What It Means: Deajaun McDougle To Maryland
Maryland has secured its 15th pledge in the 2020 class in Deerfield Beach (Deerfield, Fla.) high three-star receiver Daejaun McDougle. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder chose the Terps over South Carolina, announcing his decision on a local radio station July 30. Oregon, Purdue and Ohio State were his other finalists, although the Buckeyes were not pressing earnest.
McDougle, who is Maryland’s third and final receiver pledge (unless the Terps are able to flip local five-star wideout Rakim Jarrett down the line), has held a UMD offer since the winter and visited College Park, Md., three times during the offseason. He was first on campus in April, returned at the end of May, and was most recently at UMD for an overnight stay July 26-27. McDougle took in the Terps with teammates and coaches on the first two occasions, and then brought his mother and brother (Terps’ 2021 receiver target Jamarion McDougle) with him on the latter foray.
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McDougle had developed a close rapport with area recruiter Brian Williams the last few months, with the Terps’ linebackers coach doing the heavy lifting by remaining in close contact and trekking through Deerfield on multiple occasions. Receivers’ coach Joker Phillips and ultimately headman Mike Locksley were also involved with the speedy Florida wideout.
“Everyone on the staff at Maryland has been great,” McDougle said. “Coach Locks [Mike Locksley], Coach Joker, Coach Brian, Coach Scottie [Montgomery], all of them. They all want me there. They all said I would be a perfect fit in the offense and had a great opportunity to play early. That sounded good to me. I like the offense and I like all the coaches at Maryland. It’s a great vibe there.”
McDougle said the presence of multiple Floridians on the Maryland roster resonated with him as well. He’s developed a bond with current UMD wideout Jeshaun Jones, who is from Fort Myers, Fla., and has heard consistently from fellow 2020 Maryland pledge Ruben Hyppolite, who is from Plantation, Fla., too.
What’s more, McDougle’s lauded the College Park campus and the surrounding area. He’s excited about all of the facility upgrades, the renovated weight room, and the various other aesthetics. The academic support Maryland provides also hit home with him and his mother.
“Everything at Maryland is great,” said McDougle, who is an early enrollee . “It’s just a great place to be and I like what they’re doing there.”
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McDougle’s recruitment is not over, however. He plans to take multiple officials during the fall and perhaps next offseason. He’ll be back at Maryland for an official, and wants to hit Oregon and Purdue as well. The Ducks, who field a former McDougle teammate, are one to watch in this race. Moreover, McDougle wants to take in South Carolina, which he officially visited in mid-June, for another unofficial at some point.
For now, McDougle’s commitment brings Maryland’s class into the top 40 nationally. He’s the fourth highest-rated pledge in the crop, behind Peny Boone, Hyppolite and Ebony Jackson.
McDougle’s a quick-twitch wideout with the speed to readily take the top off a defense. He has natural hands, is fluid in and out of his breaks, runs relatively tight patterns, and can make plays after the catch too. What’s more, he has above-average instincts and very good body control.
He is a bit undersized, however, and he needs to gain strength and work on readily defeating the jam. He has to hone his blocking technique and continue expanding his route tree as well.