University of Maryland Athletics

Feb. 6, 2002

Friedgen Comments on 2002 Recruiting Class

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head football coach Ralph Friedgen announced today the signing of 21 recruits for the 2002 season.

This year's class -- which comes on the heels of Friedgen's first full season as a head coach and his team's ensuing ACC title -- features three quarterbacks, two running backs, three wide receivers, a tight end, two offensive linemen, one defensive linemen, five linebackers, two defensive backs, one punter and two players who fall under the "athlete" classification (will likely play WR or DB).

The class sticks to the guidelines Friedgen laid out in his first year as the Maryland/D.C. area is well represented (eight players), while top players from all over the country have also signed on with the Terrapins. Also represented are the states of California (1), Florida (2), Georgia (2), New York (2), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (4) and Texas (1).

"I am very happy with this year's class as we were able to improve our athleticism and our speed," said Friedgen. "We have been able to keep some of the area's best players here at home and we were able to help ourselves at some positions that we saw as needs. We felt we needed immediate help at linebacker and we addressed some of those needs while I think we also helped ourselves at the quarterback position, both in the immediate future as well as down the road. We are very pleased with the people we competed with to get these student-athletes as the schools that sought after them are some of college football's top-flight programs." .

Update (Feb. 7, 11:50 a.m.): Standout linebacker D'Qwell Jackson of Seminole High School in the St. Petersburg, Fla., area has officially committed to the Terps to add to an already strong class of linebackers.

Below is a list of the recruits who have joined head coach Ralph Friedgen and staff (bios of each player to follow below the recruit roster):

* indicates members of this year's recruiting class who have already enrolled at Maryland

2002 Recruit Bios:

Paschal Abiamiri
Wide Receiver
6-2 - 191 - Fr.
Randallstown, Md.
(Mt. Saint Joseph HS)
High School: Attends Mt. Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Md. ... a two-year starter at wide receiver ... speedy receiver with good size and hands ... caught 38 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns as a senior ... also was on the receiving end of two two-point conversions and was the "gunner" on special teams in 2001 ... best year, statistically, was his junior season when he had 42 receptions for 782 yards and seven TDs ... a first-team All-MIAA (Maryland Interscholastic Athletics Association) pick as a senior ... also a second-team all-city and all-county selection ... an All-Atlantic region selection by PrepStar ... team went 15-6 in his two years on varsity ... also runs track and played basketball as a junior ... competes indoors and outdoors in the 200 and 400 meters, the long jump, triple jump and high jump ... verbally committed to Maryland prior to the 2001 season ... high school coach was Mike Working.
Personal: Paschal Abiamiri was born April 23, 1984 ... is the son of Rita and Peter Abiamiri and the brother of current Terp wideout, Rob ... maintains a 3.42 grade point average ... planned major is computer science ... name is pronounced PASS-kull.

Josh Allen
Tailback
5-11 - 194 - Fr.
Bladensburg, Md.
(Eleanor Roosevelt HS)
High School: Attends Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. ... highly rated running back who was named a SuperPrep All-American following his senior season ... rated 34th among the nation's running backs by SuperPrep ... one of the state of Maryland's top high school prospects ... totaled 2,999 rushing yards his junior and senior seasons ... a consensus all-state selection who was named second team All-Met by the Washington Post in 2001 ... named first team all-league and first team all-county ... a powerful back with outstanding speed, he rushed for 1,771 yards and 21 touchdowns on just 129 carries (13.7 average) as a senior despite missing three games with a bruised knee ... caught nine passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns ... helped Roosevelt to a 12-1 record, a state Class 4A runner-up finish and a final state Associated Press ranking of No. 7 ... as a junior in 2000, he rushed for 1,228 yards and 14 touchdowns in a Wing-T offensive attack ... had three TD catches among his six receptions ... named second team all-state and second team all-county ... an outstanding track athlete who was the 2001 state Class 4A champion in the 100 meters (10.8) and the Prince George's County champion in the triple jump and long jump as a junior ... ran on the winning 4x200 relay team at the Nike New Balance Games in January of 2002, posting a time of 1:28.62 (the 10th fastest high school indoor mark ever, according to Track & Field News) ... also recruited by Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and Georgia ... high school coach was Rick Houchens.
Personal: Josh Allen was born June 11, 1983 ... son of Leonard Allen ... plans to major in sports medicine ... relocated to the Maryland area from Tampa, Fla., after his sophomore year of high school when his father was transferred for job-related reasons ... high school teammate of fellow Maryland signee Chris Choice.

