By Mike Loveday

St. John's Catholic Prep (Frederick, Md.) lost another defensive lineman last week when defensive end Forrest Mason transferred.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound 1st Team Dream Team member, transferred to Frederick high school, according to coaches on the Cadets staff.

As a junior last season, Mason recorded 86 tackles and 13 sacks while playing along side national recruiting target Ego Ferguson.

Ferguson transferred to Hargrave Military Academy earlier this summer.

St. John's Catholic Prep is a private school that plays in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) conference, making the move to the B conference after winning the C conference the past two seasons.

Frederick plays in a public school that plays in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League (MVAL).

By Mike Loveday

I'm out of town in Bristol (Conn.) this week, but I saw via e-mail that the Fayetteville  (N.C.) Observer is reporting that River Hill defensive back Kevin Johnson committed to college last night.

According to the report, Johnson committed to play football for Wake Forest.

I will try to confirm and have more on this later today/tomorrow.

UPDATE: Johnson's commitment has been confirmed. He is a Demon Deacon and will play with former Hawk Michael Campanaro.

I updated the 2010 commit list - it is a little past due so there are a few updates to it from the past two weeks.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Two Linganore standouts committed to college over the weekend. 

Receiver Ryan Dixon committed to James Madison and lineman Kyle Tucker committed to Monmouth, according to Lancer head coach Rick Connor.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Dixon made 50 catches for 982 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior last season. That performance earned him Big School All-State Honorable Mention.

Tucker made a big splash this offseason when he put up 51 repetitions of 185-pounds on the bench press at the Nike Baltimore Combine.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Two local players have committed to colleges over the past two days. 

Old Mil linebacker Randy Spann committed to play football at Liberty University on Monday. 

Archbishop  Carroll defensive tackle, Nate Clarke committed to play for the University of Maryland, according to head coach Rick Houchens.

2010 Commit list is here.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Henry Wise high school (Upper Marlboro, Md.) is fresh off its first playoff berth in school history and a state semifinal appearance and now college offers are starting to roll in for its players.

Defensive end Rahsaan Moore picked up his fourth offer today, according to head coach DaLawn Parrish. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior received an offer from Richmond. Moore holds offers from New Mexico, Liberty and Delaware State.

Defensive tackle Anthony McDaniel picked up his first offer. The 6-foot, 245-pound senior also received an offer from Richmond.

Of course, the Pumas already have University of Maryland commitment Titus Till, and are anticipated as one of the favorites in Class 4A this season.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Milford Mill wide receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro had  his college choices down to Maryland and Rutgers.

The 6-foot, 175-pound senior chose the Terrapins over the weekend, according to Milford Mill assistant coach Gregg Trogdon.

As a junior last season, Cheeseboro made 38 receptions for 776 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Cheeseboro held 11 offers at the time of his commitment -- including offers from Virginia, West Virginia and Pittsburgh.

Cheeseboro becomes the fourth in-state prospect to commit to Maryland. For the complete list of commitments check out the Verbal Commit List here.

By Mike Loveday

According to the Baltimore Sun, Mount St. Joseph defensive back, Kyle Fuller has chosen to play college football at Virginia Tech.

EDITORS NOTE: With Fuller and Riverdale Baptist's Brian Burn committing this week, the 2010 Verbal Commitment List is now updated.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Sheldon Shealer

Riverdale Baptist's Brian Burns, a rising senior defensive back, verbally committed to Temple on Monday.

As a junior, Burns had seven interceptions and 40 tackles. As a sophomore, he had six interceptions and 39 tackles.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Burns played multiple positions for the Crusaders last season -- seeing time at running back, receiver, cornerback and safety. The junior averaged more than nine yards per carry and more than 19 yards per reception on offense.

He has been timed at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, 4.10 in the short shuttle and boasts a 34-inch vertical leap.

By Mike Loveday

According to new Suitland head coach Ed Shield, the Rams have their first commitment of the year.

Jeremiah Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound defensive back committed to play for the University of Maryland last Tuesday.

The rising senior recorded 75 tackles and one interception last season, earning Big School All-State Honorable Mention as a defensive back.

