You know it’s real when the five-stars start dropping breadcrumbs and the whole internet goes full detective mode. The Georgetown Prep’s own skyscraper, Immanuel Iheanacho, is setting the streets on fire. Standing at a cartoonish 6’7″, 350 pounds and pushing plates like a Marvel villain (530-pound bench, hello?), Iheanacho’s mailbox is drowning in 34 scholarship offers. But under all that noise, fresh tea just dropped: Oregon’s back in pole position… for now. Maryland’s lurking, Mike Locksley’s got his sleeves rolled up, and this recruiting war? It’s about to get real bloody.
On April 26th, a couple of heavy hitters hopped on the On3 recruiting show to spill some piping hot intel. Josh Newberg and Steve Wiltfong weren’t shy about it either. Wiltfong dropped it straight: “Right now, I think it’s Oregon that has the momentum. He named Oregon as the leader in January at the Under Armour All-America Game. They took that top spot from Georgia. Then we had a run where Maryland was sitting in the pole position to keep him home, but he returned to Oregon a couple of weeks ago. I think that visit really resonated with him, reminded him why the Ducks were number one with him at one point. Now Oregon’s got to stay that way.” Translation? The Ducks aren’t dead yet—but they better not get comfy. Because….
“He’s going to take his official visits. You got Alabama, Auburn, he’s been to A&M couple times this calendar year. Had a great visit to LSU. Again Maryland still involved.”
Iheanacho’s been a menace at Georgetown Prep, mauling defenders and racking up awards. He helped them to an 8-2 record in 2023 and 7-2 in 2024, snagging Interstate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year along the way. This isn’t just another big body—this one is a potential NFL Sunday staple.
Immanuel Iheanacho, who once was damn near packed for College Park, had Maryland pulling ahead heavy earlier this spring. Local love, family ties, and plenty of red carpet moments had the Terps riding high. The big man even pulled up midweek to a Maryland hoops game and tweeted, “Back in Terpsville tonight! #TBIA.” If you thought that was random, think again. That was straight-up chess, not checkers.
But then, Oregon made a countermove. Immanuel’s return trip to Eugene wasn’t just another hi and bye. Sources say he reconnected with the coaching staff, soaked in the facilities, and remembered exactly why he crowned Oregon top dog in the first place. As Wiltfong emphasized, “Oregon’s gotta stay that way,” but also dropped a warning sign: “Maryland’s still involved. I at one point had my prediction on Zion Elee to Oregon—he is committed to Maryland—so don’t sleep on Mike Locksley and the Terrapins, particularly this cycle with local recruits.” Mike Locksley literally locked in on the On3’s No.1 recruit to Maryland. In Simple words; don’t sleep on Mike Locksley and his recruiting game.
Look, Maryland isn’t folding their hand yet. With an official visit lined up for June 20, the Terps are betting on that DMV loyalty to seal the deal. Oregon might be low-key trending, but Mike Locksley’s been known to flip the script late, especially with his own backyard boys.
Mike Locksley’s 2026 recruiting run
Mike Locksley’s cooking up something nasty in the 2026 class, and the rest of the Big Ten might want to start sweating. Maryland’s recruiting class currently sits No. 17 nationally and No. 5 in the Big Ten, according to On3—and every commit? Straight homegrown products. DMV stand up.
Leading the charge is the cheat code himself, Zion Elee. A five-star edge rusher out of St. Frances Academy, Elee turned down Alabama, Oregon, and Miami to rock with Locksley. 6’4″, 230 pounds of pure chaos off the edge, and the No. 1 overall player in the country. That isn’t just a commit—that’s a program-changer.
Locksley isn’t just stacking stars though. He’s building a whole damn DMV fortress. Kaden Carter, a three-star linebacker from Georgia, saw the vision and hopped on board. Damon Hall Jr., a 6’5″ monster tight end out of St. Frances, is another mismatch nightmare. Khmari Bing, bringing the hammer in the secondary. Locksley’s blueprint? Speed, violence, and loyalty.
And don’t get it twisted — this class isn’t finished. Immanuel Iheanacho is still on the board, and pulling him would be the cherry on top. Look, Locksley’s always dangerous when it comes to keeping DMV guys home. You can’t ever count him out. If Immanuel Iheanacho stays home, Maryland’s 2026 class could be sniffing around the top 10 nationally—a whole different tier of respect. With official visits lined up and decision day looming later this year, it’s clear: Maryland’s not just swinging anymore—they’re landing haymakers. College Park might just be the next hot spot for blue-chip talent.
The post Fresh Intel Confirms 5-Star Immanuel Iheanacho’s Frontrunner as Maryland’s Mike Locksley Intensifies Recruiting Battle appeared first on EssentiallySports.
