Five-star OL Damian Prince commits to Maryland over Florida on NSD

The Terps acquired the services of a top-tier offensive tackle.

By Pete Volk Feb 5, 2014, 10:29am EST

One of the few remaining top-tier offensive linemen in the 2014 recruiting class has made his college decision, as Damian Prince has committed to Maryland.

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Prince is considered a five-star by Rivals, while 247sports, ESPN and Scout each rate him as a four-star. Each of the recruiting services except for Scout consider him one of the top three offensive tackles in the country, while Scout ranks him seventh at the position.

Listed at 6'5 and 295 pounds, the massive offensive tackle could make an instant impact as soon as he arrives on campus. He attends Bishop McNamara (Md.) High School, and hails from District Heights.

The 247sports composite considers Prince a five-star recruit, rating him as the 27th-best player in the class, the second-best offensive tackle in the country and the best player in the state of Maryland.

His addition will boost Maryland's recruiting class from 10th in the Big Ten on the composite to No. 7 for the time being.

SB Nation's Bud Elliott scouted Prince:

Prince is in the discussion for the designation of top offensive tackle in the country.

Prince has the frame and athleticism to become an elite offensive tackle at the college level. He is a powerful man who dominates his opponents in the run game. He's able to climb to the second level and has the feet to stay on balance once there.

Those feet are also evident in the passing game, as he is quickly able to get into his set. His length prevents rushers from getting into his body.

Prince is not without his weaknesses. He does have a tendency to play too high, perhaps because he can get away with it at the high school level. When playing high, Prince's powerful hips and lower body are negated. And in pass protection, he is sometimes too quick to set up, which can leave him vulnerable to inside rushes.

Prince needs to become nastier, but this disposition is something that often changes when a player moves from an environment in which he is rarely physically challenged, to one in which he has physical peers.

I'm also encouraged that Prince has not rested on his laurels, and instead has worked himself into great shape, losing 12 pounds of baby fat and improving his athleticism.

Prince has the talent to start as a true freshman at the BCS level if the team he selects has the need. That's high praise for an offensive tackle.