Class of 2013: Where Are They Now?

Image Credit: CBS Sports

Before the 2013 season, I launched a “Meet the Recruit” series which profiled each member of the Terps’ class of 2013. I looked at their various rankings, 40-times, and where I thought that they would fit into the master plan of head coach Randy Edsall. Now that the 2013 regular season has come and gone, I thought it would be productive to look back at each member of the 2013 class and provide an update on their status with the program.

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Jarrett Ross, CB – Wilmington, DE (3-star, Rivals)

After Dexter McDougle and Jeremiah Johnson both went down with lengthy injuries, Ross stepped into a primary backup role to Isaac Goins. He recorded 6 tackles on the season, most of which came on special teams. He will compete for a backup role next season, and his experience in 2013 should help him in that competition.

Shane Cockerille, QB – Baltimore, MD (3-star, Rivals)

While other positions were heavily injured in 2013, the Terps only used two quarterbacks all season (three if you include Ricardo Young in the Wild-Crab formation). That allowed the highly-touted Cockerille to redshirt the 2013 season and learn Mike Locksley’s offense on the practice field. He will be buried on the depth chart yet again next season, but should get a chance to compete for the starting job in 2015.

Derrick Hayward, LB – Salisbury, MD (2-star, Rivals)

Shortly after arriving in College Park, Derrick Hayward found out that he would be switching positions. While he was recruited as a linebacker, he is now a tight end for the Terrapins. He did not see the field in 2013, and thus used it as his redshirt season. Whether he will stay at tight end or move to linebacker is yet to be seen, but he will probably stay put due to the team’s plethora of linebackers.

Jajuan Dulaney, OT – Powder Springs, GA (3-star, Rivals)

While the Terps used a few different offensive linemen in 2013, Dulaney was not one of them, and spent 2013 as a redshirt season. He will have a chance to compete for a starting tackle position next season, but will likely be buried on the depth chart due to the experienced players above him. There is a chance that he could become a second-string tackle in 2014.

Derwin Gray, OT – Washington, D.C. (4-star, Rivals)

One of the best recruits of 2013 for Randy Edsall and his staff, Derwin Gray was forced to spend a year at Fork Union Military Academy due to poor academics. He will enroll at College Park in January, and will be one of the favorites to start at left tackle in 2014. He will enter 2014 as a true freshman with four years of eligibility left.

Cavon Walker, LB – Washington, D.C. (3-star, Rivals)

While Derrick Hayward moved to tight end, Cavon Walker stayed at linebacker in 2013 and saw some playing time both on special teams and as a defensive substitute. He recorded 9 tackles on the season, and saw most of his action against Virginia. He will compete for a backup position at weakside linebacker in 2014 and will see time on special teams.

DeAndre Lane, WR – Baltimore, MD (2-star, Rivals)

Out of Catonsville High School, DeAndre Lane was one of the more intriguing recruits that Randy Edsall brought into College Park in 2013. He has great speed, and coaches think that he can contribute both as a slot receiver and as a returner. A concussion forced him to the sideline for most of the 2013 season, but he did have one kick return of 19 yards against Old Dominion. He will compete for time at slot receiver in 2014, and could play a role in the return game behind Stefon Diggs and William Likely.

Milan Collins, ATH – Forestville, MD (3-star, Rivals)

A quarterback in high school, Milan Collins was recruited to Maryland as a safety. He suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp, and thus took 2013 as his redshirt season. He will compete for time at free safety next season, but will likely have to wait a few years to see time on defense. He may see time on special teams due to his good athleticism.

Deon Long, WR – Council Bluffs, IA (5-star, Rivals)

The Terps’ best recruit of 2013, Deon Long burst onto the scene in College Park as a junior college transfer. Before he suffered a season-ending leg injury against Wake Forest, Long caught 32 passes for 489 yards and 1 touchdown. He was the deep threat that the Terps were looking for to compliment Stefon Diggs, and will play a big role as a starting wide receiver in 2014.

Malik Jones, DE – Baltimore, MD (2-star, Rivals)

Another player who took 2013 as his redshirt season, Malik Jones will probably compete for a backup position at defensive end in 2014. The Terps retain most of their defensive line next season, so Jones may have to wait awhile to see action.

Elvis Dennah, S – Annapolis, MD (2-star, Rivals)

Dennah also took 2013 as his redshirt season after a season-ending injury forced him to the sideline. His role in 2014 should be minimal, but he may see a few snaps on special teams. At the very least, he provides depth at the strong safety position. He could also move down to linebacker in the future if he bulks up enough.

Jalen Brooks, LB – Suwanee, GA (3-star, Rivals)

Yet another player who took 2013 as his redshirt year, Brooks has potential as a linebacker in College Park. He will compete for a backup position at outside linebacker in 2014, but may see some time on special teams. His time to contribute may come in a few years when the linebacking corps thins out a bit.

