Penn State has long been a competitor to Maryland football in recruiting the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. But after a 3-4 start and coach James Franklin’s firing on Oct. 12, some Nittany Lions could look to return to their home state.

Eight prospects in the 2026 class decommitted from Penn State after Franklin’s firing. One already scheduled a visit to College Park. The Nittany Lions’ 2025 roster hosts 13 players from Maryland, including a few who visited College Park during their recruitment.

Coach Michael Locksley and the Terps now have the opportunity to bring local talent back to College Park.

Three-star wide receiver Lavar Keys from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, who decommitted from Penn State on Oct. 12, will visit Maryland in November. Though he remains committed to the Nittany Lions, three-star defensive lineman Tavian Branch from Riverside in Taylor, Pennsylvania, will also visit College Park.

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Redshirt freshman defensive end Jaylen Harvey was a four-star recruit at Quince Orchard in Gaithersburg, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Freshman defensive end Cortez Harris earned a composite four-star rating at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, and freshman receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. was a top-10 player in Maryland in the 2025 class.

All three officially visited Maryland before committing to Penn State.

Commits

Levi Babin, 2027, Athlete, Episcopal (Alexandria, Virginia)

Maryland landed its first commitment in the 2027 class Wednesday with a local recruit. Babin, who plays running back and defensive back at Episcopal, chose the Terps just more than a month after visiting for their game against Towson.

Maryland offered Babin on July 31.He’s expected to play defensive back in college. The junior also received offers from Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, among others.

Baseball

Ryder Sowa, 2027, Right-handed pitcher and first baseman, Calvert Hall College (Rosedale, Maryland)

Sowa, the sixth member of Maryland baseball’s 2027 recruiting class and its first in-state recruit, according to Perfect Game, committed to the Terps on Monday.

[Maryland football mailbag: where Michael Locksley stands amid Terps’ struggles]

Perfect Game grades the junior 8.5 out of 10, between a “Potential draft pick and/or excellent college prospect” and “Potential top-10 round pick and/or highest level college prospect.”

Sowa’s fastball tops out at 90 miles an hour, while his velocity ranks in the 99th percentile of his class.

Softball

Izzy Cino, 2027, Infielder, Donovan Catholic (Toms River, New Jersey)

Cino chose the Terps on Oct. 5, giving Maryland softball its second 2027-class commitment. Prep Softball ranks her the No. 78 prospect nationally in her class.

Cino is the second 2027 recruit from New Jersey, joining Brooke Donofrio.

Torie Turner, 2027, Right-handed pitcher and utility, Summer Creek (Houston)

Coach Lauren Karn earned another recruiting win with Turner’s commitment on Oct. 11. Turner is the No. 58 prospect nationally in the 2027 class, according to Softball America.

The junior primarily pitches for Summer Creek High School, but also plays first base, according to NCSA College Recruiting. She took an official visit to College Park in September.

Offers

Football

Djidjou Bah, 2026, Defensive Lineman, Germantown (Germantown, Tennessee)

Though Bah has been committed to Wisconsin since June 1, several programs have pushed to flip the three-star prospect’s commitment. Maryland joined the fray with an offer on Oct. 14.

Bah visited Missouri on June 20 and received an offer from Nebraska on Oct. 13. If the senior were to flip his commitment, it would likely be to Maryland, Missouri, Colorado or Nebraska — the only schools besides Wisconsin he has interest in, according to 247Sports.

It’s worth noting the Badgers are 2-5 this season, including a 27-10 loss to Maryland and a 0-4 conference record.

Josh Warren Jr., 2026, Edge Rusher, Georgia Military College (Milledgeville, Georgia)

Warren was unranked as a high school prospect coming out of Wharton High School in Tampa, Florida, but he’s established himself as one of the nation’s premier junior college transfer prospects.

The Terps offered Warren on Oct. 14, joining the nearly 25 other Division I programs — including Florida State, Minnesota, SMU and West Virginia — that have offered him. 247Sports ranks the three-star as the No. 1 junior college transfer from Florida and the No. 19 junior college transfer nationally.

Warren visited Texas State on Oct. 11 and has official visits to Florida State and NC State slated for November.

Announcements

Jameer Whyce, 2028, Defensive Lineman, Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, Ohio)

Whyce chose to stay in state with a commitment to the Buckeyes on Oct. 16. He chose Ohio State over Maryland and Miami, according to Rivals.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound sophomore is the No. 2 player in Ohio and No. 33 prospect nationally in the 2028 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Whyce is the highest-ranked prospect in his class to announce his commitment.