,” Lawrence said. “From the time we were there, they loved the distance from home and he liked coach [Lee] Hull, the receivers coach. He was recruiting him and working with him the past couple camps. He felt real comfortable.”

Culmer joined the Willingboro varsity team as a sophomore, and Lawrence was immediately struck by “his quickness and his speed.” The future Terp experienced some growing pains that year, but Lawrence said he “knew that [Culmer] would be a Division I football player” in a BCS conference. As a junior, Culmer put all those pieces of potential together.

“I think as junior year began, he was more confident in himself,” Lawrence said. “Once he became more confident … he scored touchdowns on reverses, pass plays, punt returns, interceptions. So we always knew that every time he touched the ball, he had the ability to go the distance.”

Culmer finished his junior year with 14 total touchdowns (including eight receiving) and a 27 yards-per-catch average. Thanks in large part to Culmer’s play, the Chimeras made a run to the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals.

While Culmer was recruited by several programs – included Illinois – as a cornerback, Lawrence said he expects Culmer to start out at receiver at Maryland. Lawrence isn’t quite sure how the Terps plan to utilize Culmer, but he’s “the type of kid that can probably play in any offense you put him in.”

“He’s a deep threat,” Lawrence said. “He’s one of those guys with the ability to take it the distance every time you have the ball. We’ll use him on crossing routes, and he’s not afraid to go over the middle. But he has the ability to take it the distance.”