National Signing Day came and went this week without much fanfare, because of the attention given to the Early Signing Period which takes place in mid-December. But there were still some lingering top recruits who waited until National Signing Day to sign that National Letter of Intent.
Dwight Gooden’s Son Signs With Maryland Football
One of those was Dylan Gooden, the son of retired MLB pitching legend ‘Dr. K’ Dwight Gooden. Dylan is a four-star prospect who attended WCAC power Our Lady Of Good Counsel and is the 41st-ranked edge rusher in the class.
The talented Gooden chose head coach Mike Locksley and the Terrapins over the likes of Notre Dame, USC, Penn State, Tennessee and others. The addition of Baby Doc gives Locksley and the rising Terps three four-star recruits in the 2023 class, which is good for a 27th-best national recruiting ranking.
Dylan’s famous dad took to Twitter to congratulate his son.
When football season ended, Gooden decided to transfer to Wilde Lake High School located in Howard County, where he resides with his mom. Gooden has joined the basketball team and has quickly become known for his nightly poster dunks.
Dylan Possessed 20 Offers, So Why Maryland?
When a recruit possesses the unique ability to rush the passer, they inevitably become a coveted prospect. That was the case for Dylan, who had 20 offers from DI programs.
But why did he choose to stay home and play for the Terps?
Proximity
One reason was the ability to play for a school in his home state.
Friendship
Secondly, it was the lure of playing with high school teammate Neeo Avery, another four-star edge rusher. In fact, Avery and Gooden are the second and third ranked players in the Terps’ 23-player haul.
Head Coach Mike Locksley
Lastly, it was the opportunity to play for Mike Locksley who ties to the DMV go back to his days growing up as a young lad in the area. That and the opportunity to play in a defense that showed some real signs of turning the corner last season.
The addition of Gooden and Avery give the Terps a very intriguing linebacker quartet with freshman All-American Jaishawn Barham and stud tackling machine Vandarious Cowan. In a supremely tough Big Ten conference these are the types of elite athletes UMD has been looking to land and to have four of them together is a step in the right direction.
In welcoming Dylan Gooden, son of Dwight Gooden, the sons of two legendary #Mets from the 1986 World Champions will be Terps.
Remember, DJ Strawberry, son of Darryl Strawberry played for @TerrapinHoops in the mid-2000s.
When your dad is Dwight “Doc” Gooden, being a top-level athlete is probably expected, and Dylan has exceeded that with ease. His dad was an MLB star pitcher, 1984 NL Rookie of the Year, 4X All-Star, NL Cy Young Winner, 2X World Series Champion, MLB ERA Leader, MLB Wins Leader, 2X MLB Strikeout Leader. He also has a no-hitter and holds a career record of 194-112 as a starting pitcher, while starring for the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
Now he’ll get to see his son do work weekly in College Park, at raucous Capital One Field at SECU Stadium.
There’s a line in the song “The World Is Yours” off rapper Nas’ classic “Illmatic” album.
“My strength, my son, a star will be my resurrection
Born in correction, all the wrong sh-t I did, he’ll lead in right direction.”
Former Mets pitching legend Dwight Gooden can relate to those words when it comes to his life and his youngest son of six kids, Dylan.
During his MLB career Gooden, aka Dr. Doom, aka Doc, went 194-112 as a starting pitcher for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros and Rays. Gooden is a Black Ace, one of just 15 melanated mound marauders to post a 20-win season.
Gooden burst into the league as a 19-year-old flame-throwing phenom in 1984, helping to propel the Mets above the Yankees as New York’s glamour squad. His story is one of tragedy and triumph, and Doc accomplished a lot in his baseball career, including being a four-time All-Star, two-time World Series Champion, Cy Young Award winner and won multiple championships. He’s also a pitching Triple Crown winner (wins, strikeouts and earned run average), NL Rookie of the Year, MLB wins leader, MLB ERA leader and two-time strikeout leader.
If not for off-the-field troubles that curtailed his meteroric rise, Gooden would have been a shoo-in for Cooperstown induction. Instead, he’s the poster child for any cautionary tale about athletes, money, pressure, drugs and the temptations of city life.
Dylan Gooden Following Dad’s Athletic Background
Dylan Gooden doesn’t throw heat, but he brings it on the football field as a 2023 four-star edge rusher from Olney, Maryland, where he plays for the Our Lady of Good Counsel Falcons. Gooden’s team participates in arguably one of the five best high school football leagues in the country (WCAC). With games annually against the DeMatha Stags, Gonzaga College High School Eagles and St. John’s Cadets, the talent level is formidable.
Gooden showed out in that conference this past season as he led the Falcons to the brink of a championship, coming up just short in the title game to the Cadets. For his efforts, he received his fourth star, making him one of the highest-rated players at his position in the country. He’s the No. 11-rated edge rusher in the nation, and he’s ranked No .2 at his position in the football-rich state of Maryland.
Gooden Will Ball At The Power 5 Level: Schools Covet His Length & Versatility On The Edge
The versatile and Uber athletic Gooden holds offers from 17 Power 5 institutions, including Arizona, Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and West Virginia.
Gooden recently tweeted out a list of eight schools who made his final cut.
Texas A&M, Penn State, WVA, Michigan State, Maryland, Notre Dame, Miami, Tennessee all made the list to secure the rising pass rusher/outside linebacker’s commitment.
The Maryland Terrapins Need This Commitment: Can’t Let Talent Like This Out Of The State
With Gooden being a prized recruit located in the state of Maryland, it’s imperative Michael Locksley and the rising Terrapins do everything in their power to keep him in-state. He provides a position of need for a Terps program that has no problem scoring points with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and wide receivers Rakim Jarrett and Dontay Demus all scheduled to return to College Park for the next few seasons.
Maryland’s glaring weakness has been on the defensive side of the football. The recruitment of Gooden is a moment of truth for Maryland’s ability to compete in the Big Ten.
They just can’t allow conference foes, Penn State and Michigan State to take Gooden. West Virginia is also reportedly very high on Gooden’s list.
‘23 Good Counsel four-star DE/OLB Dylan Gooden kept the #Terps in the mix after releasing his top group on Monday https://t.co/CJgxV95vrJ
— Inside the Black & Gold (@Insideblackgold) January 6, 2022
Gooden’s strengths are UMD’s weaknesses. Currently at 205 pounds, he could play at 230-240 with ease. He’s a high-level athlete who has fast-twitch muscles. His length and speed off the edge is what intrigues the Power 5 schools. A high motor enables him to track down plays on back side.
The weight room will become his best friend over the next year as he adds bulk to his slender, wiry frame. Speed is his best asset as of now, so the continued development would make him less of a one-trick pony. He’ll have a huge effect on whatever Power 5 program he chooses and has the chance to be an NFL prospect.
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