| DeMatha Prospects Talk Recruiting |
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| By Seth Hoffman |
| Friday, 15 May 2009 16:57 |
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Marcus Coker Two currently lead the pack. “Probably my top schools are Maryland and Minnesota,” he said. Coker said he’s been to Maryland about 10 times. “I like that it’s close to home. I can be close to my family,” he said. “I like the atmosphere and stuff. The coaches are real cool, they’re like family… I like that it's a big campus, a lot of people. You won’t see the same person everyday.” Offensive coordinator James Franklin is recruiting Coker and the rest of his teammates. Coker said Franklin has him slated as a running back-fullback hybrid. Coker stood out on Thursday as one of most physically impressive players. He’s powerfully built but maintains his agility and speed. He also showed good hands out of the backfield. Coker said he will likely take official visits and decide during or after his senior season.
Maryland was the first school to offer Coley and he has been there several times. “It’s right around the corner, I stop by anytime. The coaches are pretty nice, cool, down to earth,” he said. “When you come they welcome you, there’s no hostility. So it’s a pretty good school.” He’s also developed a close relationship with Franklin. “He just keeps it real with me. He tells me how it’s going to be--work is going to be hard, you got to work through it. They’re going to help me and I got a pretty good position to play there so things are going well.” Coley projects as either a safety or cornerback. “I kind of figured when I get to the college level I’d be a safety, but depending on how my season goes and if I play corner this year maybe I’ll progress more as a corner,” he said. He does, however, prefer an aggressive system like new defensive coordinator Don Brown’s. “I like to stay close to the ball, definitely,” said Coley, who had four interceptions last season. “I hate staying back sometimes but I get the job done pretty much. I like [Maryland’s] little blitz package, I notice that they have bigger corners this year so they can play the run fit. That’s something that I would look at.” Coley visited Wake Forest and Virginia Tech in the spring and is planning a June visit to Virginia. He also hopes to visit Michigan and Kansas State this summer. His decision will likely come after his senior season. Jeff Knox
He’s recently picked up offers from Michigan, Towson and New Mexico to go along with Maryland, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Delaware and Wake Forest. “They’re all just coming in so fast,” he said. Knox said that he would like to return close to home for college and that Pittsburgh, Penn State and Michigan top his list. He’s visited Pittsburgh numerous times and is planning trips this summer to Penn State and Michigan. “I’m probably going to commit before the season starts,” he said. Lorenzo Waters
He’s been to Maryland several times and also visited Wake Forest and Virginia Tech this spring. Maryland: “I’ve grown up around Maryland so I’ve been to a few of their games. I know what Maryland’s all about.” Wake Forest: “I like the small campus, the small environment. It’s easy to get around. I like the coaches too.” Virginia Tech: “I went to their spring game. I like their spring game. There was like a lot of fans, a lot of people there. It was pretty loud. I like how seriously they take football.” Waters is waiting to hear back on offers from Miami and Alabama. With so many schools involved, there’s a chance his recruitment will continue into next year. “I’m just looking to take some more visits and looking to narrow down my decision,” he said. “Right now it’s about signing day but if anything jumps out at me I might commit before signing day.” Waters, who had four interceptions last season, has the ideal size for safety. He also showed good coverage skills on Thursday. “I think my strength is reading the field, reading the coverages, making plays,” he said. “Safety’s my thing.” Arie Kouandjio
So what is it about the left tackle that makes him such an intriguing prospect? "They usually say they like my quick feet and that I can bend really well and I’m pretty strong,” he said. Recruiting, though, is on the backburner for now while Kouandjio prepares for his senior season. “I want to focus on next year for right now so I don’t think I’m going to narrow it down until next year after football season,” he said. He did, however, speak of Maryland, who has also offered his younger brother, Cyrus. “I like them a lot because they were my first offer,” he said. “I like the coaches, I just like the environment. It’s right down the street from home. It’s literally like seven minutes away from my house.” Cyrus Kouandjio
Maryland, Pittsburgh, Boston College and Wake Forest have verbally offered already, but thinking about parsing a list is still a ways off. “I’m not thinking about colleges right now,” he said. “I’m trying to focus on next season, trying to get that [WCAC] seven-peat… I pretty much like any school that likes me. If you are interested in me I’m interested in you.” Like his brother, Cyrus is drawn to Maryland because of its closeness to home and the former DeMatha teammates who dot its roster. “I like how players that come out of DeMatha usually go to Maryland,” he said. Pete DeSouza, a DeMatha tackle who will be at Maryland next season, is already in the brothers’ ears about joining him. “He’s always trying to get me and Arie down there,” Cyrus said. The logical question, then, is if the brothers plan on playing together in college. Alonzo Russell
Russell said he had 13 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns last season. His quarterback is Virginia Tech commit Ricardo Young. He doesn’t have any offers yet but said that Maryland and Kent State “are very interested in me.” He’s also heard from Syracuse and North Carolina and plans on attending camps this summer at those schools and Maryland. |
| Last Updated on Friday, 15 May 2009 17:26 |
Maryland has always recruited nearby DeMatha heavily, but this year it's gone a step further. The Terps have offered seven DeMatha juniors and verbally offered one of its sophomores. Six of those players were in attendance Thursday at the NFL's H.S.P.D. Program at Eastern High in the District, and InsideMdSports has recruiting updates on all of them. We also check in on an emerging wide receiver at H.D. Woodson.
Coker, who ran for 1,174 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, has offers from Maryland, Minnesota, Kansas State, Boston College and Iowa.
Coley has seen his stock rise recently and is now up to 10 offers: Maryland, Towson, Michigan, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Iowa, New Mexico, Kansas State and Boston College.
Knox, who transferred to DeMatha from Pittsburgh last season, has also seen his offer list expand this spring.
Waters is another member of DeMatha’s loaded secondary and said he is up to 15 offers. 
Kouandjio is one of the hottest offensive line prospects in the region. Alabama, LSU and Tennessee have recently thrown their names into the hat and are the latest of Kouandjio’s 26 offers.
While Cyrus is only a sophomore, his sheer size is garnering college interest.
Russell was the most impressive receiver on Thursday. He used his size and length to breakaway from defensive backs. He also showed good hands, making several contorted catches.