The Terps’ first 4-star commit in the class of 2024 made his pledge official.
Blue-chip running back DeJuan Williams officially signed with Maryland football on Wednesday, reaffirming the commitment he made to the program in early July.
Williams, a 4-star prospect, attends St. Frances Academy, a nationally relevant program from Baltimore that has produced a plethora of high-level college players in recent years. The team has three players rated as 4-stars in this year’s cycle alone.
Maryland currently has two St. Frances alumni listed on its roster: offensive lineman Andre Roye Jr. and wide receiver Ryan Manning. Linebacker Jaishawn Barham, another product of the program, is currently in the transfer portal. The Terps have seven other players on their roster from Baltimore.
Williams tore his ACL in the spring, forcing him to miss the 2023 high school season. He is expected to enroll early at Maryland for the spring semester.
When Williams initially committed, the 247Sports Composite ranked him as the No. 27 running back in his class and ninth-best overall prospect from Maryland. He chose the Terps over seven other schools, including Virginia Tech, Boston College and Oregon. At the time of his signing, he is graded as the No. 36 running back nationally and No. 14 player from Maryland.
Williams is listed at 5-foot-10 and weighs in at 195 pounds. He is also an accomplished sprinter, posting a school-record 55-meter dash time of 6.52 seconds this calendar year. That time is proportional to running a 40-yard dash in approximately 4.34 seconds.
Despite losing former 4-star recruit Ramon Brown to the transfer portal, Maryland’s running back room is positioned well moving forward. With contributors Roman Hemby, Antwain Littleton II and Colby McDonald all expected back, Williams joins a group considered to be one of the Terps’ most solid, although it took a slight step back from its 2022 production this fall. Freshman Nolan Ray also figures to develop a larger role moving forward.
Williams is the only running back Maryland is expected to sign in his class.