To new offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, the future of Maryland football looks a lot like the past. When he met with reporters Wednesday, Locksley mentioned the 2001 Terrapins who went 10-2, won the ACC championship and appeared in the Orange Bowl.
As an assistant and top recruiter at Maryland from 1998 to 2002, Locksley had much to do with putting that team together. His strength was recruiting locally.
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“Players from Texas, what you see is what you get,” Locksley said. “But D.C., Maryland and Virginia — a lot of the players still have a big upside. This area is great for talent.”
All five All-ACC defenders from 2001 were Maryland products: linebacker E.J. Henderson (Aberdeen), safety Tony Jackson (Wilde Lake), cornerback Tony Okanlawon (DeMatha), safety Randall Jones (Thomas Johnson) and defensive tackle Charles Hill (Eleanor Roosevelt). The defense also included future NFL players Domonique Foxworth (Western Tech), Randy Starks (Westlake) and Madieu Williams (DuVal). Before he left, Locksley also delivered Maryland future NFL stars Vernon Davis (Dunbar of the District) and Shawne Merriman (Douglass).
Locksley, who was hired before Christmas, helped land Good Counsel running back Wes Brown and is excited about the chance to coach him.
“He has the skill set to play right away,” Locksley said. “He’s a guy I would have recruited anywhere I’ve been.”
That’s a big statement considering Locksley’s next stop after Maryland was Florida.
Locksley likens this situation to his first stint at Maryland, which began under Ron Vanderlinden, as his recruiting helped lay the foundation for Ralph Friedgen’s immediate success upon his arrival in 2001.
– Kevin Dunleavy
