By Todd Bradley, www.dcsportsfan.com
MaxPreps.com
Maryland football just got a lot faster. Rising Good Counsel senior Caleb Porzel (5-9, 170) verbally committed to the Terrapins last week, becoming the 14th player to commit to Ralph Friedgen's program from the Class of 2009.
Porzel, who was reportedly clocked at 4.21 40-yard dash earlier this summer, will bring a commodity to Maryland that the team has not seen in quite some time.
“Speed is Porzel,” Good Counsel head coach Bob Milloy said. “He is one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen. He is very explosive, very fast. That is what he does. He’s versatile too. Last year he scored touchdowns four different ways: 16 by running, one receiving, one on a kick return and one on a punt return.”
Porzel’s speed has never been a question, but some have wondered if he can handle the physical punishment that comes along with Division I defenses.
“Endurance at the Division I level is a legitimate concern,” Milloy said. “Caleb is short, but he’s not real small. His size could be a concern if he doesn’t have wiggle room. With Porzel, though, once you hand him the ball and make an opening, you need to get out of the way. The 230-pound guys will not get him, and they have to get him before they can damage him.”
Milloy said that Porzel has received over a dozen scholarship offers and that West Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota and Virginia were aggressively pursuing Porzel.
“When guys like Ralph Friedgen (Maryland), Al Groh (Virginia) or Bill Stewart (West Virginia) see Porzel perform and offer him a scholarship, it’s because they recognize his ability and the contributions he can make.”
Porzel originally gave a verbal commitment to Al Groh and the University of Virginia, but he decommitted after learing he might not be used as a running back, which is the position he wants to play in college. Milloy said that Porzel is often compared to two of the fastest players on the Division I level.
“A lot of coaches compare Caleb to Noel Devine from West Virginia,” Milloy said. “Devine is very small, but he has received a lot of publicity by outrunning everyone. LSU also has a small player named Trindon Holliday who runs like Porzel.”
Milloy describes Porzel as very easy to coach and always in a good mood. One of his best friends is Jelani Jenkins, who is being recruited by just about every top football program in the country. Although there could be tension between the two, Milloy says that it’s quite the opposite.
“Caleb and Jelani are great friends on and off the field. On the field there doesn’t seem to be any jealousy or animosity between them.”
In fact, some believe that Porzel and Jenkins could be a package deal, which would give the University of Maryland two of the best players from the D.C. area. But don’t expect Jenkins to commit anytime soon, as the blue chip athlete is expected to visit a number of schools before making a decision.