Maryland football has its first commitment in the class of 2028 after three-star edge rusher Kemontae Chaplin pledged to the Terps on Monday. It is an early recruiting win for a program that still has not identified its next head coach.
Chaplin’s decision gives Maryland an initial foothold in a future cycle, and it comes after Jerome LaRue decommitted in October. For a team trying to steady itself during an uncertain stretch, getting an early commitment from a player with Chaplin’s profile matters.
Who is Kemontae Chaplin?
Chaplin is listed at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, and he has already shown the kind of production that makes him an intriguing defensive prospect. Midway through the 2026 season, he had 30 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
That kind of disruption is what Maryland is hoping to add to its future defensive front. Edge defenders who can affect the quarterback and finish plays in the backfield are always at a premium, and Chaplin’s numbers suggest he has the tools to do that.
A key early move for the Terps
The timing of the pledge is notable as well. Maryland football is still operating without a permanent head coach, yet it has been able to secure a commitment that can help shape the rest of the cycle.
Chaplin’s pledge is Maryland’s first commitment in the recruiting cycle after LaRue backed away in October, which makes it a useful reset point. It also provides some momentum at a time when programs are trying to establish relationships early with younger prospects.
Chaplin’s path has also been shaped by the wider football development at Friendship Collegiate Academy. During his 10 seasons in charge, Aazaar Abdul-Rahim helped establish the school’s football program and developed more than 100 college football recruits.
That background is part of what makes recruits from that pipeline worth watching. Maryland has now landed one of them for its 2028 class, and the next question is whether this becomes the first of several early additions.
