In just a few weeks, DJ Durkin era will officially begin with the start of Fall practice; followed by season opener September 3rd when Maryland hosts Howard.
To help preview the season, Baltimore Sports and Life (BSL) reached out to Daniel Gallen, who covers the Terrapins for The Baltimore Sun.
Our thanks to Daniel for his thoughts.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
BSL: Looking ahead to the Fall, one of the most encouraging aspects to me is that there finally appears to be quality depth on the offensive line. What does the starting O-Line look like to you?
Gallen: Center Brendan Moore appears to be the lone guarantee along the offensive line based on spring practice. The coaching staff preached versatility along the line, so there could be plenty more players moving around to different positions before the season starts Sept. 3. Damian Prince and Derwin Gray have the talent to make an impact, while Michael Dunn (37 starts) has plenty of experience at tackle. Quarvez Boulware, Mike Minter, Maurice Shelton and JaJuan Dulaney could all be in the mix at guard.
BSL: New Offensive Coordinator Walt Bell has reiterated numerous times that his offensive is adaptable to the talent which exists. The Terps have weapons. Do you think Bell’s innovation and schemes will provide ways to get the ball to MD’s playmakers more often than the prior regime?
Gallen: Bell’s two seasons at Arkansas State showcased his flexibility. Red Wolves quarterback Fredi Knighten passed for 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2014. He battled injuries in 2015, so three Arkansas State running backs rushed for at least 600 yards. Bell won’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole, which bodes well for some of the pieces the Maryland offense has.
BSL: RB currently looks deep with Trey Edmunds, Wes Brown, Ty Johnson, and the incoming Freshman trio of Harrison, Wilson, and Funk. I’m excited about Johnson’s potential with the ball in space. Does Funk have a significant leg-up on the other Freshman as the early enroll? Thoughts on this group as a whole?
Gallen: Running back looked like it would be a weakness at the end of last season, but it’s morphed into a strength with the addition of Edmunds and the recruiting class. There’s a variety of styles in this group, so plenty of them could see the field this fall, including the freshmen. Johnson’s speed in Bell’s offense should be fun, while Durkin was impressed with Funk this spring.
BSL: DJ Moore impressed as a Freshman. Levern Jacobs has twice led MD in receptions. His brother Taivon has excellent speed. Of the non-Freshman WR’s – Lane, Davenport, Culmer, the New Mexico State transfer Teldrick Morgan – who interests you the most?
Gallen: Morgan is interesting because he’s been a go-to No. 1 receiver before in his career, while injuries and quarterback play have prevented most of Maryland’s current receivers from having a chance to do the same. But each has his own intriguing characteristics. Culmer had great chemistry with Perry Hills. Davenport had one of the Terps’ best receiving games last season with seven catches for 89 yards in the season finale. Lane made some tough, acrobatic catches last season.
BSL: Do you see Freshman Tino Ellis factoring immediately? Is fellow Freshman DJ Turner a realistic option to help in the return game, or do you see him taking a RS?
Gallen: Durkin has said he wants the best players on the field, so if Ellis or Turner can contribute something, they’ll probably be on the field, especially at a position that runs deep like wide receivers.
BSL: I liked what we saw from Avery Edwards last year at TE. Joining Edwards at the position is Derrick Hayward, and Andrew Isaacs. Who do you see as having the most talent in this trio?
Gallen: Hayward and Edwards had defined roles last season. Hayward was more of a blocking tight end, while Edwards was a dangerous receiving threat. Isaacs hasn’t played since September 2014, but the previous coaching staff was high on him. Success out of the tight end position is mostly dependent on how Isaacs comes back from his injury and how Hayward and Edwards continue rounding out their games.
BSL: We’re another year away from the hopeful arrival of current verbals Joshua Kaindoh, and Cam Spence. While we wait for them, let’s discuss what exists on the DL. I think Jesse Aniebonam is poised to explode. Adam McLean figures to be raw, but the talent exists. To me, one of the more interesting players to watch this Fall is former Under Armour All-American Melvin Keihn.
