The Future is Bright

While most of the focus surrounding Maryland football this off-season will be on the team’s impending search for a head coach, the team boasts some very talented players. In this article, I’ll outline my projected two-deep depth charts for both 2016 and 2017, and also speak in detail about each position group. Whoever ends up roaming the sidelines for the Terrapins next season will have plenty of talent to work with.

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Projected 2016 Two-Deep

Offense (Spread)
QB: 1. Dwayne Haskins, 2. Perry Hills OR Caleb Rowe
RB: 1. Wes Brown, 2. Ty Johnson
WR (SE): 1. D.J. Moore, 2. Amba Etta-Tawo OR Tino Ellis
WR (FL): 1. Taivon Jacobs, 2. Malcolm Culmer
WR (SL): 1. Levern Jacobs, 2. DeAndre Lane OR D.J. Turner
TE: 1. Andrew Isaacs, 2. Avery Edwards
LT: 1. Derwin Gray, 2. Will McClain
LG: 1. Quarvez Boulware, 2. Mike Minter
C: 1. Brendan Moore, 2. Mason Zimmerman
RG: 1. Michael Dunn, 2. Maurice Shelton OR Ellis McKennie
RT: 1. Damian Prince, 2. JaJuan Dulaney

Defense (Multiple)
SDE: 1. Roman Braglio, 2. Brent Kulka
NT: 1. David Shaw, 2. Kingsley Opara
DT: 1. Malik Jones OR Adam McLean
BUCK: 1. Jesse Aniebonam, 2. Melvin Keihn OR Chandler Burkett
SLB: 1. Jalen Brooks, 2. Nnamdi Egbuaba
MLB: 1. Jermaine Carter, Jr., 2. Tyler Burke
WLB: 1. Abner Logan, 2. Brock Dean OR Brett Zanotto
CB: 1. Jarrett Ross, 2. Daniel Ezeagwu
FS: 1. Denzel Conyers, 2. Elvis Dennah
SS: 1. Josh Woods, 2. J.T. Ventura
CB: 1. William Likely, 2. Antwaine Carter

Special Teams
K: 1. Adam Greene, 2. Daniel Sutton
P: 1. Nicolas Pritchard, 2. Lee Shrader
LS: 1. Nate Adams, 2. Christian Carpenter
H: 1. Caleb Rowe, 2. Nicolas Pritchard
KR: 1. William Likely, 2. Taivon Jacobs
PR: 1. William Likely, 2. DeAndre Lane

Projected 2017 Two-Deep

Offense (Spread)
QB: 1. Dwayne Haskins, 2. Gage Shaffer
RB: 1. Ty Johnson, 2. Lorenzo Harrison
WR (SE): 1. D.J. Moore OR Tino Ellis
WR (FL): 1. Taivon Jacobs, 2. Parnell Motley
WR (SL): 1. Jahrvis Davenport OR D.J. Turner
TE: 1. Andrew Isaacs, 2. Avery Edwards
LT: 1. Derwin Gray, 2. Will McClain
LG: 1. Quarvez Boulware, 2. Mike Minter
C: 1. Brendan Moore, 2. Mason Zimmerman
RG: 1. Ellis McKennie, 2. E.J. Donahue
RT: 1. Damian Prince, 2. JaJuan Dulaney

Defense (Multiple)
SDE: 1. Brent Kulka, 2. Mbi Tanyi
NT: 1. David Shaw, 2. Kingsley Opara OR Keiron Howard
DT: 1. Malik Jones OR Adam McLean
BUCK: 1. Jesse Aniebonam, 2. Melvin Keihn
SLB: 1. Jalen Brooks, 2. Nnamdi Egbuaba
MLB: 1. Jermaine Carter, Jr., 2. Tyler Burke
WLB: 1. Keandre Jones OR Brett Zanotto
CB: 1. Daniel Ezeagwu, 2. Tyrone Hill
FS: 1. Elvis Dennah, 2. Milan Collins
SS: 1. Josh Woods, 2. J.T. Ventura
CB: 1. Antwaine Carter, 2. Darnell Savage OR Travon Stott

Special Teams
K: 1. Adam Greene, 2. Daniel Sutton
P: 1. Nicolas Pritchard, 2. Lee Shrader
LS: 1. Nate Adams, 2. Matt Oliviera
H: 1. Nicolas Pritchard, 2. Lee Shrader
KR: 1. Taivon Jacobs, 2. Tino Ellis
PR: 1. D.J. Turner, 2. Lorenzo Harrison

Positional Reviews

Quarterbacks
After beginning the season predicting that Dwayne Haskins would likely redshirt his first season in College Park, I now protect him to begin his career starting as a true freshman. While this is very rare around college football, I believe that it will be best for the future of the team for Haskins to learn on the job in 2016. The Terrapins are looking to hire an offensive-minded coach, so teaching the incoming 4-star quarterback the offense right off the bat should serve the entire team well.

