Jan. 31, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland football program has added six student-athletes to its roster, Coach Ralph Friedgen announced Thursday.
Tight end Devonte Campbell, wide receiver Kevin Dorsey, tight end Matt Furstenburg, linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield, defensive lineman Carl Russell and defensive lineman Joe Vellano all enrolled in classes this week and will be eligible to participate in spring practice which begins on March 25.
All six players will have four years of eligibility starting with the 2008 season.
Campbell, Russell and Vellano signed National Letters of Intent with the Terps last season. Campbell attended Hargrave Military Academy in the fall, while Russell and Vellano delayed enrollment until this semester.
Dorsey, Furstenberg and Hartsfield completed their high school curriculum in December.
Campbell was one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation in 2006. He was a SuperPrep All-American and labeled a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. The native of nearby Forestville, Md., was ranked No. 12 nationally among tight ends by Scouts, Inc. and No. 15 by Rivals.com after his senior season at Forestville High School.
He posted 31 receptions for 1,145 yards and 13 TDs as a senior in leading his team to the Maryland 1A South Region final.
Dorsey, a teammate of Campbell, had a spectacular prep career. As a senior he recorded 50 catches for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns, and also scored on an interception, a 93-yard kickoff return, and by a run on a fake punt. He totaled 80 catches for 1,927 yards and 24 touchdowns his final two seasons.
Dorsey also made plays on defense, picking off four passes as a junior and seven as a senior.
A four-star recruit, Dorsey was the 19th-ranked receiver in the nation by Rivals.com and the 25th-rated receiver prospect by Scout.com. Dorsey also was the eighth-ranked overall prospect in the Mid-Atlantic Region according to SuperPrep.
Furstenberg, rated a four-star recruit by Scout.com, finished with 30 catches for 350 yards and four touchdowns his senior season (2006) at Hunterdon Central High School in Flemington, N.J. He also played defense where he recorded 76 tackles, including eight sacks.
Last season, Furstenberg attended The Hun School in Princeton, N.J., where he helped lead the Raiders to a 9-0 mark.
Hartsfield, a native of Raleigh, N.C., was the 30th-ranked inside linebacker prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com and the 52nd-ranked weak-side linebacker by Scout.com.
Hartsfield posted 260 tackles, including 19 sacks and 38 tackles for loss, as well as eight fumble recoveries over his final two seasons at Southeast Raleigh High School. As a senior, he also had six catches and three touchdowns as the team's starting tight end.
Russell is another local product. He played at H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C., where he earned All-Met honors along the offensive line as a senior in 2006. He also secured first-team All-DCIAA East accolades three times, twice as an offensive lineman and once as a defensive lineman.
Vellano was an all-state performer and the Section II Player of the Year in 2006 while at Christian Brothers Academy in Rexford, N.Y. He was tapped the No. 10 prospect in the state of New York as a senior. He recorded 68 tackles in 2006 and 78 in his junior year.
The Terps will announce their complete 2008 recruiting class Wednesday.
Terp Notes:
Signing Day: National signing day for football is set for Wednesday, February 6. Maryland's Web site - umterps.com - will provide up-to-the-minute coverage. Notification of signings will be posted shortly after being received in the athletics compliance office. Bios and player video will also be posted to umterps.com. Friedgen will address the media at 3 p.m. in the Gossett Team House. That video stream will be carried live on Maryland All-Access, similar to the in-season Tuesday news conferences.
Signing Day Celebration: The Maryland Gridiron Network will hold a signing day celebration on campus at the Riggs Alumni Center beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 6. The event is open to all Maryland football fans. Click here for more information.
