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football Edit

Terps nab in-state OL

A few minutes after 5 o'clock this afternoon the mood in the Gossett Team House went from routine to a party atmosphere. Shortly after Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall picked up a phone call from Middletown (Md.) offensive linemen Will McClain the decibel level went through the roof. Edsall was whooping it up when the Rivals.com three-star recruit decided to verbally commit to the Terps. Soon after, assistant coach Greg Studrawa was screaming and yelling on another phone.
"Yea, they both were whooping it up," said McClain. "All of a sudden it got really loud on the phone. Both coaches were really happy that I decided to come to Maryland."
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West Virginia and Maryland had been McClain's two frontrunners for some time and even a couple of weeks ago, the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder said he was nowhere near ready to make a decision.
"I just thought the time was right and that Maryland was the best fit for me," said McClain. "No, West Virginia didn't say anything wrong; I just felt that being close to home was the best thing for me."
McClain, who grew up with a strong relationship with his family, cited that one of the reasons for picking the Terps is so everybody can come see him play on Saturdays.
"I'm a hometown kid and if I need to come home for something it's just a short ride from College Park," he said. "I've always been a Maryland kid and now I'm going to stay at home and play for the home state school."
McClain had been pondering his decision a lot lately with his parents and with Middletown head football coach Kevin Lynott.
"I actually called coach (Lynott) first and all he said was to be double sure that this was the right thing for me. I told him that the stress was finally going to be over and Maryland was my best choice."
After the hoopla over the phone with the coaches, McClain's uncle treated him and his family to dinner at Outback.
"Now that I think back on the call, Coach 'Stud' seemed more excited than me," McClain said. "I'm not the kind of guy that yells and screams when I get excited but I know now that Coach Edsall and 'Stud' do."
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