2026 safety Darrell Carey commits to Maryland

Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic three-star safety Darrell Carey has committed to Maryland, he tells Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.

He chose the Terrapins after decommitting from Penn State on Oct. 27.

Carey is the No. 662 overall prospect and No. 55 safety in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 17 recruit in Maryland.

Head coach Mike Locksley and the Terps have added another local prospect to their 2026 class. Maryland was a finalist for Carey back in the spring, but the touted defensive back locked in with the Nittany Lions instead.

Once PSU fired longtime head coach James Franklin, though, Carey was one of many to re-open his recruitment in October. Maryland began to trend once his name was back on the board and it has now landed his pledge.

He adds to a Maryland class that’s still fairly light and now ranks No. 50 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. He plays for DeMatha Catholic, a premier high school football program in the DMV and in the nation. The Stags are a top-20 team per the Rivals Composite Rankings and Carey is a headlining senior for the program.

More on Maryland Recruiting

To date, Maryland now has 12 commits in its 2026 class. Everything is centered around Baltimore St. Frances Academy Five-Star Plus+ EDGE commit Zion Elee, the nation’s No. 2 recruit.

Elee has been committed to the Terps since Dec. 7 and has continued to say all the right things about his pledge. That hasn’t stopped high-profile programs from pursuing a flip, though. Over the weekend, Elee visited South Carolina. Miami is another school that’s kept communication with the elite prospect.

“I’m staying locked in with Maryland. The relationship I have with the coaches is pretty tight. Obviously, we are still building because I still talk to them on a constant basis,” Elee told Rivals in August.

Elee is now one of nine DMV recruits in Maryland’s class. Other top commits in the mix include: Willis (Texas) three-star interior offensive lineman Day’jon Moore, Barnesville (Ga.) Lamar County three-star linebacker Kaden Carter, Potomac (Md.) Bullis three-star tight end Javonte Williams, St. Frances Academy three-star cornerback Hakim Satterwhite and St. Frances Academy three-star TE Damon Hall.