Durkin powering Maryland to surprisingly strong recruiting class

When looking at the top 20 recruiting classes for 2017, one team seems out of place: Maryland.

No one would expect the Terrapins to have one of the top classes in the nation, but a surge of ESPN 300 commits has D.J. Durkin and company turning some heads.

Maryland has snagged six players in the 300, including the No. 88 overall player Markquese Bell. The athlete joins running backs Anthony McFarland and Cordarrian Richardson, as well as quarterback Kasim Hill, to give the Terrapins some playmaking ability on offense.

The four join four-star cornerback Deon Jones and four-star offensive guard Marcus Minor to give the program one of the most talented recruiting classes in recent memory.

Maryland has only posted one season with more than seven wins since 2009, but it's clear Durkin has the program going in the right direction. The former Michigan defensive coordinator led the Terrapins to a bowl game in his first year as head coach, after inheriting a team that was 3-9 and only 1-7 in Big Ten play in 2015.

Maryland still has an uphill climb with Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, and a rising Penn State to deal with in the Big Ten East, but this influx of talent should make the Terrapins a difficult team to play for the foreseeable future.