Chris Choice
Athlete
5-11 - 175 - Fr.
Suitland, Md.
(Eleanor Roosevelt HS)
High School: Attends Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. ... talented two-way player with exceptional speed ... earned All-America honors on opposite sides of the ball from two major recruiting publications (as a wide receiver by PrepStar, as a defensive back by SuperPrep) following his senior season ... judged by some analysts to be the top wide receiver and cornerback in the state of Maryland ... rated No. 19 among the nation's defensive backs by SuperPrep following a senior season in which he registered 12 interceptions (at least one pick in all but two games) ... in his junior and senior seasons combined, he averaged a whopping 30.4 yards per catch (24 receptions for 730 yards) and had nine TD's for a team which threw the ball sparingly ... on defense, he totaled 16 interceptions his junior and senior seasons ... as a senior, the big-play wide receiver totaled 13 catches for 319 yards (24.5 average) and a team-best five touchdowns ... he also had 57 tackles on defense ... helped Eleanor Roosevelt to a 12-1 record, a state Class 4A runner-up finish and a final state Associated Press ranking of No. 7 ... as a junior in 2000, he totaled 11 receptions for 411 yards and four touchdowns on offense in addition to accumulating 52 tackles, four interceptions and three quarterback sacks as a cornerback on defense ... he was named honorable mention all-county by the PG Journal ... in track and field, he participated on the 4x200 relay team which placed second in the state championships ... also recruited by Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami (Fla.), Pittsburgh and North Carolina ... high school coach was Rick Houchens.
Personal: Chris Choice was born November 11, 1983 ... son of Tony Crooks and Sharon Choice ... high school teammate of fellow Maryland signee Josh Allen.

Nathaniel Clayton
Offensive Lineman
6-5 - 310 - Fr.
Baltimore, Md.
(City College HS)
High School: Attends City College High School in Baltimore, Md. ... a three-year starter and four-year varsity letterman at offensive guard ... also played defensive tackle for the Black Knights ... player who has been described as very agile for his size ... posted 50 tackles (14 unassisted) with seven sacks and two fumble recoveries at DT as a senior ... named all-state by the Maryland Football Coaches Association ... first team All-Metro by the Baltimore Sun ... also a first team all-county and all-city pick by the Sun ... named to the Baltimore Touchdown Club All-Star team ... was second team all-city and all-county as a junior as well as an honorable mention All-Metro pick ... an all-Atlantic region selection by PrepStar ... ranked as the 41st-best offensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com recruiting service ... benches 350 and squats 420 ... team went 11-1 in 2001 and lost in the 2A state final ... played basketball as a freshman and sophomore ... was also recruited by NC State, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Duke ... high school coach was George Petrides.
Personal: Nathaniel Clayton was born November 14, 1984 ... is the son of Cathy and Nathaniel Clayton, Sr. ... planned major is computer science ... was a Junior Olympics judo champion in 1993 and 1994.

Randy Earle
Linebacker/Defensive End
6-3 - 229 - Fr.
North Massapequa, N.Y.
(Farmingdale HS)
High School: Attends Farmingdale High School in Long Island, N.Y. ... a three-year starter and four-year varsity letterman who played rush end as well as fullback as a prep ... is the total package from an athletic standpoint ... clocked at 4.7 in the 40-yard dash ... 31-inch vertical jump, 370-lb. bench and 415 squat ... had 68 tackles, eight sacks, a safety, two fumble recoveries, an interception and six QB hurries as a senior despite being double-teamed all year ... posted 23 sacks in his three years as a starter ... a first team All-Nassau County selection in 2001 ... a SuperPrep All-American who was rated as the 16th-best linebacker in the nation and third-best player (overall) in the region ... an All-East region pick by PrepStar, who ranked him as the sixth-best defensive lineman in the region ... team went 10-1 in 2001 and won the Long Island Championships ... in his final three years, team won one Long Island and two Conference I championships ... also participated in basketball (power forward), lacrosse (midfield) and track & field ... was also recruited by Penn State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Tennessee and Virginia ... high school coach was Buddy Krumenacker.
Personal: Randy Earle was born July 30, 1983 ... both of his parents, his brother and sister are deceased ... has lived with the families of different teammates throughout his high school career ... made news by stopping at the scene of a head-on automobile collision when he was a junior and pulling a mother and daughter to safety on the side of the road ... planned major is psychology.

