After leading the DeMatha Stags football program for the past eight years, head coach Elijah Brooks announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down at the Hyattsville, Md. school in order to join Mike Locksley's staff at Maryland as running backs coach.

Brooks, according to sources, was to meet with his DeMatha team this morning to notify them of his decision to join Locksley's staff.

The 34-year-old DMV native who played running back at DeMatha and William & Mary brings a wealth of success at the high school level with him to College Park, including four straight WCAC championships from 2013 to 2016 and numerous players he has put in the college ranks.

Among the players Brooks has put in the college ranks are current Terps DJ Turner, Tino Ellis, Evan Gregory, Marcus Minor, Terrance Davis, Austin Fontaine and fellow former DeMatha running backs Lorenzo Harrison and Anthony McFarland.

The chance to coach rising sophomore Terps running back Anthony McFarland likely played a significant role in Brooks' decision to join Locksley at Maryland, along with his friendship with the new Maryland head coach.

Upon Locksley's hiring, Brooks had this to say to Rivals, “Coach Locksley is the perfect person to galvanize our area. He is the ‘DMV’. He has earned his reputation by being genuine to players, coaches and families for many years. It will get very interesting for the foreseeable future.”

With Brooks now officially on board in College Park, attention will now turn to possible flip candidates Nick Cross, currently committed to Florida State, and DeMarco Hellams, current Alabama commit.