Cam Spence DT | 6-5 | 285 IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) Class of 17 247Sports Composite 0.9228 Natl 190 Pos 12 State32 Predictions: 77%

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Four-star IMG (Fla.) defensive tackle Cam Spence announced his verbal commitment to Maryland via Twitter this morning.

Spence, the Terps' first four-star pledge in the class of 2017, has been high on the Terps since new head coach D.J. Durkin took over. The 6-foot-5, 285 pound Maryland native took four visits to College Park while home on spring break recently and solidified a strong relationship with the staff, including associate head coach Mike London and wide receivers coach Chris Beatty.

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“There’s always great, talented kids in Maryland that leave the state, so the staff has just been saying if we get some of these kids to stay home, Maryland can really take things to the next level. It’s something I believe in, but I just have to see it for myself,” Spence told IMS last month.

The former Gilman School (Md.) star was one of the Maryland staff's top targets and fills a major position of need on the interior defensive line. Spence, who wanted to return home after his experience at the Florida powerhouse prep school, chose Maryland over Penn State, Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida, USC and Texas A&M. The nation's 10th-best defensive tackle and 184th-best overall prospect according to 247Sports, he becomes the Terps' third commitment in the 2017 class. They could further strength their recruiting class on Saturday, when two other top local targets, four-star St. John's (D.C.) quarterback Kasim Hill and three-star Good Counsel (Md.) linebacker Ayinde Eley, make their college choices.