Maryland Tracking 2022 California Center
Maryland dipped into California during the 2020 cycle to reel in cornerback Devyn King and the Terps are tracking another cross-country prospect. Rancho Verde (CA) center Dylan Lopez heard from the Terps back on September 1 as the 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman enjoyed the beginning stages of his recruitment.
“I stayed up and I got a lot of texts from coaches and stuff,” Lopez told All Terrapins. “Ever since then, things have been going good, getting texts daily and talking with coaches that have and haven’t offered me and continued to build good relationships with all those guys. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. Just being more free and communicating with them, talking, it’s been good.”
Arizona State, Boise State, Fresno State, Kansas, Northwestern, Oregon State, Syracuse, UCLA, USC and West Virginia were alongside the Terps to reach out to Lopez on the first day possible as Maryland builds out their target board along the offensive line. Maryland does not have a true center on the roster with Johnny Jordan opting out, so while the Terps have yet to offer Lopez, the need for interior lineman instills interest in the Big Ten school for Lopez.
“I was actually planning on seeing what’s up. They sent the graphic through my phone, so I was planning back this week to check with them. Going to try and get on the phone with them and talk with them a bit.” Syracuse became the first school to offer back on April 23 as Lopez looks forward to making his own visits once possible.
“I’ve kind of been up to USC before but unofficially or camps, I haven’t been to these schools. A lot has picked up during COVID so hopefully when everything is done I’ll get a chance.” As Lopez takes the next year-plus to learn about each school, he knows how to get a strong gauge for each offer.
“Talking up with the coaches and how my relationship is with the coaching staff, my position coach, just talking to them and how it goes talking with them. to me, location won’t be a factor in my recruitment. I want to have a really good relationship but also if there’s an opportunity for me to come in early and make an impact early, one year in, I think that’s one of those factors that I’m also looking at.”
The excitement to delve into the recruiting world has swept the 2022 class but as California prospects prepare for a spring season, Lopez is staying committed to the grind.
“Obviously with COVID, everything has been limited but I’ve been doing what I can. Luckily, before I was able to get a weight set and have weights in the house so I’ve been busy with that, going to the park across my house so continuing to stay and shape and doing what I can to get better.” Ahead of his spring season, the center prospect is ready to prove him all-around dominance in the trenches.
“I think first and foremost, win with my team and obviously we’re chasing CIS championship over here so my number one goal will always be win with my team and do whatever it takes but individually, I want to show that I’m pretty athletic for an O-lineman. I’m good with my hands and feet and the run game, show my nastiness and finishing people on every run block and then the pass game, how clinical I am. Just show the little stuff on film.”