Johnson becomes the third Maryland high school football player to commit to the in-state Terrapins.

Wise's Titus Till committed earlier this year and Atholton's Matt Robinson committed two weeks ago.

Here is the full list of verbally committed Maryland high school athletes.

By Mike Loveday

Atholton head coach Kyle Schmitt e-mailed me to let me know that Matt Robinson has committed.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound athlete committed to play for the University of Maryland yesterday.

"They were the only school that was really straight up with me," Robinson said. "They were always concerned with my speed and how I would do at camp. That's what they were waiting for -- to see me at camp and make sure I was a good fit for them."

Maryland offered Robinson on June 20, after the rising senior attended the Terrapins one-day camp.

"I was going to go and visit some more places, but the chances of them offering because a lot of them weren't high on me anyway," Robinson added. "Maryland was the only school that was really high on me and I felt that I didn't really need to go and use that offer to get more."

Robinson said he grew up rooting for Maryland football and used to go to games with his neighbor as a kid.

Robinson is the second Maryland high school football player to make his pledge to the University of Maryland. Wise's Titus Till committed to the Terrapins earlier this year.

The 2010 Verbal Commitment list is now updated with Robinson's commitment.

UPDATE: It has been an exciting week for Riverdale Baptist.

Just a few days after rising senior Steven Thames picked up his first official offer, star athlete Brian Burns picks up his.

Burns was offered by Temple; according to Riverdale Baptist head coach Bob Shields.

On a more somber note, this story was reported by the Gazette yesterday. I received a little more information today. Hassan Dixon's mother is still being monitored according to my source. Also, I have heard that there is going to be a vigil held at Shiane Dixon's middle school, Rocky Hill, this evening.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Riverdale Baptist's Steven Thames picked up his first collegiate offer.

According to head coach Bob Shields, Delaware State offered the 6-foot, 175-pound Thames as a defensive back.

UPDATE: I just got off the phone with Good Counsel assistant coach Kevin McFadden and it looks like quarterback Zach Dancel is starting to get some serious recruiting interest.  The 6-foot, 190-pound rising junior has been a standout performer at The Quarterback Factory events, showcasing polished mechanics and a strong arm. 

Dancel is expected to be the Falcons starting quarterback this season, replacing the graduated Tyler Campbell.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Former Gilman Greyhound and current Good Counsel Falcon, Blake Countess, picked up his second collegiate offer over the weekend.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound rising junior picked up a verbal* offer from the University of Maryland, according to Good Counsel assistant coach Kevin McFadden.

The defensive back currently holds two verbal offers -- his other offer is Wisconsin.

Countess was one of the breakout stars of the 2009 Nike Baltimore Combine -- posting the eighth best SPARQ** Rating and the third best of all sophomores.

Countess posted a SPARQ Rating of 95.25 -- running a 40-yard dash time of 4.56, a shuttle of 4.23 and posting a vertical jump of 33.6 and a kneeling power ball distance of 34-5 feet.

*According to NCAA regulations athletes cannot receive written scholarship offers until September of their junior year. Offers are only verbal until that point.

**SPARQ Rating is a mathematical equation that takes into account an athlete's performance in the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, vertical jump and kneeling power ball and turns it into a number.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

I just received an e-mail from McDonogh' Rudy Johnson to let me know that he committed to college.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound quarterback has committed to play football for Buffalo.

Johnson, who took an official visit to Buffalo on June 17, did not take long to make his decision – committing to Buffalo on his drive back to Maryland.

"A couple other places were trying to get me to visit, but when I went up there it was everything I wanted in a program. And the place I wanted to be,” Johnson said. "I wanted to be at a school where I can make a difference.”

As a junior last season, Johnson threw for 1,838 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to earning All-State Big School Honorable Mention.

"The main thing was the coaching staff was real welcoming,” Johnson said of what made Buffalo stand out. "To talk to the quarterbacks coach and coach [Turner] Gill -- I just felt like those were people I was comfortable with and it would be a good place for me to be.”

The verbal commitment list for the Maryland high school football class of 2010 is now updated.

