Top-75 IOL Jaylen Gilchrist sets spring, official visits to Maryland

Maryland is in the mix for one of the best offensive linemen in the 2025 cycle. Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem four-star IOL Jaylen Gilchrist is set to make a return visit to College Park next month.

The rising 6-foot-4.5, 305-pounder confirmed via social media on Monday that he has locked in a March 30 visit to the Terrapins, following up a game visit trip he took to the Big Ten school in September. Rivals’ Adam Friedman also reported that Gilchrist has lined up an official visit with the Terps from June 21-23.

Around 20 Power Five programs have offered Gilchrist — who is moving steadily into the next phase of his recruitment. He told On3’s Chad Simmons last summer that things were yet to pick up and that the beginning of 2024 would see things beginning to turn up a notch or two.

“Right now, I wouldn’t say I’m in the early stages but I’m not marinated in yet because I still have my junior year ahead of me and that’s when official visits and all that stuff comes in,” Gilchrist told On3. “I’m putting my feet in the water a bit and waiting to take that rollercoaster for that ride.

“I’ll be occupied but my serious time will really be around January. That’s when I’m guessing it will get crazy for me.”

Maryland battling ACC, SEC, Big Ten programs for Gilchrist

South Carolina is currently trending for Gilchrist, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). The Gamecocks have had him in Columbia for a plethora of visits, including a recent Junior Day trip in January.

The likes of North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Penn State have been involved with his recruitment, while Virginia and Georgia are also expected to receive official visits from the blue-chipper, as of the end of February. Maryland is expected to have multiple chances to make in-person impressions on Gilchrist before he reaches a decision, however.

“My plan is that I kind of want to be an early enrollee,” Gilchrist told Simmons. “So if that’s the case, I need to get ahead do what I’ve got to do to figure out where I want to go.

“For me, the most important thing is education. Football’s not always promised so therefore if it doesn’t work out for me, I’ve got a scholarship to a good school.”

Gilchrist is the No. 76 overall prospect, No. 4 IOL and No. 3 player in Virginia, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He checked in at No. 71 overall and No. 4 in his position in the new edition of the 2025 On300, which was released on Monday.