Meet Maryland linebacker commitment Jermaine Carter

Jermaine Carter liked the idea of playing with other Friendship Collegiate (D.C.) grads at Maryland, and staying close to home was a bonus, too. But his decision to commit to the Terps boiled down primarily to one reason.

“The defense that they run, I’m kind of familiar with it,” Carter said. “My team runs a similar defense. … It’s a 3-4.”

Carter played the MIKE linebacker spot for Friendship Collegiate, calling the plays and making “the audibles if needed.” The future Terp relished his role as a defensive leader for the D.C. Statewide Athletic Association champions.

“I feel like I performed very well in the defense,” he said. “I won’t have to adjust as much to the [Maryland] defense. It’s some of the same things.”

Carter, like most D.C.-area prospects, is close with Maryland offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. But he has also developed a solid relationship with his future defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart.

“He got to coach some greats [as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys] like DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer,” Carter said. “He got to coach a lot of good players.”

Here’s an introduction to Carter:

Name: Jermaine Carter

Birthdate: Jan. 14, 1995

Birthplace: Washington. D.C.

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

Height:  6-1

Weight: 220

Position: Outside linebacker

High School: Friendship Collegiate Academy (D.C.)

Senior statistics: 90 tackles, three sacks, seven forced fumbles, one interception, one INT returned for a touchdown. 300 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns.

Rankings: Rivals.com – Three-star prospect, No. 4 player in D.C. Scout.com – Two-star prospect. ESPN.com – Three-star prospect, No. 7 player in D.C., No. 97 outside linebacker, 75 rating. 247Sports.com – Three-star prospect, No. 7 player in D.C., No. 85 outside linebacker, 84 rating.

Bench max: 365

40-yard dash: 4.7

Runner-up school: “I’m really not sure.”

Other schools considered: Colorado, Old Dominion, Temple

Favorite NFL player: Sean Taylor

Favorite NFL team: Washington Redskins

Favorite all-time Terp: Shawne Merriman

Favorite music: Lil Wayne

Favorite movie: The “Friday” series

Favorite book: Beowulf

Favorite TV show: “The Wayans Brothers”

Favorite food: Fried chicken

Favorite high school class: Pre-calculus

Other high school sports: None

Hobbies: “I like to work out, play basketball [and] I like math."

Intended major: “Undecided but thinking kinesiology.”

Something that not many people know about you: “That I’m a good basketball player.”

Best football moment:  “This past season when we won the championship.”

Role model:  “My role model is my dad because he’s always there for me and he supports me 100 percent at whatever I want to do.”

Why Maryland? “It felt like it was the right fit for me. They ran the scheme that I like and it’s close to home.”