Big Ten Roundup (July 6): Maryland Football Lands 4-Star Prospect, 3-Star Commits to Iowa
Four-star running back DeJuan Williams announced his commitment to Maryland on Sunday, a huge pickup for coach Mike Locksley and the Terrapins. The Baltimore product is the highest-ranked commit of Maryland's 2024 recruiting class.
Iowa also gained the commitment of three-star EDGE Joseph Anderson, and Michigan State landed three-star cornerback Justin Denson.
Here's everything you need to know in today's Big Ten Roundup:
Maryland's Best 2024 Commit
The Terrapins finished the 2022 season with an 8-5 record, their best since 2010, and have now finished with winning records in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013-14.
Mike Locksley and Co. now add to that momentum with the commitment of DeJuan Williams, who announced that he was staying in state on his Instagram this past week.
"I'm coming in to win the Natty and be the best playmaker in the country," Williams said in the post.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back was Maryland's first four-star commit of the 2024 class, bringing the Terrapins into the top 50 nationally with the 45th overall ranked recruiting class according to 247 Sports, though the On3 Team Recruiting Rankings still place Maryland's 2024 class at 57th overall.
Maryland returns almost all of its rushing production from 2022 for the 2023 season, as near-1,000 yard rusher Roman Hemby enters his redshirt sophomore campaign. The team's second- and third-leading rushers, Antwain Littleton and Colby McDonald, are back with the Terrapins as well.
Barring a transfer or early declaration for the NFL, the three returning running backs in College Park could block DeJuan Williams' path to immediate playing time, but regardless, Mike Locksley's Maryland team has added another skilled talent to its backfield, and one who should star on the gridiron for the Terrapins in due time.
Three-Star EDGE Commits to Iowa
The Hawkeyes picked up their 17th commitment of the 2024 recruiting class and their 14th three-star prospect for 2024 in 6-foot-5, 210-pound EDGE Joseph Anderson.
247 Sports ranked Joseph Anderson as the ninth-best prospect in the state of Missouri, and his father Bennie Anderson played six seasons in the NFL from 2001-06 as an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills, and the Miami Dolphins.
For more on the commitment of Anderson, check out the full story on our sister site Inside the Hawkeyes.
Three-Star Corner Commits to Michigan State
Among a final-five list that included SEC (and soon to be SEC) powers Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, and Oklahoma, three-star cornerback Justin Denson chose to play for coach Mel Tucker at Michigan State. He's the Spartans' 11th overall commit of the 2024 recruiting class,and their 10th three-star commit of the bunch.
247 Sports and On3 currently rank Michigan State's 2024 class 49th and 40th overall, respectively.
Michigan State had a dreadful passing defense during the 2022 season, allowing 250 or more passing yards six different times in 12 games. The commitment of Justin Denson should give the Spartans much-needed depth in the secondary.
For more on the commitment of Denson, check out the full story on our sister site Spartan Nation.
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- MULCAHY TRANSFERS TO WASHINGTON: Rutgers loses a four-year player to the Pac-12 via transfer portal, the fifth player the Scarlet Knights have lost via transfer from this past year. CLICK HERE
- THREE-STAR EDGE COMMITS TO IU: 2024 Defensive end Shamar Meikle out of Florida committed to the Indiana Hoosiers this past week. CLICK HERE