Danny O’Brien is expected to graduate in the spring. That would enable the Maryland quarterback, with two years of eligibility remaining, to transfer to another Football Bowl Subdivision school and play immediately. The one stipulation is that O’Brien enroll in a graduate program not offered at Maryland.

O’Brien did request and was granted his release from Maryland. One stipulation: Maryland Coach Randy Edsall did not give O’Brien his release to transfer to Vanderbilt, according to an individual familiar with the discussion between O’Brien and Edsall. The head coach at Vanderbilt, of course, is James Franklin, the former offensive coordinator/head-coach-in-waiting at Maryland.

O’Brien chose Maryland a few years ago primarily to play for Franklin. If Edsall had allowed O’Brien to transfer to Vanderbilt, it’s unclear that O’Brien would have done so. But Edsall is not allowing O’Brien to make that move.

More to come …

What was expected is now official: Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien, along with offensive lineman Max Garcia and linebacker Mario Rowson will leave the program. All three requested and have been granted their releases from the football program.

“I am disappointed by Danny’s decision,” Maryland Coach Randy Edsall said in a statement. “Danny told me that he is not committed to our program, that he is not ‘all in.’ I want what’s best for all of our players. Danny wants a fresh start elsewhere. I wish him well.”

O’Brien, the 2010 ACC rookie of the year, played in nine games (seven starts) last season. The third-year sophomore completed 150 of 266 passes for 1,648 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

If O’Brien graduates from Maryland in the spring, he can transfer to another FBS school and play immediately, so long as he enrolls in a graduate program not offered at Maryland.

Good afternoon.

Maryland takes on No. 10 Duke on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m., ESPN) without starting point guard Pe’Shon Howard, who suffered a torn ACL in practice on Thursday and is out for the season. The Blue Devils are riding high after their buzzer-beating win over rival North Carolina on Wednesday night.

TERRAPINS AT A GLANCE

Record: 14-9, 4-5 ACC.

RPI rank: 96.

Strength of schedule rank: 61.

Ken Pomeroy rank : 131.

BLUE DEVILS AT A GLANCE

Record: 20-4, 7-2.

RPI rank: 2.

Strength of schedule: 1.

Ken Pomeroy rank: 14.

This is your open thread. Feel free to offer up predictions, reactions, celebrations, etc., in the comments.

Stefon Diggs made official what was expected on Friday night, announcing that he will play football for Maryland. Terrapins Coach Randy Edsall, suffice to say, is happy.

More on Diggs signing with Maryland:

Photo gallery of Diggs and other local recruits

Diggs signs with Maryland

Stefon Diggs AllMetSports.com page

It is now official: five-star prospect Stefon Diggs has chosen Maryland. And the school officially announced the addition of Diggs to its recruiting class at 8:01 p.m. Friday.

Much more from colleagues Josh Barr and Paul Tenorio, but I’ll include the comments from Maryland Coach Randy Edsall.

A consensus top-10 prospect nationally, Diggs is also listed as the second-best wide receiver prospect in the country by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com.

“We are very pleased to receive the commitment of Stefon,” Edsall said. “He is an impact player who brings a playmaking ability that will enhance our team and certainly help us offensively. He is a great competitor and team player who loves to work every day and win. We are honored and happy to have him.”

The addition of Diggs clearly fills a need at wide receiver. The number of dropped passes by Maryland wide receivers last season was well documented.

Adding Diggs also addresses the question of whether Maryland could secure the very elite local talent. Edsall accomplished just that.