COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WUSA) -- When Good Counsel wide receiver Stefon Diggs delayed his decision on where he was going to school next year, he gave Maryland fans hope and other schools headaches. Did the recent re-addition of offensive coordinator and top recruiter, Mike Locksley, really make an impact Diggs' decision?
Diggs took an official visit to College Park to watch the basketball team take on the Tar Heels two weeks ago. And the Terps hopeful made him feel welcomed with "We want Diggs" chants. That probably made him feel great but he has probably heard that on every visit he's had so far. The only thing that would make him commit is if Maryland offered something other schools don't.
Does Maryland have something Florida doesn't? I have five factors that would work in and against Terps. Let us count the ways.
5 Reasons Stefon Diggs Would NOT Commit to the Terps:
1. Randy Edsall's Terps are bad and show little sign of immediate improvement. I mean really, if I was one of the top players in the nation, why are the Terps still in consideration? Twenty players with eligibility left have transferred from Maryland because they were not content with the direction of the program. So far, the other incoming recruits are decent but not overly impressive to assume an immediate turnaround from an abysmal two win season. They are going to work in a new defensive scheme, which will probably bring better results than last year, but should still prove problematic for this struggling core. The only constant last year was Davin Meggett but they lost him to graduation. This is a program in rebuilding, and a star like Stefon may not want to wait for a struggling program.
2. With rumors swirling about Danny O'Brien possibly transferring, why take your chances with CJ Brown? Even if the rumors are not true, we wouldn't know until after Diggs' has made his choice. With O'Brien's future unknown, CJ Brown has not proven he is elite enough to deliver throws consistently. Overusing the wide receiver screen will not get him to the NFL. Diggs is no doubt looking to team up with a capable, if not good, quarterback. If O'Brien doesn't give a definitive answer before Friday's announcement (not happening, FYI), this could be the deciding factor for Diggs.
3. Lack of primetime appearances may make him shy away from coach Edsall's squad. Let's say he looks past the team dynamics, he's bought in to the program and he's ready to commit. He believes he can play at high level in Maryland, but will his touchdown scores be noticed? A lot of players raise their draft stock because millions of scouts watch them play on Saturday nights -- regularly. Every player has a dream of playing on national television and having the game of their lives. Diggs could have on those game, but it can't be on a Maryland stage. The Terps had one primetime game last year against Miami and after last season's 2-10 record, that number is looking to fall. Anyone no what's less than one? That's right, you guessed it! Zero! Nobody is tuning in to watch the Terps. And the lack of national exposure will cripple the Terps chances with other potential recruits.
4. Coach Randy Edsall resume. Most big time players like to play for big time coaches. This Maryland gig has been his biggest to boot. Need I regurgitate his recent achievements? At Connecticut, he left with an unimpressive 74 - 70 record, 22-26 in conference. If all Tim Tebow does is win, than all Edsall does is win, moderately. And on top of his mediocre resume, he has to be one of the most uptight coaches in the nation. Multiple players were suspended last season and one player told me last summer that he "[doesn't] like him." I'm sure the Terps didn't make their pitch as a winning program while recruiting Diggs and I'm sure he wants to play for one.
5. Um, with every school in the nation as an option, Maryland must look like a junior college program. You're being recruited by the likes of Florida (powerhouse), Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes (powerhouse) and then you have the Terps (two bedroom apartment?). Okay, bad joke. But seriously, other schools have deep connections to the NFL and, in most cases, a better, more experienced coaching staff. Maryland's athletic department has lost it's balance, with other sports as well, and quite frankly is not impressive.
5 Reasons Stefon Diggs WOULD commit to the Terps:
1. Staying local and at home always plays a factor. Not everyone wants to travel and that could play a role in Diggs decision. He even tweeted a similar idea Thursday night (below). Senior Terripan basketball player Sean Mosley is a key example of a huge recruit willing to stay at home rather than choosing a more prominent program.
2. His best friend, Wes Brown, committed to Maryland and they may look to turn the Terps around as a tandem. In an interview months ago, Diggs and Brown both agreed they were a package deal. Their only condition was that each player had to play a prominent role on the team. If you scroll through Maryland's roster, they both should see a good deal of playing time in their freshman seasons. The fact that Diggs chose to visit the Terps after his buddy had committed, might enhance Randy Edsall's reputation around College Park. Like immediately.
3. Instant playing time and to make noise earlier in his career against a weak ACC. If he does bring his talents to College Park, he should see playing time immediately. The Terps haven't recruited a freshman of Diggs' caliber in years and currently lack playmakers in the receiving corps. Plus, the other ACC Atlantic division teams don't overwhelm you with talent outside of Clemson and Florida State. With a decent scheme, Diggs can put up solid rookie numbers and may even have a chance to be the "go-to wide receiver" by the end of the season.
4. Recent success of former Maryland wide receivers could attract a kid looking to make it to the pros someday. Torrey Smith, LaQuan Williams, and Darrius Heyward-Bey have all been starting wideouts in a Maryland offense and it has translated to playing in the pros. All three Terrapin alumni just had solid seasons for their respective teams and Smith is expected to make an even bigger splash next season. Yes, these are all Ralph Friedgen regime players, but if Diggs were to commit to the Terps, he would all have one thing in common with the NFLer's above -- Locksley. Smith and Williams are still very much associated with Maryland, so Diggs could also have a chance to be mentored by a couple of Ravens.
5. Good Counsel and the Terrapin connection. The Terps have always recruited a good number of players from Good Counsel. The head coach of Good Counsel, Bob Milloy, even said he prefers his players stay local. Milloy hinted that Edsall made an impression on his mother. But more importantly, this recruiting class already has three other GCHS recruits, including Brown. Maryland may have some pull with the high school making it easier to recruit the players.
I personally believe, he is headed to Ohio State to be apart of Urban Meyer experience. I don't know how you could pass on a coach who has utilized so many recruits and turned them pro. Percy Harvin, Joe Haden, and Tim Tebow can attest to that. But with a decision coming sometime Friday, we shall soon know if Stefon Diggs will be a Terp.
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