Ahead of the 2021 high school football season, MaxPreps is breaking down the top senior prospects in the country state-by-state as rated by 247Sports. We continue the series with Maryland, which opens play Sept. 3.
The top recruit in the state is 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman Dani Dennis-Sutton from McDonough Schoo, who is headed to Penn State. Dennis-Sutton is one of three Eagles on the Top 10 senior list.
247SPORTS: Complete Maryland 2022 player rankingsAs impressive as McDonough School's top-end talent is, it doesn't quite compare with St. Frances Academy, which sports half of the 10 top players led by 6-3, 230-pound linebacker Jaishawn Barham.
By positions, six of the 10 are defensive linemen, while wide receiver, linebacker, defensive back and athlete each claim one recruit. As of Aug. 18, six of the 10 have committed to college programs, all to different places.
St. Frances Academy defensive end Derrick Moore (left) is the No. 3 senior prospect in Maryland for 2021 according to 247Sports.
File photo by Greg Payan
6-5 | 250 | DL | Penn State commitThe nation's No. 47 recruit overall helped his team to an 11-1 record as a sophomore before junior year was wiped out by the pandemic. Took official visits to Alabama and Georgia before picking Nittany Lions on July 22.
2. Jaishawn Barham | St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
6-3 | 230 | LB | UndecidedCompared to a young Peter Kalambayi of the Houston Texans. Has 24 offers but appears he's picking between Florida, Maryland, Penn State and South Carolina.
3. Derrick Moore | St. Frances Academy
6-4 | 260 | DL | OklahomaAnother Top 100 national recruit had 20 offers, but picked the Sooners over Alabama, Arizona State, Florida and Florida State.
4. Aaron Wilson | St. Frances Academy
6-2 | 235 | DL | UndecidedLines up along with Moore to form one of the fiercest defensive lines in the country. Originally from Florida.
5. Nasir Pearce | St. Frances Academy
6-3 | 275 | DL | UndecidedYes, a third defensive lineman from the Panthers, Pearce requires double teams to contain him from his noseguard spot. Has offers from Michigan, Georgia and LSU among others.
6. Cam Johnson | St. Frances Academy
6-0 | 175 | CB | Virginia TechThink the Panthers might be tough on defense? Committed to the Hokies on Aug. 14 two months after his official visit.
7. Anto Saka | Loyola Blakefield (Towson)
6-2 | 230 | DE | NorthwesternA sprinter and shot putter on the track team, this versatile athlete is a fierce pass rusher.
8. Peter Kikwata | Northwest (Germantown)
6-1 | 170 | WR | UndecidedHas 21 offers, but leaning toward either South Carolina, Arkansas or West Virginia, where he took an official visit on June 24.
9. Preston Howard | McDonogh School (Owings Mills)
6-5 | 220 | ATH | MarylandThe dual-threat quarterback accounted for almost 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore before not playing in junior year due to the pandemic. Had other offers from Michigan, Pennstate and Arizona State, among others.
10. Kwan Williams | McDonogh School
6-1 | 275 | DL | Boston CollegeHoward and Williams make up a dynamic tandem for the Eagles. Had other offers from Duke, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and Texas A&M.
