Four-star recruit has chosen to join Maryland football, enhancing what is already considered a standout recruiting class.
On Friday, Maryland football further bolstered its highly regarded recruiting class when Zymear Smith, a talented athlete from North Caroline (Md.), committed to the Terps during a live announcement on 247Sports’ YouTube channel. This addition represents a significant boost to head coach Mike Locksley’s impressive recruiting efforts.
Smith, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior-to-be, is notably ranked as the 11th best athlete and the 279th overall player in the nation according to the Composite Rankings. Within the talent-rich Class of 2025 in Maryland, he is recognized as the 8th top player.
During his junior year, Smith showcased his skills by excelling as a running back, recording 609 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 71 carries, along with 380 receiving yards and four touchdowns on nine receptions. Defensively, he contributed 20 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions, while also scoring two touchdowns on punt returns.
Initially committed to Alabama, Smith opted to switch his allegiance to Maryland following an official visit to College Park a month ago. In his decision-making process, the presence of co-defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who rejoined Maryland from Boston College in January, played a pivotal role in persuading Smith to make the transition from Alabama to Maryland.
“Coach Aazaar had extended an offer to me while at Boston College and had been in regular communication with me. When he made the move to Maryland, he immediately reached out to me. Despite my commitment to Alabama, Maryland continued to show genuine interest in my academics and personal development, going above and beyond in their support,” remarked Smith, who had received offers from prestigious programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. Ultimately, he opted for Maryland over final contenders Penn State and South Carolina.
“I would be remiss not to dedicate myself fully to them,” he expressed about his decision to commit to Maryland.
Locksley is currently presiding over one of Maryland’s most successful recruiting periods in years, largely due to the presence of highly-rated quarterback Malik Washington from Spalding (Md.), a four-star recruit and ranked as the 10th best quarterback in the nation. Washington, who represents Locksley’s top-rated quarterback commitment since his return to Maryland in 2019, has been actively involved in recruiting efforts for Maryland. Both Washington and Smith spent a significant amount of time together during an official visit weekend in June and have maintained communication ever since. Initially slated to play as a cornerback at Alabama, Washington will now join forces with Washington on the offensive side at Maryland.
Planning to commence his college journey early at Maryland, Smith intends to enroll for the second semester of the upcoming academic year to facilitate an early transition and integration into the university environment.
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