Stefon Diggs, the nation's
No. 14 recruit, has made a commitment to sign with Maryland.
Stefon Diggs, Good Counsel
Photo by John Middlebrook
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Diggs, the nation's No. 2 athlete, selected Maryland over Florida, Auburn and Ohio State in an announcement made at Looney's Pub in College Park, Md, according to Paul Tenorio of the Washington Post.
"I want to win bowl games, I want to win championships. Where else to do it but in your own city,"
he told the crowd gathered at Looney's.
Diggs played receiver and defensive back, leading
Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) to a 12-0 season and a No. 5 finish in the final national
Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard.
He was a U.S. Air Force All-American, intercepted four passes and forced three fumbles, while recording nearly 800 receiving yards. He also scored two special teams touchdowns.
Diggs appeared to be heading to Florida before a strong late push by Maryland and key recruiter Mike Locksley.
He instantly becomes the top recruit in Randy Edsall's 2012 recruiting class by a wide margin.
His commitment is also significant, in that it could open the door for future Good Counsel stars to head to Maryland.
Dorian O' Daniel and
Kendall Fuller are recruits from Good Counsel's 2013 class that are already drawing national attention and figured to be top targets for Maryland.
Diggs' decision didn't come without plenty of consideration. Not only will he sign more than a week after most - National Signing Day was Feb. 1 - but he posted his thoughts extensively on Twitter (@Marseanbaybee) Thursday.
"Never been this nervous my while life," he tweeted. "Football games I've never once got nervous. Football (is) easy just about the work you put in. But making a decision that (will) impact your life for the next 40 to 50 years. ... This is a business. Gotta remember (that) people's jobs (are) the line."
