Image Credit: UMTerps
2013 Statistics: 84 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 0 passes broken up
Best Game: vs. Clemson (23 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 passes broken up)
Worst Game: vs. Old Dominion (2 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 passes broken up)
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It takes a tough man to play inside linebacker in Brian Stewart’s 3-4 defensive system, and Cole Farrand is extremely tough. He has missed just two games over the last two seasons due to injuries, but has played hurt in countless others. Last season, he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the team’s game against Virginia Tech, but was soon back on the field with a wrap on his arm. This toughness is just one of the things that earned him a spot on the watch list for the 2014 Lott IMPACT Trophy. It is only fitting that Cole Farrand’s name be mentioned along with Ronnie Lott’s, one of the toughest players to ever play the game of football.
For the past two seasons, Farrand has started at inside linebacker for the Maryland Terrapins, bridging the gap between players like Demetrius Hartsfield and Alex Wujciak. He will graduate after the 2014 season, and should get a chance to play on Sundays. Even though he isn’t the flashiest player on the field, he is probably the most consistent player on the Maryland defense. He rarely has a bad game, which is what made selecting a “bad game” for him above so difficult.
The reason that his statistics look bad for his games against teams like Old Dominion and West Virginia is that he rarely sees the field against offenses like those teams run. Brian Stewart likes to use 6 defensive backs against those Air Raid and Spread offenses, which leaves Farrand and his inside linebacking teammates on the bench. However, now that the Terps have moved into a more physical conference in the Big Ten, Farrand shouldn’t be absent from too many games. In fact, in looking at the schedule, he will likely only see limited snaps against West Virginia and Indiana, who both run versions of the Air Raid offense.
While the new trend for defenses is to go small and go fast to counteract the high-powered spread offenses they face, Cole Farrand is an old-school player. He is a consistent tackler, and rarely has an offensive player slip out of his grasp. While he isn’t the fastest player on the field, he is the toughest. He plays the run extremely well, and is an underrated pass defender against tight ends and slot receivers. If you were a wide receiver coming across the middle and saw a 6-foot-3, 250 pound linebacker with a mullet coming out of the back of his helmet, wouldn’t you think twice about catching that pass?
In a day and age where dominant defensive players are diminishing, Cole Farrand stands out. His toughness and leadership make him one of the most valuable players on this Maryland football team. His consistency at the inside linebacker position probably makes him the most important defensive player for the Terrapins this season. He will be tough to replace when he graduates, but take advantage of the opportunity to watch Cole Farrand this season. Just look for the mullet, and the number 47.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.