Orlando Evans
Quarterback
6-0 - 190 - Jr.
Stockton, Calif.
(Brookside Christian HS/CCSF)
Junior College: Graduated from City College of San Francisco where he played one season at the California junior college powerhouse after transferring from Solano Community College in Suisun City, Calif. ... enrolled at Maryland for the spring 2002 semester and will participate in the Terps' spring drills ... intelligent, athletic quarterback who throws and runs well ... rated the No. 23 JC prospect in the country (all positions) by SuperPrep ... at CCSF in 2001, he led his team to the mythical national championship and an undefeated season ... completed 165 of 251 (.657) passes for 2,391 yards and 28 touchdowns ... finished the season as the state's second-rated passer, posting a quarterback rating of 179.4 ... CCSF went 12-0 in 2001, defeating Palomar College 61-12 in the California Community College championship game ... it was the 36th consecutive win and third straight state title for CCSF ... in the state title game, Evans threw four touchdown passes, including three in the first half as CCSF built a 47-0 lead ... in all, Evans was 16 of 28 for 208 yards and was selected the offensive player of the game ... in a big matchup vs. Sacramento CC, Evans had a hand in all seven of his team's touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in a 50-22 victory ... in addition to finishing the season as the state's second-rated passer, Evans finished 10th in the state in total offense (260.1 ypg) ... Evans directed an offensive unit that averaged 457.5 yards per game ... as a freshman at Solano CC, Evans finished 21st in the state in total offense (207.8 ypg) while directing an offensive unit that finished ninth in the state in total yards (439.7 ypg) ... junior college coach was George Rush.
Oregon: Redshirted the 1999 season at the University of Oregon before transferring prior to the start of the fall 2000 season ... participated in spring drills in 2000, completing 3 of 10 passes for 30 yards in the spring game ... combined to complete 9 of 16 passes for 233 yards one touchdown and one interception in two other major spring scrimmages ... in 1999, during his redshirt freshman season, the Ducks went 9-3 and defeated Minnesota in the Sun Bowl.
High School: Graduated from Brookside Christian High School (Stockton, Calif.) in 1999 ... was considered one of the more athletic signal-callers on the West Coast as a senior ... rated the fourth-best QB and 48th-best player over on SuperPrep's list of top players in the West ... named Superior California Athletic League MVP after completing 161 of 230 (.700) passes for 2,782 yards and 37 touchdowns ... led Brookside Christian to a 9-2 record in only its second year of existence ... also rushed for more than 500 yards and scored 13 touchdowns rushing ... received five of 10 votes on the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West listing ... earned all-state recognition from Cal-Hi Sports in addition to pulling down all-area and All-San Joaquin County honors ... was nominated to play in the California-Texas all-star game ... a multi-sport athlete who captured honorable mention All-America honors in basketball after helping lead his team to a Division V state title and the state finals as a point guard ... also ran the third leg on the school's 4x100-meter relay team which advanced to the state track and field finals ... selected Maryland over Iowa, Oregon Sate, Indiana, Mississippi State and Kansas.
Personal: Orlando Antone-Cordell Evans was born December 26, 1980 in Seattle, Wash. ... son of Olivia Collins ... has two sisters ... plans to major in criminal justice or family studies.

Reuben Haigler
Cornerback
6-0 - 179 - Fr.
New Cumberland, Pa.
(Cedar Cliff HS/Lackawanna JC)
Junior College: Attends Lackawanna Junior College in Scranton, Pa., where he played the past two seasons under former Maryland football player Mark Duda (1979-82) ... a quick learner who has excellent speed (4.4, 10.6) and solid cover skills ... was always matched up against the opposition's top receiver ... an extremely consistent player who also works hard in the weight room, according to his coaches ... he is the third Lackawanna defensive back to transfer to Maryland in recent years, joining current Terp Jamal Chance (a former Lackawanna teammate who transferred to Maryland a year ago) and former Terp Renard Cox (1998-99) ... Cox has spent time in the NFL and World League since completing his eligibility in 1999, Chance completed his first season with the Terps in 2001 and is a senior-to-be on the Maryland roster ... because of his age, size, speed and experience, is expected to help fortify a secondary unit that was dominated by seniors last season ... Haigler, who had seven interceptions in his JC career, was considered one of Lackawanna's defensive standouts and the best corner in the conference in 2001, registering 37 solo tackles, four interceptions and three pass breakups ... earned second team Northeast Football Conference all-league honors after helping Lackawanna to a second consecutive 10-0 regular-season record and a No. 9 final national ranking ... Lackawanna finished the year 10-1 after falling to Ricks College in the Real Dairy Bowl in Pocatello, Idaho ... as a freshman in 2000, he had three interceptions, four pass breakups and 17 tackles and was a key contributor for a Lackawanna team which posted the first 10-0 regular season in school history and finished the regular season with a final No. 10 national ranking ... Lackawanna advanced to the Golden Isles Bowl Classic in Brunswick, Ga., in 2000 ... was a starter on a pair of Northeast Football Conference championship teams ... Lackawanna was 20-2 in his two seasons at the school ... a team captain as a sophomore ... listed as a "player to watch" prior to his sophomore season in the 2001 National Junior College Athletic Association football media guide ... selected Maryland over Michigan State, Auburn and Kansas State.
High School: Graduated from Cedar Cliff High School (Camp Hill, Pa.) in 2000 ... selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star game, but did not play because of a hamstring injury.
Personal: Reuben Haigler was born May 29, 1982 ... son of Vanessa and Reuben Haigler, Sr. ... plans to major in marketing ... family now resides in Jonesboro, Ga.

