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FOOTBALL: LOYOLA'S TERENCE GARVIN IS OFFERED BY WEST VIRGINIA

Loyola's junior running back Terence Garvin told DigitalSports that West Virginia has offered him a full scholarship to play free safety, as has the University of Maryland.

"They both actually offered me for the position of free safety, but they said that I would have a chance to play offense if I really showed interest in playing running back and showed that I could do it," said Garvin, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who helped the Dons to earn their second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Assocaition A Conference title.

Garvin, who will visit West Virginia on Saturday, has received an invitation to the Penn State Nike camp on May 10, as well as the Blue-Gray Combine at the Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, N.J., on May 12.

"Maryland kind of said they're looking at me as an outside linebacker-type," said Garvin, who is being recruited Chris Cosh. "They like my structure. They said that I have an Erin Henderson-type of body."

Garvin also said that former Northwest of Montgomery County coach Randy Trivers, now an assistant at Syracuse, was in town on Tuesday and expressed interest in him as well.

"I went down there a couple of weeks ago, and I llke their history. I saw an actual Heisman Tropy for the first time. It was Ernie Davis' trophy. It sent chills down my spine," Garvin said.

"I got to go into the Carrier Dome, which was really nice. The linebacker coach expressed a lot of interest in me," Garvin said. "And the running backs coach said I could probably play that position. At Syracuse, they like to play younger guys, so I think I would have a chance."

baltimoresun.com - Recruiting Report: Checking in with Terence Garvin

Last month, Loyola safety Terence Garvin saw his Dons teammate, quarterback Leon Kinnard, end his recruiting process by offering a verbal commitment to UConn.

If Garvin has his way, he’ll join Kinnard as a committed Division I prospect sooner rather than later.

“We’re probably going to go to camps [this summer],” Garvin said. “I got invited to the combine at Penn State. [I could do camps at] Maryland and West Virginia, but that’s if I’m not committed yet. I would like to be committed before the summer, but that’s depending on where I’m going.”

Garvin, 6 feet 2, 210 pounds, sports offers from the Terps and Mountaineers. Garvin spoke with Recruiting Report recently about his recruitment.

What do you like about West Virginia?

Well the coach was telling me he runs a defense called the 3-3-5 defense, and that kind of caught my attention because he was saying three safeties play on the field at the same time. And he said he likes my size and I’d be able to blitz a lot. I know traditionally they’re pretty good. They’re bringing in a lot of [commitments so far].

What other schools have you heard from?

Syracuse is talking to me a lot and North Carolina State. Syracuse, their [running backs] coach [Randy Trivers] was at our school [Tuesday]. And he was saying I’m pretty close to getting offered by them. They like me. They like me more as an outside linebacker type, or at free safety.

What stood out about your visit to Syracuse?

I went up there a couple weeks ago. I like their history. I saw Heisman trophies for the first time up there -- it was Ernie Davis’ trophy. It was pretty nice. They've got a whole lot of history with Jim Brown and everything. And The [Carrier] Dome was kind of nice.

How was your visit to Maryland for the spring game last weekend?

It was very enjoyable. That was the first time I’ve ever seen them play at the field. It wasn’t completely packed, but you could see the atmosphere. It gets kind of loud out there if it does get packed. And the field is pretty nice, too. They’re reconstructing stuff so it’s going to get bigger, so I kind of like that.

Who is recruiting you for Maryland?

[Maryland defensive coordinator] Chris Cosh. He’s a real person -- he tells you what’s really going to happen. He kind of likes my size. I’d have a chance at being a strong safety, maybe an outside linebacker, but [I’d play] more of a safety position.

What’s next for your recruitment? Is any school standing out?

I’m just trying to see the right place where I can be. I’ve been up to Maryland a whole lot, and right now, I like it a lot up there. But I have to visit West Virginia, and I like Syracuse. North Carolina State, I’ve never been there, but I’m supposed to visit. But I like Maryland a lot right now.