Last time around we looked at the future for quarterbacks at Maryland, but this week we’ll be taking a look at the guys who protect him. The most talented unit on the team, the big uglies were one of Randy Edsall’s few gifts to D.J. Durkin. And luckily for Terps’ fans, it seems Durkin has continued the recent pipeline of blue-chip offensive linemen heading to Maryland.
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This year’s starting lineup is a mixed bag that includes a trio of former walk-ons: left tackle Michael Dunn, left guard Mike Minter and right guard Maurice Shelton, as well as center Brendan Moore and right tackle Damian Prince, who is one of the highest-rated players to ever sign with Maryland.
So far the unit has showed flashes of brilliance, especially in the ground game, where the Terps have racked up 800 yards through the first three games. But things have also been shaky at times. The line gave up five sacks against Central Florida and is currently one of the nation’s worst units in pass protection. While obviously five sacks isn’t going to cut it, especially when Maryland opens Big Ten play this weekend against Purdue, this line has a lot going for it.
The future is extremely bright for this unit. It is filled with blue-chippers who can fill gaps when needed now and should be able to step up into a starting capacity down the road. Prince, already a promising starter, is just a redshirt sophomore and should spend at least one, maybe two more years in College Park before getting his shot at the next level. Moore is also just a sophomore and though he doesn’t have the tremendous upside of Prince or a few of the Terps’ other young linemen, he’s shown he can be a solid starter.
Behind them, Maryland’s depth includes four former 4-star recruiting in sophomore Derwin Gray, redshirt freshman Quarvez Boulware and true freshmen Terrance Davis and Richard Merritt, who are all likely to get a shot at the NFL should they even begin to scratch their potential. Redshirt freshmen EJ Donahue, Ellis McKennie and Will McClain can also contribute and help give UMD one of the deepest offensive lines in the country.
And though the offensive line talent is mostly due to Edsall’s recruiting, Durkin has kept it up. He was instrumental in bringing both Davis and Merritt to College Park and he’s made a splash in the 2017 class too. He’s locked up commitments from DeMatha’s Marcus Minor and McDonogh’s Jordan McNair, both 4-star prospects that are among the highest rated linemen in the Mid-Atlantic. The Terps also have a commitment from Gonzaga Center Johnny Jordan, a 3-star recruit that some to be considered vastly underrated.
And it doesn’t stop with the 2017 class. Though Maryland has no 2018 commits so far, they are in the mix for more talented linemen. Rasheed Walker, a 4-star guard out of North Point is considered a virtual lock for the Terps and UMD is pushing hard for 3-star guard Jaelyn Duncan, considered an Ohio State lean, and 4-star guard Curtis Dunlap out of IMG Academy.
Though it isn’t one of the sexy positions on the football field, offensive line is one of the most important. Luckily for Maryland fans it’s a strength that looks like it’s here to stay.
Andrew Feather is a multimedia journalist from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. Currently a broadcast journalism major at Elon University in Elon, N.C., Feather serves as the Assistant Sports Director of Elon Local News, the school’s award winning, student-run news broadcast.