Stephon Heyer
Offensive Tackle
6-6 - 290 - Fr.
Lawrenceville, Ga.
(Brookwood HS)
High School: Attends Brookwood High School in Lawrenceville, Ga. ... rapidly developing player who was recruited by a host of national programs before selecting Maryland ... considered a "late-late bloomer" by his high school coach, Dave Hunter, who says his best playing days are in front of him ... only has played four years of organized football ... is now listed at 290 pounds after playing his senior season at 264, according to his prep coach ... has added six inches and 100 pounds to his frame since his freshman year ... wears a size 21 shoe (the Atlanta Falcons helped him find proper-fitting cleats) ... a player with outstanding character, according to his high school coach ... starter at left tackle as a senior after playing in a limited role on the varsity as a junior ... comes from a program which has forged a reputation for producing outstanding offensive linemen, including Curt McGill of Georgia, who is expected to be drafted by the NFL this spring ... helped Brookwood to a 5-5 record in 2001 ... played for a high school program which won 100 games during the decade of the 1990s and won a state title in 1996 ... also recruited by Georgia, Michigan, Arkansas, Clemson, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Kentucky ... Brookwood High is the alma mater of Denver Broncos placekicker Jason Elam.
Personal: Stephon Heyer was born January 16, 1984 ... son of Ronald and Glenda Heyer ... plans to major in business.

Sam Hollenbach
Quarterback
6-5 - 215 - Fr.
Sellersville, Pa.
(Pennridge HS)
High School: Attends Pennridge High School in Perkasie, Penn., where he played for his father, Jeff Hollenbach ... his father is a former football letterwinner at the University of Illinois where he quarterbacked the Fighting Illini in 1973 and `74 ... tall, athletic QB with a strong arm who ran a Wing-T offensive attack ... three-year varsity player who was the team's starting signal-caller as a junior and senior ...in his two seasons as a starter, he completed 168 of 308 (.545) passes for 2,754 yards and 26 touchdowns ... he also rushed 57 times for 140 yards and 11 scores ... as a senior, he led Pennridge to an 8-3 record, including four come-from-behind victories that were decided in the final minute of play ... two of those victories came on the road against perennial Pennsylvania powers North Penn and Central Bucks West ... performed extremely well in his team's two-minute offense ... passed for 1,250 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2001 ... earned a host of awards and honors following his senior season, including the Maxwell Award (one of 25 students-athletes in Philadelphia and South Jersey areas), first team all-area by the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer, first team All-National Conference and third team all-state by the Pennyslvania Football News ... a preseason and postseason SuperPrep all-region choice ... nominated to play in the Big 33 all-star game ... as a junior, passed for 1,504 yards while throwing about 10 times per game for a team that totaled 2,500 yards rushing ... was an all-league baseball player as a junior ... has a 3.93 grade point average ... member of the National Honor Society ... serves as the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... also recruited by Michigan State, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
Personal: Samuel Hollenbach was born Sept. 9, 1983 in Doylestown, Pa. ... son of Jeff and Elizabeth Hollenbach ... plans to major in engineering ... his father, Jeff, was a quarterback at Pennridge High School.

