​Rockvale’s three-star defensive end and tight end Dallas Pauldo announced his commitment to the Maryland Terrapins on July 11 during a ceremony held in the high school auditorium. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds, Pauldo is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 18 player in Tennessee and the 52nd-best defensive lineman in the 2027 national class. He chose Maryland over several prominent programs, including Arkansas and Missouri.
Earlier in the offseason, Pauldo drew attention from multiple SEC programs, with offers that included Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Vanderbilt. In addition to these SEC schools, he also held offers from Indiana, the defending national champions, along with Memphis, MTSU, and Mercer. His commitment to Maryland comes after a notable high school career in the Murfreesboro area, where he made an impact on both sides of the ball.
During his 2025 season, Pauldo earned first-team all-area recognition as a tight end in the Murfreesboro area. He was recognized as the Region 3-6A Co-Tight End of the Year, a nod that acknowledged his versatility and production on offense. That year, he recorded 21 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns as a receiving threat. On the defensive side, he contributed 33 tackles and four sacks as a defensive end, underscoring his dual-threat potential and his value to his team in multiple roles.
Pauldo’s combination of size, athleticism, and versatility has drawn interest from programs at both the high-major and regional levels. Maryland’s program will add a player who has a proven frame and the ability to impact games as both a pass catcher and a disruptive edge presence. The commitment also reflects the growing interest in Pauldo from programs looking to add length and versatility to their defensive fronts as well as to their offensive schemes at tight end.
Cecil Joyce is the reporter covering high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. He can be reached at cjoyce@dnj.com and is active on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, under the handle @Cecil_Joyce. This report was initially published by the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal. The piece details Rockvale DE Dallas Pauldo’s commitment to Maryland football, with emphasis on his recruiting journey, positional versatility, and the implications for both his high school program and his future at the collegiate level.