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On Friday morning, 4-star defensive tackle Cam Spence committed to the University of Maryland, kicking off D.J. Durkin’s 2017 recruiting class.
Spence is originally from Upper Marlboro, Md., and attended Gilman High School before transferring to the IMG Academy in Florida to improve his skill-set. After receiving offers from big name schools such as Ohio State and Ole Miss, Spence chose Maryland, and it was an easy decision.
“Maryland is home, it’s where I’m from and I can represent my home state,” Spence said in a phone interview Friday morning.
At first, Spence wanted to test the recruiting market knowing the potential he has. But with the Maryland offer already on the table, he also couldn’t envision wavering the opportunity to represent his hometown.
“I wasn’t going to make (the decision) this early,” Spence said. “My dad wanted me to wait, but I knew this is where I wanted to go, and this is where I wanted to be.”
Spence’s uncle, who passed away when he was 3 years old, attended the University of Maryland in 1979, and was a decorated football player — making first team All-ACC as an offensive lineman.
“I kind of just wanted to finish his legacy,” Spence said, something that no other school could ever offer him.
Assistant coach, Chris Beatty, was the main recruiter for Spence. However, the entire Maryland coaching staff, with head coach D.J. Durkin at the helm, have expressed strong interest in the talent the state of Florida has to offer.
Durkin is hoping to create a pipeline from Maryland to Florida, and to eventually call the state a “second home.”
“(Coach Durkin) brings a lot of excitement and energy to the table,” Spence said. “He just makes you ready to go.”
Durkin and the newly revamped coaching staff are trying to emphasize a change in football culture at Maryland, and players like Spence are important in making the switch.
Spence certainly is ready to take on the role, and has already discussed his urge to recruit others to join him in College Park.
Gilman quarterback, Kasim Hill, is one of his targets — especially because the two were teammates before Spence transferred. At the moment, Hill’s list of schools appears to be down to Maryland and Syracuse, but maybe Spence’s commitment could give the Terps the leverage they need,
Adding to the buzz around the rejuvenated Maryland football program, Spence also mentioned that he intends to enroll at College Park next January.
