Dwayne Haskins Jr. is going to play for his hometown team.
The nation's No. 2 pocket passer and No. 25 in the ESPN 300 committed to Maryland Friday in what is considered the most impactful recruiting victory for the Terrapins in some time.
Haskins, of Potomac, Maryland, selected the Terps over Rutgers, Florida, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Alabama.
Maryland had made the 6-foot-3, 203-pound quarterback its top target in the 2016 class for more than a year. Haskins is seen as the future of the Terrapins program with the ability to help recruit a number of local prospects to College Park.
Haskins, a 2016 Under Armour All-America Game selection, becomes the eighth verbal pledge for Maryland and the second ESPN 300 commitment in the class, joining No. 289 Keandre Jones. Six of the eight commitments for Randy Edsall are from in state, including three-star skill players Lorenzo Harrison and Darryl Turner out of powerhouse DeMatha Catholic.
Maryland now has the opportunity to build a top-25 recruiting class for the first time since 2006 with in-state ESPN 300 prospects Trevon Diggs (No. 114), No. 130 Ellison Jordan, No. 192 Terrance Davis and No. 263 Eric Burrell all seriously considering the Terrapins. Out of state, No. 64 Oluwole Betiku is another taking a long look at Maryland.
Haskins becomes the second top-25 prospect to pick Maryland in the 11 years ESPN has ranked prospects, and the highest-ranked quarterback to play for the Terrapins. Former Maryland receiver Stefon Diggs was No. 13 in 2012. In the class of 2014, offensive tackle Damian Prince was ranked No. 26.