Reggie Holmes
Linebacker
6-1 - 234 - Fr.
Bowie, Md.
(Bowie HS)
High School: Attends Bowie High School in Bowie, Md. ... a three-year starter at inside linebacker ... played tight end as well ... defensive leader for state championship team in 2001 with 137 tackles, four sacks and 11 tackles for loss ... played four games with a broken thumb but still had nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown ... started 29 consecutive games at one point in his career ... posted a season-high 17 tackles against Douglass and Suitland in consecutive weeks ... had 14 tackles in the state championship game ... notched 101 tackles as a junior and caught 12 passes ... timed at 4.7 in the 40 and has posted a 330-lb. bench and 400-lb. squat ... a SuperPrep All-American who is ranked as the 30th-best linebacker in the country and fifth-best in the Mid-Atlantic region ... an All-Atlantic region selection by PrepStar ... rated by PrepStar as the second-best tight end in the region ... a first team all-state selection by Associated Press ... a first team All-Met pick by the Washington Post ... named to George Michael's Golden 11 team ... team had amazing turnaround in his last two years ... BHS was 6-4 his junior year, marking the first winning record in 12 years at the school ... the 11-2 mark and 4A state championship in 2001 was the first in school history and came on the team's first playoff appearance since 1987 ... played basketball as a freshman ... participated in indoor and outdoor track ... also recruited by Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan State, Syracuse and Tennessee ... high school coach was Scott Chadwick.
Personal: Reggie Holmes was born July 29, 1984 ... son of Patience and Reggie Holmes, Sr. ... father played football at NC Central ... cousin, Wayne, was a member of Penn State's 1995 Rose Bowl team ... planned major is communications.

John "JP" Humber
Running Back
5-11 - 196 - Fr.
Lakeland, Fla.
(George Jenkins HS)
High School: Attends George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Fla. ... a two-year starter in the offensive backfield who also played some free safety ... explosive runner who excels in space and catching the ball out of the backfield ... had never played football before his sophomore year of high school ... combined for nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards (700 rushing) as a senior despite being sidelined for the season with a dislocated shoulder in the sixth game of the year ... had five rushing and three receiving touchdowns in 2001 ... had a career-long 94-yard TD run against rival Lakeland High School ... played tailback and receiver as a junior and accounted for 1,800 all-purpose yards ... timed at 4.47 in the 40 and has posted a 36-inch vertical jump, 265-lb. bench and 405-lb. squat ... an honorable mention all-district and All-Polk County selection as a senior despite missing four games ... second team all-county and honorable mention all-district as a junior ... an All-Dixie region pick by SuperPrep ... is the first football player from his high school to earn a Division I-A scholarship ... also a member of the GJHS weightlifting and track teams ... grew up playing soccer ... was also recruited by Alabama and Arkansas ... high school coach was Casey Vaughn.
Personal: John Paul Humber was born August 9, 1983 ... son of Clement and Pauline Humber ... planned major is English ... spent time over the summer volunteering at the Soaring Eagle Football Camp for kids.

D'Qwell Jackson
Linebacker
6-1 - 215 - Fr.
Largo, Fla.
(Seminole HS)
High School: Attends Seminole High School in Seminole, Fla. ... a three-year letterwinner who spent time at linebacker, fullback, quarterback and punter as a prep ... big-hitting linebacker who covers a lot of ground ... made 91 tackles as a senior, including 10 sacks ... also rushed for 950 yards with a 5.7-yard average and 13 touchdowns as a fullback ... made 150 tackles with 16 for a loss, four forced fumbles and four fumbles recovered as a junior ... was the Warhawk's quarterback in 2000 ... timed at 4.68 in the 40 and benched 225 pounds 19 times at his school's testing day ... a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press as a junior and senior ...a first team all-conference, all-district and All-Sun Coast selection as a senior ... was also an all-Time Warner first team pick which encompasses Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties on Florida's Gulf Coast ... an All-Dixie region selection by SuperPrep ... an All-Southeast region pick by PrepStar ... played in the prestigious Florida/Georgia All-Star game ... led all tacklers with 10 in a 40-13 Florida win ... SHS went 23-4 in his last two years and made the regional finals both seasons ... 2000 team was undefeated in the regular season and finished 12-1 ... was also recruited by Florida, NC State and Louisiana State ... high school coach was Sam Roper.
Personal: D'Qwell Jackson was born September 26, 1983 ... son of Willie and Debra Jackson ... planned major is business administration ... served as a mentor for youngsters this last year at a local elementary school ... vice president of the Varsity Lettermen's Club at his high school ... maintains a 3.2 grade point average.

William Kershaw
Linebacker
6-3 - 205 - Fr.
Raeford, N.C.
(Hoke County HS)
High School: Attends Hoke County High School in Raeford, N.C. ... a two-year starter at middle linebacker ... a very athletic linebacker with good lateral movement ... racked up 135 tackles with two interceptions, four fumble recoveries and seven sacks as a senior ... 69 of his 135 tackles were of the solo variety ... timed at 4.56 in the 40 ... has posted a bench press of 320 pounds and a 475-lb. squat ... a first team All-Mid Southeastern Conference selection as a senior and a junior ... also a first team all-region pick as a senior ... an honorable mention all-region selection by PrepStar ... also a two-year letterwinner in basketball ... was also recruited by Wake Forest, Duke and Richmond ... high school coach was Greg Bryant.
Personal: William Kershaw was born December 15, 1983 ... son of Betty and William Kershaw, Sr. ... planned major is computer sciences ... nicknamed the "Hit Man" by his teammates.

