In-state Running Back Roman Hemby Relieved with Commitment Behind Him

John Carroll (MD) running back Roman Hemby explains how and why he became the Terps' third running back in the 2021 class

The Terps have secured their running backs for the future after John Carroll (MD) product Roman Hemby became the third verbal in the 2021 class, joining St. John’s (DC) teammates Antwain Littleton and Colby McDonald. Maryland began tracking the in-state product when offensive line coach John Reagan stopped trekked through the Baltimore school dating back to Hemby’s sophomore season and the interest culminated in an offer back in February. As running backs coach Elijah Brooks and the Terps staff prioritized Hemby to round out the position group, it took time for Hemby to come around on the hometown team.

“I feel like for the most part, being in this area especially with everything going on in the world, I knew that venturing out was going to be something I wanted to do but staying at home was also something that interested me,” Hemby told All Terrapins. “You never know when something is going to happen. I kind of misjudged it thinking I’ll compete with a lot of guys, I’m a competitor so I started to think about it, and I realized everybody that’s committed to Maryland, they got something to prove and that’s how I feel about myself. I feel like I’m very underrated, I have a lot to prove and same with the guys there now, those are the guys I’m communicating with and I feel like those are the best guys to surround yourself with. Guys that are driven to be better, something to prove and that means we’ll all be working. I took that into consideration, and I realized that’s where I want to be, I want to be where the competition is, where I have brothers to push me and I don’t have to take the whole load by myself.”

Maryland was not the only school in pursuit as Hemby carried a double-digit offer list heading into his decision, but with Duke, Vanderbilt and West Virginia among the schools to remain persistent, Hemby took a step back from the recruiting process. “It was very big. There was a time where I completely shut myself off, I was like I’m going to enjoy my summer. I stopped talking to everybody, but they were still the most consistent and they were persistent with it. A lot of schools were, but it was just something about it.” Brooks, Reagan and the offensive staff hit home with the top target as the blend of academics and football helped Maryland regain ground following the Terps’ second running back commit.

“I talked to my mom about it when we visited Maryland, she said it’s something about Maryland and I always thought, even if I didn’t think I would see myself here, it was always somewhere I felt welcomed and they did a great job doing that. It was very easy for me, the decision, I took a couple of days and I knew it was right and there was nothing nobody could tell me.”

Hemby admitted the final stage in the evaluation process “wasn’t easy at first,” but the thorough vetting process helped the Terps come out on top. “At first, I was bombarded with a lot of schools talking, a lot of offers coming in and trying to learn about new places but my parents and I sat down, we had a two-hour discussion and we just did pros and cons of schools. It started to narrow down and Maryland was always consistently there. Even when I didn’t think I’d end up there or I had a shadow of doubt, where I was like maybe I don’t want to stay in Maryland and venture out, they always came back. That was definitely something. Once I started to look at everything, it was more and more reason to stay home. The decision came and I’m happy about it.”

With a spring season set for John Carroll and the MIAA, Hemby added he’s “50-50” as to whether he will enroll early in College Park. “It’s very easy for me to do so but my school has a lot of precautions set up so it’s harder. I’m talking with coach Brooks about it and he’s telling me whenever I get there, I’ll be ready to get locked and loaded to get the playbook down and help my guys out.” For Hemby, it does not matter when he gets to Maryland because the excitement remains the same.

"I think it’s going to be very interesting but I’m definitely very excited about it. I don’t always talk about it but growing up, I felt like it was a big workload on myself so knowing that I have four other guys that are going to come in and have the same dreams and aspirations to play in the NFL like myself, I feel like will work hand-in-hand. We’re under a great coach, great coaching staff as a whole. I’m very ready, I’m ready for it. Going there, we all have the same mindset so we’ll work together and hopefully we can be successful. I know we have some other weapons as well at wide receiver, Taulia coming in at quarterback, I’m just excited to get working."