Maryland HS Football Senior Spotlight: 5 to watch

We're shining the spotlight on some of the seniors in Maryland's 2026 football recruiting class. This is Part 6 of an ongoing series. These evaluations are based on the most recent mid-season highlights available for each prospect.    Samuel is a dynamic slot receiveer who thrives on quick routes, explosive acceleration, and elusivness in space. He's dangeous with the football in his hands. His highlights show him routinely creating separation against both zone and soft man services. Samuel is able to make defenders miss and turn short gains into touchdowns. A few of his plays also show his ability to track the football and make contested catches. I love his ability to outrun defenders consistently once he turns the corner or hits a seam. With his size he'll have to keep improving his strength and abilitiy to absort contact.     Mitchell is a physical two-way player (running back and safety) with a knack for making impact plays. Wheter it's taking over a game offensively or forcing turnovers on defense, his highlights show him finding ways to shift momentum for his team. There's explosive plays of him at both running back and strong safety, so he has value on both sides. As a running back, Mitchell shows burst through the hole and can accelerate through the second and third levels. He doesn't shy from contact and has strong lower body drive to break tackles and gain yards after the catch. Mitchell is a more than solid defender as well and could also thrive in a rover/hybrid role near the box at the next level.     Springs consistently displays physicality, awareness and quick reaction from his cornerback position. I'm impressed with how physical he is. There's a couple of plays where he he comes up and lays the boom on receivers after short catches, stopping them in their tracks. Springs also shows the ability to create turnovers (forced fumble and intercepted tipped pass for example). You can see his closing burst when watching the plays where he breaks on short routes effectively. Springs is also a reliable tackler. I can see him playing the nickel at the next level due to his quick recognition, tackling, and burst to the flat.     Perry is a wide receiver who consistently shows big-play ability and excellent body control. He excels at creating separation through double moves and sharp route execution. His highlights feature multiple touchdown catches including a stop-and-go and out-and-up against zone coverage. Perry's ability to track deep balls, adjust mid-air, and secure contested catches in the end zone stands out. Perry also shows great burst after the catch. There's a few plays that show him turning short slants into chunk plays by slipping tackles and accelerating in the open field. Perry knows how to exploit the zone coverage that he faces and adjusts his routes accordingly to get open. He'll need to continue to add more weight to his frame and get stronger.     Ekani is an athlete who plays running back and safety. On defense, his highlights show that he has good awareness in zone and makes multiple interceptions. Ekani is a ball-hawking safety with impressive zone discipline. On offense, his highlights show that he can be explosive on the perimeter and is able to turn the corner on defenders. I do think Ekani has quick acceleration and a nice burst to him. His highest celing is at defensive back, so Ekani will definitely have to continue to get stronger and eventually put on some more weight.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/maryland-hs-football-senior-spotlight-5-to-watch-pt-3/">Maryland HS Football Senior Spotlight: 5 to watch – Pt. 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/maryland-hs-football-senior-spotlight-5-to-watch-pt-4/">Maryland HS Football Senior Spotlight: 5 to watch – Pt. 4</a>

We're shining the spotlight on some of the seniors in Maryland's 2026 football recruiting class. This is Part 6 of an ongoing series. These evaluations are based on the most recent mid-season highlights available for each prospect.