By Sheldon Shealer, editor

Thomas Johnson senior Nick Forbes verbally committed to California. The following is a link to the story that appeared in the Frederick News-Post. More

UPDATED: With two more commitments over the weekend, I've updated the verbal commitment list. You can find it HERE.

By Mike Loveday

Good Counsel's Frank Tamakloe committed to Wisconsin around 10 p.m. Monday evening.

Tamakloe committed to the Badgers as a strong safety.

Tamakloe took time Monday evening to call coaches at the others schools who had offered him and let them know of his decision.

"I just wanted to really thank the other schools that offered me. I didn't want them to find out over the internet. That's why I did it [committed] so late,” Tamakloe said. "It was a close decision. It was just a blessing for all the coaches that offered me. The Northwestern coaches and Maryland coaches are all great people.”

Tamakloe said his decision came down to three schools: Wisconsin, Northwestern and Maryland.

"They were all 1A (Wisconsin), 1B (Northwestern) and 1C (Maryland),” Tamakloe said. "I just felt right at Wisconsin. I have a good relationship with my recruiting coordinator and I just like Madison.”

"There were a couple other schools that were close to offering, but basically when I looked at my list they wanted me the most,” Tamakloe added. "They weren't waiting for anyone else. I felt like those were the schools that wanted me the most.”

Badgers defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks recruited the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Tamakloe.

At the time of his commitment, Tamakloe held 10 offers many of the major Football Bowl Championship Series schools, including Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

Tamakloe is the third Good Counsel athlete to commit to a college from this rising senior class.

Athlete E.J. Scott committed to Virginia two weeks ago and defensive back Louis Young committed to Stanford last season.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Atholton (Columbia, Md.) receiver Matt Robinson picked up some good news in the form of another offer on Saturday.

According to Atholton head coach Kyle Schmitt, Robinson picked up an offer from the University of Maryland after attending their one-day camp on Saturday.

The offer is Robinson's fifth, but first from a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) school.

The 6-foot-4, 201-pound Robinson also holds offers from James Madison and Fordham, UMass and Stony Brook.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

James Madison just offered Potomac's Devonta Tabannah, according to head coach Chris Davidson.

The offer from the Dukes comes a week after he picked up an offer from Delaware State. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound athlete is now up to six offers.

Tabannah now holds offers from Akron, Monmouth, Maine and Towson.

As a junior last season, Tabannah accounted for 62 percent of Potomac's offense - accumulating 1,441 and 14 touchdowns.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Century's Josh Bordner just received some great news. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound rising senior received his first official offer around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Bordner was offered by Boston College as a quarterback.

"Originally I went to their camp and he [assistant coach Ryan Day] said I was their No. 1 guy,” Bordner said. "He said that they had a couple quarterbacks come up to their next camp, but I was they guy they want. They want me to come back up there and see more of the school and the city."

Bordner, who made the move to quarterback before last season, threw for a Carroll County best 2,212 yards. Bordner threw for 18 touchdowns and also made 78 tackles from his linebacker position on defense.

The Small School First Team All-State quarterback led Century a Class 2A tate semifinal berth and a 12-1 record.

"I'm really excited because that's where I really wanted to go to begin with,” Bordner said minutes after talking to Day.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

I just checked out the ESPNU site and they are reporting that Good Counsel's E.J. Scott has committed to the University of Virginia.

Scott held 11 offers at the time of his commitment, but saw the Cavaliers as the perfect fit, whichever side of the ball he winds up playing.

"I felt it was the best fit for me. They brought me in as an athlete so it gives me the option to play offensive side of the ball or the defensive side of the ball,” Scott said. "I kind of knew for a while [that Virginia was his choice] – it was always my top. I looked at other schools like Wake Forest and Rutgers, but UVA really stood out. The academics played a really big part.”

Scott, who plays receiver and defensive back for Good Counsel added that he likes that Virginia runs the spread offense. 

Scott is the second Good Counsel athlete in the class of 2010 to choose a college. Teammate defensive back Louis Young, committed to Stanford last year. 

Editors Note: Updated Sunday: The 2010 Verbal Commit list for Maryland athletes is now updated with Scott's commitment.

Also, with Urbana's new head coach now in place, I have updated the 2009 Coaching Changes list. 

