Commitment Evaluation: '22 Athlete R.J. Maryland
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On Monday the Eagles added another commitment to their Class of '22, with the addition of athlete R.J. Maryland of Southlake, Texas. This is the 19th recruit of the current class. Here is our evaluation on the newest pledge
Prospect: R.J. Maryland
Position: Wide Receiver/Tight End/Athlete
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
School: Southlake Carroll
Rating: Three Stars (247sports.com)
Other Offers: Miami, Duke, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Utah, Wisconsin
Frame: This all will depend on where they play him. He would be a bit on the smaller size if he goes to tight end. But the Eagles have already grabbed two tight ends in this class (Matt Ragan and Jeremiah Franklin), who are much more fitted for the position. If Maryland plays where I expect, as a wide receiver, he has the frame to be something that Boston College could use a lot of, real true size. He's lengthy and unlike BC's two other wide receivers he can use that size to grab balls other wide receivers and corners can't.
Athleticism: For a wide receiver, he isn't the speedster like fellow commits Joseph Griffin II and Ismael Zamor. But he has enough agility and speed to play the position well.
Polish: Again this will all depend on where Frank Cignetti, Jeff Hafley and the staff decide to play him. If he is going to be a tight end, he is going to need to bulk up, 210 is not playing weight for that position. If it's at wide receiver, I could see him taking a season to learn the college speed, and the offense and then jumping in. Defense? That might take a bit of time.
Final Thoughts: It is great that Jeff Hafley is recruiting speed on many of the skill positions, but sometimes you just need a big tall receiver who can just go up and get it. That is exactly what RJ Maryland is. CJ Lewis is graduating and there was no true "big receiver" in the Class of '21. Along with Taji Johnson, Maryland will give the Eagles a large wide receiver that could be used in the red zone, or in a variety of other ways.