Dan Melendez
Wide Receiver
6-2 - 155 - Fr.
Lancaster, Pa.
(J.P. McCaskey HS)
High School: Attends J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster Pa. ... big-play talent with outstanding speed who has the ability to stretch defenses ... clocked a 4.3 40 at the Nike Camp in April, 2001 ... named Associated Press Big Schools all-state and All-East by Student Sports Magazine as a senior ... also was named to the Patriot-News "Platinum 33" all-star team and to all-region teams by SuperPrep and PrepStar ... voted the Lancaster-Lebanon League's wide receiver of the year ... formed a dangerous combination with quarterback Perry Patterson, who was expected to sign with Syracuse ... helped McCaskey to a 10-2 overall record, league co-championship and a district runner-up showing in 2001...finished his three-year career ranked among the top five receivers in school history ... in three years as a starter on the varsity, he totaled 87 receptions for 1,838 yards (21.1 average) and 17 touchdowns ... also participates on the track and field team, competing in the triple jump (44-11), 100 meters (10.8) and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays ... helped McCaskey to the county track championship in 2001 ... played at the same high school that produced former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Doug Dennison ... also recruited by Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Penn State and Duke ... high school coach was Scott Feldman
Personal: Daniel Melendez was born Feb. 16, 1984 in Bronx, N.Y. ... son of Diana and Al McHenry ... plans to major in marine biology and criminal justice.

Shawne Merriman
Linebacker
6-3 - 218 - Fr.
Upper Marlboro, Md.
(Frederick Douglass HS)
High School: Attends Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. ... a three-year starter at linebacker ... also played tight end ... complete player who combines hard work with outstanding physical skills (38-inch vertical jump, 360-lb. bench, 550-lb. squat) ... already adept at film study ... FDHS's career tackle leader with a total of 443 ... had eight career interceptions ... posted 158 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and two blocked punts as a senior ... also had 21 receptions for 428 yards and six touchdowns ... career-high 163 tackles and four interceptions came as a junior in 2000 ... led the team in tackles with 122 as a sophomore ... selected as first team all-state and Maryland defensive player of the year as a senior by the Associated Press ... first team All-Metro by the Washington Post in 2001 ... chosen defensive player of the year by the PG Journal ... first team all-county (junior and senior) and all-league (senior) ... a SuperPrep All-American ... rated the number one linebacker in the state of Maryland (and the 14th-best in the nation) by SuperPrep ... also rated by SuperPrep as the second-best player overall in the Mid-Atlantic region ... an All-Atlantic region honoree by PrepStar ... named to George Michael's Golden 11 team ... team compiled a 27-5 record (including a 10-0 regular season in 2000) in his three years as a starter ... also a three-year starter in basketball ... named one of the top five defenders (basketball) in the D.C. area by the Washington Post ... averaged 13.2 points and 16.3 rebounds per game as a junior ... was also recruited by Notre Dame, South Carolina, Syracuse and NC State ... high school coach was Bill Johnson.
Personal: Shawne Merriman was born May 25, 1984 ... son of Gloria Williams ... planned major is computer engineering.

Adam Podlesh
Punter
5-10 - 185 - Fr.
Pittsford, N.Y.
(Pittsford Sutherland HS)
High School: Attends Pittsford Sutherland High School, near Rochester, N.Y. ... three-year varsity starter who punted and kicked in addition to playing fullback and linebacker as a senior ... will come to Maryland primarily as a punter although he will also have the opportunity to vie for placekicking duties and kickoff chores ... is an outstanding student who was named first team all-state as a scholar-athlete by the New York coaches' association ... earned all-region honors from SuperPrep and first team all-state honors as a punter/kicker from the New York State Writers Association in 2001 after connecting on 4 of 6 field goal attempts (including kicks of 47 and 37 yards) and punting for a 40.7-yard average ... in addition, 86 percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks ... the versatile Podlesh also totaled 92 tackles, five sacks, 638 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while playing on both sides of the ball ... was selected first team All-Greater Rochester by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and first team All-Monroe County ... helped Pittsford Sutherland to a Class 1-Section 5 title and a 7-3 overall record as a senior ... as a junior, was named first team all-county, honorable mention All-Greater Rochester and sixth team all-state for a Class 1-Section 5 semifinalist ... was first team all-county and honorable mention All-Greater Rochester as a sophomore ... has outstanding track speed, as he posted the fastest 200 (21.58) and 400 meter times (50.5) in the state as a junior ... ran the third leg of the state title-winning 4x100 relay team in 2000 ... attends the same high school that produced former Terp defensive lineman Eric Calendine ... also recruited by Penn State, Syracuse, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Stanford ... high school coach was Scott Barker.
Personal: Adam Podlesh was born August 11, 1983 ... son of Jack and Jean Podlesh ... plans to major in life sciences ... last name is pronounced "pod-lush."