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

There is no real way to directly link to it, but up on the ESPNRISE Maryland front page there is a new video. I did an interview with McDonogh's Rudy Johnson after the passing jamboree on Saturday. There will be another new video, with Good Counsel's Zach Dancel, up on Thursday.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

The guys over at ESPNU are reporting that Gilman defensive end, Anthony Ferguson, made his college choice.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Ferguson committed to play football for the  Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ferguson joins Gilman teammate Jim Poggi, who committed to Iowa in April.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Damascus (Md.) running back/defensive back Brian Lucas received his first college offer, according to assistant coach Greg Frazier.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Lucas received an offer from Monmouth on Wednesday. According to Frazier, Monmouth is recruiting Lucas as an athlete, leaving the option for the junior to play either offense or defense.

Lucas rushed for 1,137 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. On defense, he recorded 80 tackles and three sacks, helping lead Damascus to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Class 3A playoffs.

In other recruiting news, Milford Mill (Windsor Mill, Md.) receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro now holds nine college offers.

According to offensive coordinator Gregg Trogdon, Cheeseboro holds offers from Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Towson, North Carolina A & T, Villanova and Buffalo.

Cheeseboro lists his Top 5 schools as: Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Potomac (Oxon Hill, Md.) athlete, Devonte Tabannah, received his second college offer just one week after receiving his first.

The University of Maine offered Tabannah on Thursday, according to head coach Chris Davidson. Tabannah received his first offer, from Akron, on May 22.

The junior totaled 1,441 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, playing running back, receiver and defensive back in addition to handling punt and kickoff returns for Potomac.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

It is being reported by the Frederick News Post that St. John's Catholic Prep (Frederick, Md.) defensive end Ego Ferguson will transfer to Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.) for his senior season.

Ferguson who holds 44 offers from Division I-A schools is rated by ESPNU as one of the 150 juniors to watch in the nation.

As a junior at St. John's last season, Ferguson recorded 97 tackles and 14 sacks for the Vikings, who played in the MIAA C conference. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Ferguson recorded 116 tackles, 16 tackles.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

By Mike Loveday

The day after Thomas Johnson's Nick Forbes and Oxon Hill's Malik Cross earned the linebacker and receiver MVP's at the Nike Penn State Camp, Potomac's Devonte Tabannah earned the defensive back MVP at the Nike Virigina Camp in Charlottesville (Va.)

According to one of the events staff members, Tabannah is one of the best defensive back prospects he has seen on the entire Nike tour. 

Here's the list of all the UVA MVP's

Charlottesville MVP's

QB - Phillip Sims, Oscar Smith (Va.)
RB - Josh Snead, Smithfield Selma Senior (NC)
WR - Anthony Creecy, Southern Durham (NC)
OL - Quinton Spain, Petersburg (Va.)
DL - Chris Brathwaite, Holy Cross (NY)
LB - Aramide Olaniyan, Woodberry Forest School (Va.)
DB - Devonta Tabannah, Potomac (Md.)

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

Recruiting is starting to pick up for members of a couple state champions. Both River Hill and Dunbar already have at least one athlete with a Division I-A offer and after this weekend those offers have increased.

River Hill's Kevin Johnson received his second offer on Saturday. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound defensive back received an offer from West Virginia over the weekend, according to Johnson. Johnson received his first official offer last week when Wisconsin pulled the trigger on the junior.

Dunbar's Nathan Ayers also received his second college offer over the weekend. Ayers offer was made by Toledo, according to Dunbar head coach Lawrence Smith. Ayers already held an offer from UNLV to play strong safety.

Dunbar added another Division I-A offer to the team over the weekend as well. UNLV made an official offer to 6-foot-4, 265-pound Devin Clark to play defensive end, according to Smith.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com

By Mike Loveday

I just received an e-mail from Milford Mill offensive coordinator, Gregg Trogdon, who let me know that star wide receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro got his second college offer.

The 6-foot, 175-pound junior received an offer from Pittsburgh over spring break, according to Trogdon.

Cheeseboro already held an offer from the University of Maryland.

ESPNRise encourages comments from its users. Leave a comment below. Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com