It’s a big day for Mike Locksley’s Maryland program. The Terrapins picked up 3 new commitments for their 2023 recruiting class.

The first 2 commitments came from Orlando, Florida, Jones High School teammates Dylan Wade and Derrick Rogers. They each announced their decisions in exclusive USA TODAY first-person stories.

Wade, a 3-star tight end, was the first of 3 to make an announcement, writing:

...

ESPN BET is now live in Maryland

Use promo code SATURDAY to get your $250 bonus

...

Maryland just felt like a family to me. The way I clicked with all the coaches and players; it was just welcoming.

The biggest thing was the staff. I got a chance to speak with Ryan Davis, the strength and conditioning coach and he told me there’s more to it than football. He said we would build a relationship and if I ever needed someone to talk to, he was there. It made me feel comfortable.

Coach Miller is a really cool dude. He kept it chill but he’s real, too. Playing for a head coach I can relate to, who grew up with the same stuff, meant a lot, too.

I can just see myself there. I see myself working in the weight room running around on the practice field.

Rogers, a 3-star wide receiver, was the second commitment of the day. His USA TODAY story included the following:

I’m taking my talents to the University of Maryland.

I like the program they’ve got. I know that there’s life after football and football isn’t the only option for me there. It’s always a possibility that something could happen and even if I didn’t play football, that’s the place I’m the most comfortable.

I really like the connection with the coaches. It makes you feel like you’re wanted.

Coach J.T. (special teams coach James Thomas Jr.) and coach Brew (wide receivers coach Gunter Brewer), I love them two. They’re cool. They bonded with me. Coach JT is from the same area as me and my uncle coached him in track.

Josh Richards completed the trifecta. Richards, a wide receiver out of East Orange, New Jersey, announced via his Twitter account. He does not have a star rating, though his 247Sports profile shows 9 scholarship offers.