Running Backs
Give some props to Brandon Ross. He’s been a stud in the backfield for almost his entire career with the Terrapins. But the team will have to move on without him beginning in 2016. While Wes Brown will start in his senior season, Ty Johnson will get plenty of carries as well. This is a good group, but it’s a group that lacks depth. If the next head coach utilizes a fullback, Kenneth Goins, Jr. is a very talented one. If not, expect most of those players to move either to running back or to the defensive side of the ball.

Wide Receivers
The Terrapins just keep on stockpiling receivers. In 2016, the unit features D.J. Moore, Levern Jacobs, and Taivon Jacobs (the same group from 2015). But in 2017, they are joined by D.J. Turner and Tino Ellis (Will be on the ’16 roster, expected to produce by the time the ’17 season begins.). This is an extremely deep group, and it may get even deeper if Trevon Diggs commits to Maryland this weekend.

Tight Ends
This is a unit that has sneakily become very deep. Unfortunately, Andrew Isaacs has yet to see the field in 2015 after suffering a gruesome season-ending injury against Syracuse in 2014. But I see him re-claiming his starting job in 2016, backed up by Avery Edwards, the talented transfer from North Carolina. Both players are more than comfortable flexed out as receivers, which is likely where they’ll see a lot of time in the new spread offense.

Offensive Line
The offensive line is slowly getting better. Derwin Gray and Damian Prince seem ready to lock down both tackle positions for the near future, while the interior line positions are filled by players like Quarvez Boulware, Ellis McKennie, E.J. Donahue, and Brendan Moore. It is very tough to project offensive line lineups, but these are my best guesses. The good news about the spread offense is that it puts less emphasis on the offensive line than other offensive schemes.

Defensive Line
This unit has been decimated by injuries in 2015, but has some good depth moving forward. By 2017, players like Adam McLean (expected to return) and Melvin Keihn will be ready to make some big contributions. I’d also watch for nose tackle Keiron Howard, he’s a guy who could jump a few people on the depth chart by 2017. If the Terrapins move back to a 3-4 defense, simply move the defensive tackles out to weak-side defensive end.

Linebackers
While this is a very young unit in 2015, it’s a unit that won’t be changed much through the 2017 season. Jermaine Carter, Jr. is already having a monster 2015 season, and he’ll only get better over the course of the next two seasons. Jalen Brooks will also play a big role over the next two years. Getting Abner Logan back in 2016 will really help bridge the gap to the Keandre Jones era (though Jones will likely play a role as a true freshman next season). If the Terrapins move back to a 3-4 defense, simply move the weak-side defensive ends to weak-side outside linebacker, and the weak-side linebackers to inside linebacker.

Defensive Backs
I’m a little concerned about this unit’s depth moving forward. William Likely will probably be back for his senior season in 2016, but the depth behind him is fairly thin. Luckily, the class of 2016 brings in two quality 3-star corners in Travon Stott and Tyrone Hill. There is also the chance that, while Trevon Diggs is being recruited as a wide receiver, he could be moved to cornerback given that he commits to Maryland this weekend. I’m not quite as worried about the safety position, as I like what Elvis Dennah and Josh Woods bring to the table, and there is some good depth behind them.

Special Teams
The Brad Craddock era has come to an end in College Park. Luckily, the Terrapins have a pretty good kicker behind him in Adam Greene. Greene has a big leg, and fans shouldn’t worry at all about the kicking game next season. Nicolas Pritchard has gotten better as his freshman season has gone on, so I’d expect him to remain the Terrapins’ starting punter for the next few years. Once William Likely departs, there will be some voids to fill in the return game, but the class of 2016 boasts some very accomplished return men. D.J. Turner and Lorenzo Harrison are both highlight-machines as punt returners at their respective high schools.