Stefon Diggs to Maryland: The Top 5 Reasons Why He Picked the Terps

Earlier this month, one of my favorite players to watch, study and grade on tape, WR/ATH Stefon Diggs, made his college announcement. Diggs was very sly and slick about letting much insight into his recruitment decisions.

Diggs always said many schools were interested in him, but we never got a clear cut read on who stood out as a possible favorite. So, when he made his decision to attend Maryland over the likes of Florida, Auburn, Ohio State, USC and others, it was a shock.

While the shock has subsided, it still begs the question, why Maryland? Well, I'm here to tell you why.

5. Mike Locksley

Mike Locksley is now the offensive chief for the Terps, and one thing we all know about Lockley is he recruits very well in the Atlantic region.

Even when he was the head coach at New Mexico, Locksley was digging around the East coast to see if he could lure talent to the Southwest.

Locksley is also viewed as a great pure form football coach and developer of talent. Toss in the fact that players seem to like his personable and honest demeanor. Once he was named offensive coordinator at Maryland, it put the Terps in a prime spot for Diggs.

4. Early Playing Time

When you get a recruit at the caliber of Diggs' talent level, you don't redshirt him. That's an insane thought.

Now, even with Diggs being the big-time prospect that he is, if he would have chosen, say a Florida or USC, he might not have gotten as much early action as he should get in College Park.

So why not head to Maryland, where you will more than likely see the field almost immediately.

3. Wes Brown Will Be with Him

Wes Brown, the 4-star RB and Maryland signee, hails from Our Lady Good Counsel High School in Olney, Maryland. 

Want to know who his teammate was there? Stefon Diggs. These two have been wrecking havoc on Maryland area defenses for a while now and Diggs likely wanted to keep the tandem together.

Playing with your friend in college is one thing, but when your friend is a 4-star RB and one of the top 100 players in America in his own right, that makes the decision that much easier. 

2. Big Fishin'

Now I could be wrong about this assessment, but I think Diggs is a guy that maybe, just maybe, likes the spotlight. 

How about you? Just a hunch.

He likes the primetime, he likes attention and he will have all that and more as a big-time prospect walking around College Park. He's a local hero and a legend who will be squarely in his comfort zone. 

1. He'll Be at Home

Diggs is Maryland native and playing in his home domain was too good to pass up. You get go to college, get a degree, score touchdowns and still be around your friends and family.

Sounds a good deal to me.

Diggs told Scout.com:

"Where else is a better place to do it than your city...your city's always behind you so it's only right to give back...I have the most supporters here and I feel like I'm gonna do it here … you gotta give respect to your hometown school. At the end it became more than just respect. It became where I belong.”