Photo by Justin Karp. Henry Wise High School teammates Titus Till (left) and Rahsaan Moore

Published on: Tuesday, February 09, 2010

By Justin Karp, Special to The Sentinel

One of the biggest challenges a college football coach faces on a yearly basis is how to convince local high school recruits to play near home at the next level.

For Ralph Friedgen and the Maryland Terrapins, who are coming off the first 10-loss season in program history, that challenge may have never been greater.

However, for Rahsaan Moore and Titus Till, teammates at Dr. Henry S. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, the choice was clear from the start.

The pair of highly decorated players, both of whom were named 1st team All-County and selected to play in the Maryland Crab Bowl all-star game, signed their letters of intent to join the Maryland’s Class of 2010 last Thursday.

“When I moved to Maryland in the 8th grade, I became a Maryland fan,” Till said. “When I met the coaches and some of the players, I just fell in love. It became the dream to come here and stay hometown.”

Till, a 6’2” ball-hawking safety who had 64 tackles and four interceptions in 2009 for Wise, is the most highly touted member of the local class for Maryland. Rivals.com, a national recruiting service, ranks him as the 11th best safety in the nation and the 3rd best recruit in the state of Maryland.

“I plan on coming in there right away and jumping right in the rotation,” Till said.

Moore, who starred at defensive end and running back for the 12-2 Pumas, was recruited by Maryland as an all-around athlete.

Wise head coach DaLawn Parrish said that they struggled to find a position for Moore to play early in his high school career, but his refusal to quit and strong work ethic impressed both him and his teammates.

Once he settled in on both sides of the ball, Moore flourished in 2009, leading the team in touchdowns last season with 15 and making 37 tackles on defense.

His versatility, specifically his ability to play multiple positions, makes Moore believe he can contribute right away for the Terrapins.

“I’m willing to do whatever,” he said. “I just want to see the program excel and I want to be a part of it with Titus.”

Moore’s skills could be used early in his career. The Terrapins’ leading rusher in 2009, junior Da’Rel Scott, only racked up 425 yards on the ground last season. His total was the second lowest among team’s leading rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, only ahead of Duke’s Desmond Scott.

Moore, who said he has wanted to play for the Terrapins since ninth grade, says that playing close to home was an important factor in his decision.

“When I saw Titus get his offer, I knew mine was right around the corner,” he said. “It means the world to me that my friends and family can come out and see me.”

Parrish said both players have excelled both on and off the field, describing both as people and players who find it hard to say no to anything. He hopes to be in attendance when Maryland opens their 2010 season.

“I’m going to be ecstatic,” Parrish said. “I’m going to be like a little kid, jumping up and down.”

Two other players from Wise signed their letters of intent as well. Defensive tackle Anthony McDaniel, who recorded 12 sacks last year, will play at James Madison starting in 2010 while left tackle Derrick Isaac committed to West Virginia State.