Roman Braglio, David Shaw, Kingsley Opara, Chandler Burkett, Malik Jones, and Cavon Walker were all solid 3 star type recruits. Not spectacular talents, but more than warm bodies.
With Mike London now Coaching the DL, will Maryland get more out of this group? Can the DL be an average Big Ten unit overall?
Gallen: The defensive line has much to replace after last season. Former defensive line coach Chad Wilt did a great job developing Yannick Ngakoue and Quinton Jefferson before they left early for the NFL, and Azubuike Ukandu had his share of moments under Wilt’s tutelage last season. Maryland will need Aniebonam and Keihn to help replace Ngakoue’s pass rushing production, and both looked good at times in the spring. Braglio has been solid on the defensive line in his career, and Shaw has had two season cut short by injury. Maryland rotated about seven or eight guys per game last season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a similarly deep rotation again this fall.
BSL: Jalen Brooks and Jermaine Carters have a great combination of experience and talent at LB. What exists around them at the position?
Gus Little, Tyler Burke, and Nnamdi Egbuaba were all 3 stars who have had time in the system. Who does the coaching staff like best from this trio?
Incoming Freshman Dion Goldbourne seems like a likely RS candidate if he stays at DE. That’s based on every report on him saying he needs time in the gym to add strength. If he is moved to OLB in August, could his speed force his way into the 2-Deep?
Former QB Shane Cockerille has been moved to LB. With Bell’s offense not utilizing FB’s, might Kenneth Goins (a former Baltimore Sun All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year) also be an option for a position change to LB?
Gallen: Carter, along with Will Likely at cornerback, seems to be one of the only sure things on the Maryland defense entering fall camp. Carter was a breakout performer last year, and if he can improve on that performance, it would be a big boost for a thin position. Cockerille played plenty of first-team reps in the spring and his mentality and athleticism seems well-suited to linebacker. Brooks is a really smart player, and Brett Zanotto impressed the previous regime when he wasn’t battling injuries last season. Like many positions on the team, the staff will probably try any number of combinations of players to find what works.
BSL: Going into the Fall, BSL’s Secondary 2 Deep looks like:
CB) Will Likely, Darnell Savage
FS) Josh Woods, Jarrett Ross
SS) Deznel Conyers, Milan Collins
CB) Alvin Hill, Antwaine Carter
Where do you disagree?
I think Safety looks okay, I’m curious if the Freshman class can provide some immediate help at Corner? Like Funk, Antwaine Richardson was an early enroll.
Do you see Richardson, and Tyrek Tisdale getting long looks? Alabama is apparently being uncooperative in releasing Maurice Smith. If they do, MD has been looked at as a potential home. Any further word here?
Gallen: The secondary has the most moving parts of any of Maryland’s positions with only one returning starter and a significant influx of freshmen, so it will take some time for it to shake out. Woods and Conyers were solid at safety in the spring, while the corner job opposite Likely could be won by any number of players. Durkin said he wants to use many aggressive defensive backs, so seeing the freshmen on the field in the defensive backfield early and often would not be a surprise.
BSL: Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe are both Seniors who have played a lot, and had time in the new system this Spring (along with Gage Shaffer). Any scenario you see where Hills or Rowe could be pushed by Shaffer, Tyrrell Pigrome, or Max Bortenschlager?
Gallen: Durkin said in April that the job is open and he wants to give the freshmen a fair chance to show what they can do, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see all five players in the mix to win the job or at least have a good chance to earn it.
BSL: Overall, I look at the schedule like this:
Must and expected wins: Howard, FIU
Swing games: UCF, Purdue, @Penn State, Minnesota, @Indiana, @Nebraska, Rutgers
Expected losses: Michigan State, @Michigan, Ohio State
In DJ Durkin’s first year at the helm, MD wins how many games?
Gallen: It’s too early to answer that question because there’s too many unknowns at important positions for Maryland entering fall camp. That being said, the schedule shapes up nicely for Durkin. The three nonconference opponents were a combined 6-29 last season, while Nebraska, Minnesota, and Purdue from the Big Ten West is a better draw than Iowa and Wisconsin last season.
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