Dave Quaintance
Defensive Tackle
6-5 - 266 - Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
(Archbishop Ryan HS)
High School: Attends Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia, Pa. ... a three-year starter at defensive end who also spent time at tight end and offensive guard ... good-sized player with excellent quickness ... led team in sacks with 11 in 2001 ... also caught four passes for 27 yards ... lone TD was the game-winner over arch-rival George Washington (alma mater of Bruce Perry and Jafar Williams) in the season finale ... a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press ... first team All-Catholic League and all-city by the Philadelphia Daily News ... second team All-Catholic League as a tight end and defensive lineman by the league's coaches ... listed as one of Pennsylvania's top 25 prospects by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ... an All-Northeast region selection by SuperPrep and an All-East region pick by PrepStar ... was also recruited by Penn State, Purdue, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Virginia and West Virginia ... high school coach was Glen Galeone.
Personal: David Quaintance was born November 7, 1983 ... son of Sallie and David Quaintance, Sr. ... planned major is sports medicine.

Domonique Richmond
Athlete
6-0 - 183 - Fr.
Hagerstown, Md.
(South Hagerstown HS)
High School: Attends South Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Md. ... a state champion sprinter who is rated the fourth-best quarterback in the Atlantic Region by PrepStar and the top QB in the state of Maryland ... a three-year varsity starter (he did not compete at South Hagerstown in football as a sophomore while attending Montrose Christian before transferring back to South Hagerstown) who saw most of his action as a freshman at split end ... in his two full seasons directing an option attack, he completed 119 of 218 passes for 2,022 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns on 170 carries ... as a senior in 2001, he passed for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 535 yards and nine TD's ... named PrepStar All-American in addition to being named SuperPrep all-region, honorable mention all-state, All-Washington County and all-league ... against Francis Scott Key, he completed 22 of 37 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns, one of the top passing games in the state in 2001 ... as a junior, he passed for 843 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 384 yards and three scores ... he also had four interceptions on defense ... he was named the Offensive Player of the Year in Washington County and all-area as a defensive back ... as a freshman in 1998, he started on the varsity at split end (14 receptions for 162 yards) before starting at quarterback for the final three games of the season ... he totaled five career interceptions while playing on defense, including one returned 95 yards for a game-winning touchdown vs. Middletown ... his accomplishments for the track team include winning the state 800 meter title in 1999 and the state 400 meter title (48.0) in 2001 ... his time of 1:56.6 in the 800 is a school record ... he also ran the anchor leg on the 4x400 relay team which finished second in the state meet in 2001 ... as a point guard on the basketball team., he started as a freshman and has been the team's leading scorer as a junior and senior ... also recruited by West Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia ... high school coach was Greg Kellick.
Personal: Domonique Richmond was born October 1, 1983 ... son of Richard Richmond and Barbara Jackson.

Brad Schell
Tight End
6-5 - 220 - Fr.
Spencerville, Md.
(Paint Branch HS)
High School: Attends Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Md. ... a two-year starter at tight end ... intelligent player with good size and is still growing (grew an inch his senior year) ... considered one of the best blocking tight ends in the Mid-Atlantic region ... caught 30 passes for 486 yards and one touchdown as a senior ... top game was a six-catch, 98-yard, one touchdown effort against Springbrook ... had 21 receptions for 342 yards and three TDs as a junior ... timed at 4.69 in the 40 and bench pressed 185 18 times at the 2001 Maryland High School Combine ... a first team all-state selection by the Associated Press as a senior ... also earned first team all-Met (Washington Post) and all-county (PG Journal and Gazette Newspapers) honors in 2001 ... was a second team all-county pick as a junior ... a Mid-Atlantic all-region selection by SuperPrep who is dubbed the 13th-best player in the region by the publication ...rated the number three tight end and an All-Atlantic region choice of PrepStar ... team went 16-4 in his two years as a starter ... played offensive guard and defensive end in his two years on JV ... an all-state selection as a defenseman in lacrosse ... was also recruited by Virginia Tech and Illinois ... high school coach was Bob Windsor.
Personal: Bradley Schell was born January 12, 1984 ... son of William and Jerri Schell ... planned major is aerospace engineering ... interested in the fields of aviation and aerospace as a career ... carries a 3.25 GPA.

