DJ Durkin is from Youngstown, a rugged city in Ohio that molded him into what he is today.
Now Durkin, as the head coach of the Maryland football program, is trying to pull some talent out of his hometown. He offered a scholarship this week to tight end Travis Koontz, a 2017 prospect at Youngstown's Boardman High School.
Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh visited Koontz on a road trip, and Durkin offered him personally over the phone, the player said.
Koontz holds seven other offers, he said: Iowa State, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Ohio, Akron, Eastern Kentucky and hometown Youngstown State.