Dedication: Maryland 'all the time felt like proper place' for 2026 ATH Zahir Cobb

[ad_1] Dedication: Maryland 'all the time felt like proper place' for 2026 ATH Zahir Cobb

Class of 2026 high-three-star athlete Zahir Cobb is staying native, as he dedicated to Maryland on Monday.

Cobb at present attends St. Albans College in Washington, D.C., which is roughly a 30-minute drive to the College of Maryland. Faculty Park can also be solely a couple of 15-minute drive away from Cobb's dwelling.

He ranks because the No. 3 prospect in Washington, D.C. and the No. 23 athlete within the 2026 cycle.

There have been many features concerning the Terrapins that drew Cobb to pledge to Maryland. Along with it being his hometown program, he has constructed robust relationships with head coach Mike Locksley, co-defensive coordinator/affiliate head coach for protection/ cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and the remainder of the Terps' workers. He believes within the workers's imaginative and prescient for the longer term, and lecturers are additionally vital to Cobb.

"Maryland all the time felt like the correct place for me from the start," Cobb stated. "The workers believes in me, this system is on the rise and I need to be part of what they’re constructing. It’s additionally an incredible college academically."

Cobb needs to proceed to construct upon Maryland's popularity of bringing in homegrown expertise, and would not need to comply with gamers from the world who select to go elsewhere for his or her school profession.

"What stands out probably the most is what number of nice gamers develop up within the space and select to play removed from dwelling," he stated. "(Maryland) has the most effective services and campuses, and their imaginative and prescient for the longer term is nice. Our relationship and distance, and in addition their improvement of gamers within the league just lately stands out rather a lot."

Cobb shares a reference to Locksley ("Coach Locks"), who additionally grew up within the DMV space. The truth that Locksley recruits native gamers to construct up Maryland's program was an vital issue to Cobb.

In the meantime, Abdul-Rahim had a previous relationship with Cobb's father, so there's robust belief between Cobb's household and the workers. Cobb felt like a precedence for the Terrapins.

"Coach Locks additionally grew up within the D.C./Maryland space, so we share the identical views on sure issues, which makes our relationship stronger," Cobb stated. "His perception in gamers and constructing within the space he's from is an instance of who he's and I respect that.

"I’ve constructed a powerful relationship with your entire workers, particularly Aazaar (Abdul-Rahim), who knew my dad since they have been younger. He understands what my ceiling is and needs me to profit from it and that stood out for me."

Cobb was final in Faculty Park for an unofficial go to in April. He was in a position to watch the Terps compete in a spring apply and it was throughout that journey the place Cobb realized that Maryland was the place for him.

"My final go to was to a spring apply a couple of month in the past," Cobb famous. "Simply being across the gamers and coaches, feeling the vitality and seeing how they work helped me understand it was the place I needed to be. The services, the tradition, the household vibe — every little thing stood out."

He'll return to Maryland for his official go to from June 12 by means of June 14. Cobb beforehand had official visits set with Penn State, Virginia and Virginia Tech as effectively, however he'll he canceling these journeys.

Along with the faculties already talked about, Cobb has acquired scholarship affords from Boston Faculty, Indiana, South Carolina, West Virginia and others.

The 6-foot-3, 193-pound Cobb is a real athlete who may play a number of spots for Maryland, however he'll almost definitely play on the defensive aspect of the ball as a defensive again. He expects to begin out primarily as a cornerback, but in addition believes he'll cross-train at nickel again and security as effectively.

"They’re recruiting me at every place, and I’m almost definitely going to be working at every place till I step on campus, nevertheless, it’s extra on the DB aspect as of now," Cobb defined. "I’d describe my sport as versatile, bodily and a playmaker. I can transfer round, make performs on the ball and convey vitality each snap."

All in all, Cobb is worked up about changing into a future Terrapin and grateful for the prospect to affix Maryland's roster in 2026.

"I’m simply grateful for the chance," Cobb stated about committing to Maryland. "It’s greater than soccer for me — it’s about household, legacy and proving that you would be able to keep dwelling and nonetheless chase greatness."