Joel Statham
Quarterback
6-1 - 185 - Fr.
Chatsworth, Ga.
(Murray County HS)
High School: Attends Murray County High School in Chatsworth, Ga. ... highly-touted option quarterback who led his high school to more victories (19) in a two-year period than any other QB in school history ... an outstanding decision maker and the best pure athlete to run the option at his high school in the last 20 years, according to his coach, Bill Napier, who has had eight quarterbacks receive college scholarships during his two-decade tenure at the school ... excellent athlete who has extremely quick hands ... evidence of his decision-making skills were apparent during his junior season as he led a trio of players, including himself, who all rushed for more than 1,000 yards ... as a senior in 2001, he accounted for 18 touchdowns (nine rushing, nine passing) while throwing for 890 yards and rushing for 820 yards ... was a SuperPrep all-region choice in addition to being selected to the prestigious Georgia-Florida All-Star game (top 35 players from each state) ... also was selected All-North Georgia by the Chattanooga News Free-Press and all-area by the Dalton Daily Citizen-News ... selected his team's Player of the Year after helping guide his team to a 9-3 record and the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs ... as a junior in 2000, he rushed for 1,074 yards and 13 touchdowns while passing for 882 yards and 11 TD's ... set a school record (broken later in the season by a teammate) when he rushed for 217 yards in a game vs. Southeast Whitfield High ... was selected his team MVP as a junior ... was his team's starting receiver as a sophomore and the team's four-year starting punter ... showed a glimpse of his ability early in his career when he recorded the longest run from scrimmage in school history as a freshman, going 98 yards for a touchdown vs. Ringgold High School ... also plays basketball and baseball ... in basketball, was a key contributor on a team which reached the state quarterfinals his sophomore season ... has led the team in scoring as a junior and senior ... a pitcher/outfielder for the baseball team ... also recruited by Auburn, Wake Forest, Western Michigan, Middle Tennessee and Georgia ... high school coach was Bill Napier.
Personal: Joel Statham was born April 23, 1984 ... son of Mark Statham and Denise Bartley ... plans to major in computer science ... last name is pronounced "state-um."

Jo Jo Walker
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
5-10 - 165 - Fr.
Carrollton, Texas
(Creekview HS)
High School: Attends Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas ... two-year varsity starter as a free safety ... led his high school in tackles and interceptions both seasons ... as a senior, had 112 total tackles, five interceptions, seven pass breakups and three fumble recoveries ... as a junior, totaled 111 tackles, six interceptions and had five returns for touchdowns (three interceptions, one punt and one kickoff) ... was a two-time first team unanimous all-district choice ... as a senior, was named second team All-Metroplex (Dallas-Forth Worth area) ... selected to the Dallas-Forth Worth Coca-Cola All-Star game following his senior season ... helped his high school, which has been in existence only two years, to a combined record of 15-6 in the state's highest classification, including an 8-3 mark and a spot in the district playoffs in 2001 ... had a 22-tackle effort in a game vs. R.L. Turner High School his senior season ... a player with great speed who is very physical for his size ... has great closing speed ... also recruited by Purdue, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio State and Texas Tech ... high school coach was Garry Monty.
Personal: Joseph Walker was born January 6, 1983 ... plans to major in business administration.

Marcus Wimbush
Safety
5-11 - 180 - Fr.
Washington, D.C.
(Dunbar HS)
High School: A three-year letterwinner at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. ... has attended Montgomery College for the last year ... in his three-year career at DHS, he totaled 20 interceptions, 198 tackles and 12 caused fumbles ... named the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2000 ... tabbed by the Post as one of "the Washington area's hardest hitters" ... was a SuperPrep All-America selection who totaled 58 tackles, three interceptions and caused four fumbles as a senior ... rated the 13th-best defensive back in the country and fifth-best player overall in the Mid-Atlantic region by SuperPrep ... team went 9-3 and won its third straight DCIAA championship in 2000 ... was a preseason Mid-Atlantic all-region choice by PrepStar ... named to George Michael's Golden 11 All-Star team as a senior ... totaled more than 100 tackles, nine interceptions and 10 pass breakups as a junior in capturing All-Met and all-league recognition ... was also recruited by Pittsburgh and Michigan State ... high school coach was Craig Jefferies.
Personal: Marcus Joseph Wimbush was born November 1, 1982 ... son of Jacqueline and Jessie Smith.