Maryland Football: 5-star WR Rakim Jarrett is program-changing talent

Maryland football had one of the biggest wins of early signing day, flipping a program-changing five-star receiver in Rakim Jarrett from LSU.

For a program that had only three wins this season, flipping Rakim Jarrett, a five-star receiver, from College Football Playoff member LSU was a major win.

Sure, the draw of staying close to home was probably the deciding factor, but Jarrett had been committed to LSU since April. You would think that he’d be more open to joining a winning program trending in the right direction than one that is still trying to find its footing under a first-year head coach in Mike Locksley.

The Terrapins could very well be headed in the right direction in the Big Ten, but it’s going to take some time. They haven’t been serious contenders in the East since joining (although it was Leaders and Legends before) and may not be for the next couple of years.

There was a glimmer of hope this season when the Terrapins beat a then-ranked Syracuse team by 43 points, dropping 63, but they finished the season just 1-9 after a 2-0 start.

Jarrett could be a program-changer, however. He could be the league’s next Rondale Moore who surprised everyone by picking Purdue and quickly became an All-American candidate. He may be able to fit in nicely with the offense and should see the field immediately.

It’s not every day the Terrapins get a five-star recruit, especially one who is ready to contribute from day one who passed on a playoff team to stay close to home.

Sure, Ed Orgeron is probably unhappy with the news, but the Tigers are just reloading and should be fine moving forward but Maryland just got its No. 1 receiver of the future and 20th best recruit in the country.

Good for you, Coach Locksley.