Jermaine Carter, LB – Washington, D.C. (3-star, Rivals)

While he was fairly high on the depth chart at times during the 2013 season, Jermaine Carter squeaked out with his redshirt. He is a versatile player, but it looks like the defensive coaches like him as an inside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. He has a lot of potential, and should see significant playing time in a few years, but will probably be relegated to special teams duty in 2014.

Kingsley Opara, DT – Jacksonville, FL (3-star, Rivals)

A season-ending injury forced Opara to the bench early in the year, but he was able to use 2013 as his redshirt season. While most recruiting analysts listed him as a defensive tackle, he fits in as a weakside defensive end in Brian Stewart’s 3-4 scheme. With Zeke Riser graduating, Opara has a chance to compete for the second-string job behind Keith Bowers or Quinton Jefferson in 2014.

Andrew Isaacs, TE – Manchester, CT (4-star, Rivals)

One of the more talented recruits for Randy Edsall in 2013, Andrew Isaacs saw most of his playing time come on special teams. He recorded 2 tackles there, and also saw time as an extra blocker in goal-line sets and on the field goal unit. With Dave Stinebaugh graduating, Isaacs will compete with P.J. Gallo for the starting tight end position in 2014. Both are very talented pass-catchers, but I really like Isaacs in Mike Locksley’s offense.

Moise Larose, OT – Fort Meade, MD (3-star, Rivals)

After Mike Madaras suddenly left the Maryland football program, Larose was named the starting left tackle. He played about as well as you could expect a freshman to play in that situation, but suffered an injury during his first game and didn’t see the field for the rest of the season. He will compete with Derwin Gray and a few other Maryland offensive linemen for the starting left tackle position in 2014, and could also compete for the right tackle job as well.

Silvano Altamirano, OG – San Diego, CA (2-star, Rivals)

One of two junior college transfers for Randy Edsall in his 2013 class, Altamirano solidified himself as the Terps’ backup left guard behind senior De’Onte Arnett. He saw time with the second-string offense in blowouts, and has a very good chance to be the Terps’ starting left guard in 2014.

William Likely, CB – Belle Glade, FL (4-star, Rivals)

William Likely lived up to the hype, and then some. After Dexter McDougle and Jeremiah Johnson went down with injuries, the true freshman Likely was forced into a starting job. He didn’t miss a beat. Not only did he play like an experienced cornerback, he also helped make up for the loss of Stefon Diggs in the return game. Defensively, he recorded 62 tackles and 5 pass breakups. He also had an interception against Syracuse. As a kickoff returner, he averaged just over 27 yards per return. As a punt returner, he averaged almost 13 yards per return, and returned one 63 yards for a touchdown against Virginia Tech. He will continue to start at cornerback in 2014 alongside Jeremiah Johnson, and will surely have a role in the return game.

Chandler Burkett, DE – Panama City, FL (2-star, Rivals)

Chandler Burkett didn’t see much playing time in 2013, but his action in the Clemson game prevents him from getting a redshirt for last season. He provides quality depth for the Terps at weakside defensive end, and could see some more playing time next season on special teams.

Taivon Jacobs, WR – District Heights, MD (3-star, Rivals)

The brother of Terps WR Levern Jacobs, Taivon chose Maryland over Ohio State at the last minute on National Signing Day. He was recovering from a knee injury at the time, and ended up redshirting in 2013. His speed makes him a very intriguing prospect, and could push Nigel King and Marcus Leak for playing time next season. He is also yet another option to return kicks and punts for Randy Edsall, though he’s a bit buried on the depth chart there as well.

Jacquille Veii, ATH – Gaithersburg, MD (2-star, Rivals)

The Terps’ second National Signing Day pickup, Jacquille Veii made an immediate impact as a true freshman. He ran for 143 yards on 37 carries, and added 18 yards receiving on 5 catches. He saw most of his time early in the season at the end of blowout games, but had worked his way into the rotation at running back by the end of the year. He also served as a slot receiver on occasion, mainly to run jet sweeps after Stefon Diggs broke his leg. He definitely has a role next season, and should continue to see most of his playing time at running back.

Yannick Ngakoue, LB – Washington, D.C. (4-star, Rivals)

Maryland’s biggest pickup on National Signing day was Yannick Ngakoue, as he picked the Terps over offers from many other prominent schools. He saw playing time from day one, and that playing time increased after Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil went down with an injury. He recorded his first career interception against Old Dominion. Overall, he recorded 10 tackles on the season, 2 of which were sacks. Ngakoue will compete for playing time with Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil in 2014, and will almost definitely take over as the starter at strongside linebacker in 2015.