It’s that time of year when you see more 5 stars on the On3 timeline than in downtown LA. Rosters are locked and loaded for 2025, but there’s absolutely no standing on ceremony. Nearsightedness is a cardinal sin in this sport, and focus has swiftly pivoted over to the class of ‘26. With spring break around the corner, coaches are hitting the road to fit in as many off-campus visits as they can. In parallel, high schoolers are reciprocating these efforts with on-campus ones. Baltimore native and offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho is the No. 2 overall prospect in the class. Naturally, some of the biggest blue-chip programs in the country are vying for his services. But Iheanacho has a different, less-traversed path in mind for his college career. One that says a lot about his character as well as a lot about the head coach he’s trending towards.
The Maryland Terrapins—forever the bridesmaid, never quite the bride. Barring some sporadic moments of prominence, the program has historically played second fiddle to their B1G contemporaries. They are often an afterthought in the conference. Under HC Mike Locksley’s custodianship, things have largely remained the same. In his 7 seasons in College Park, they’ve finished above .500 just thrice. That was consecutive years between ‘21 and ‘23. However, this upward trajectory plummeted with a 4-8 record last season. It feels like a juncture where something’s got to beckon.
Approaching a sink-or-swim fork in the road, Locksley may just be about to get a huge shot in the arm. Really huge—6’7, 350lb worth of it. Immanuel Iheanacho’s come to a bit of an epiphany. Why not remain home rather than go to a blueblood like every 5-star? Merely 26 miles and 40 minutes of motor separate Iheanacho’s HS Georgetown Prep and Maryland’s campus in College Park. He’s going to be making this short trip very soon. It’s coming sooner on his itinerary than he’d previously planned.
Immanuel Iheanacho was scheduled for an official visit to Maryland on June 20. As per On3’s Steve Wiltfong, his OV is now slated for May 30 instead. Iheanacho also confirmed this with a post on his X handle. Interestingly, May 30 was previously reserved for a visit to Athens and the Georgia Bulldogs. Here’s what Iheanacho said about this shake-up and his inclination towards the Terps. Proximity from home definitely plays a factor, but it’s deeper than that.
Locked in Go Terps! #TBIA pic.twitter.com/aMpoNvxnUT
— Immanuel Iheanacho ✭ (@immanueli24) March 19, 2025
“I’d say the idea of being a hometown hero has popped into everybody’s head. It popped into mine after Zion [Elee] committed,” said Immanuel Iheanacho. Defensive tackle Zion Elee, a fellow 5-star prospect and Maryland native, has got the dice rolling on something special. Mike Locksley has a track record of recruiting well in-state. Something that’s been his modus operandi, his selling point, if you may.
It’s a key to why the school has shown patience with him. Another MD native, 4-star safety Jireh Edwards, has spoken about wanting to build a core of Maryland-based players with Elee, Iheanacho, and himself. These players are all in cahoots, but for a positive mission- bring Maryland football to the upper echelons of CFB. Iheanacho gave more reasons why the Terps are an enticing landing spot. Even his top one, amid more conventionally attractive propositions.
Immanuel Iheanacho elaborates on his feelings towards Mike Locksley and Maryland
“Coach Locks seen me since I was a really bad ninth grader going into sophomore year. They seen me when I was nothing and now I think they can take me to that next level,” said Iheanacho. As aforementioned, Locksley really has a stronghold in the area. Iheanacho reiterated how Zion Elee’s commitment caused a shift in his psyche. “It had a different look on my mentality and how I approached my recruitment. Why go to another state? Stay home and represent my college… Everybody goes to Penn State [and] Bama. Everybody wants to go everywhere else. [Even] Miami. Why not stay here?” Iheanacho proceeded to sum up, rather resoundingly, where his recruitment process currently sits.
“Maryland is definitely somewhere I’m looking at very seriously and I hope other recruits that are local can do the same,” he said. Mind you, Immanuel Iheanacho sure hasn’t closed the door on this. With the caliber of schools that are chasing him, it’ll be delusional for Maryland to think they’ve got their man. It’s never as linear as that. He’s actually in Baton Rouge visiting LSU at this very moment! However, one thing Iheanacho said did stick out.
“I dreamt about it once, being able to bring a Big Ten Championship home. You can say you did it [while you] stayed home,” remarked Immanuel Iheanacho. Becoming a “hometown hero” sure feels like a theme here. But high school recruits, especially those that are this sought after, are known to up the ante to 11 when it comes to speaking in superlatives. Locksley and the Terps still have work to do come May 30. That said, things do seem to be trending well for the Terps here. A rarity. There is tangible data to back Maryland in this pursuit of Iheanacho, too.
On3’s RPM model currently gives the Terps a 34.8% chance of getting Iheanacho. They’re on top, followed by Penn State at 20.4% and Georgia at 11.8%. He’s poised to visit College Station on June 13th. The Georgia visit, though, has a cloud of uncertainty looming over it now after this shuffle. It remains to be seen how the pieces fall once the round of OVs concludes.
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