Depth along the defensive line was one of the biggest concerns for the Terrapins on the defensive side of the ball last season. The team moved from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, and will stick with that odd front in 2020. While two starters return, depth will still be a concern this year before a number of talented reinforcements arrive as part of head coach Michael Locksley’s 2021 recruiting class. Stopping the run has been a weak point for Maryland since they joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014, and it’ll be up to defensive line coach Brian Williams’ unit to turn things around this season.
This is the seventh in a series of articles previewing Maryland football’s 2020 season on a position-by-position basis. Be sure to check in regularly, and give your thoughts on my projections at the link below.
(Discuss this article at the BSL Message Board here.)
Lawtez Rogers (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Starter (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics: 8 tackles (1.0 for loss), 1.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Rogers appeared in 10 of the team’s 12 games last season, and started the first two before ceding the job to Brett Kulka. His lone sack came during Maryland’s game against Rutgers in early October. He has ideal size for the 5-technique defensive end position in Hoke’s defense, and will have every opportunity to break out in 2020.
I’ve projected Rogers to serve as the team’s starting defensive end in 2020. With Kulka graduated, he’s the clear starter at the position.
Sam Okuayinonu (Redshirt Senior)
2020 Projection: Starter (Defensive Tackle)
2019 Statistics: 31 tackles (4.5 for loss), 1.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Okuayinonu quietly had a very productive year for the Terrapins in 2019 after arriving as a junior college transfer from Mesabi Range Community College. He appeared in all but one game and finished 10th on the team in tackles. He tied for 5th on the team in tackles for loss and recorded his lone sack in Maryland’s season opener against Howard.
I’ve projected Okuayinonu to serve as the team’s starting defensive tackle in 2020. He’ll have a chance to build on his solid 2019 campaign, but will likely be pushed for the job by some of Locksley’s new junior college transfer additions.
Oluwaseun Oluwatimi (Redshirt Senior)
2020 Projection: Starter (Nose Tackle)
2019 Statistics: 22 tackles (6.0 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Oluwatimi has quietly put together a very solid career for himself in College Park. He’s never missed a game since his redshirt freshman season in 2017, and started all 12 contests for the Terrapins last year. He finished 4th on the team in tackles for loss, and was a mainstay in the middle of Williams’ defensive line.
I’ve projected Oluwatimi to serve as the team’s starting nose tackle in 2020. If Maryland’s defensive line is going to have any success this year, it’ll be primarily due to his play in the middle.
Tyler Baylor (Redshirt Sophomore)
2020 Projection: Second-Team (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics: 10 tackles (1.5 for loss), 0.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Baylor saw action in 7 games for the Terrapins in 2019, primarily on special teams and as the third-string defensive end behind Rogers and Kulka. He saw his most extensive defensive playing time in the team’s season opener against Howard where he recorded 3 tackles, one of which was behind the line of scrimmage.
I’ve projected Baylor to serve as Rogers’ primary backup at defensive end in 2020. After seeing playing time in 11 games during his first two seasons, he’ll have a chance to make a bigger impact defensively as a redshirt sophomore.
Mosiah Nasili-Kite (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Second-Team (Defensive Tackle)
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 22 tackles (1.0 for loss), 1.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Nasili-Kite is one of three junior college additions to Maryland’s defensive line this season, and one of two from Independence Community College. He’s ranked as the 16th-best junior college strong-side defensive end in the country, and chose the Terrapins over offers from Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon State, and Utah State, among others.
I’ve projected Nasili-Kite to serve as Okuayinonu’s primary backup at defensive tackle in 2020, though he’ll be given every opportunity to win the starting job during summer camp.
Ami Finau (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Second-Team (Nose Tackle)
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 35 tackles (7.5 for loss), 1.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
Finau comes to College Park as the other defensive line addition from Independence Community College. He’s ranked as the 11th-best junior college defensive tackle in the country, and chose the Terrapins over offers from Arizona, Illinois, Marshall, and Utah State, among others.
I’ve projected Finau to serve as Oluwatimi’s primary backup at nose tackle in 2020.
Cherokee Glasgow (Junior)
2020 Projection: Third-Team (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics: 1 tackle (0.0 for loss), 0.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Glasgow appeared in Maryland’s season opener against Howard and recorded one tackle. That’s the only collegiate action he’s had during his career after joining the team in 2018.
I’ve projected Glasgow to serve as the team’s third-string defensive end in 2020.
Jalen Alexander (Redshirt Sophomore)
2020 Projection: Third-Team (Defensive Tackle)
2019 Statistics: 1 tackle (0.0 for loss), 0.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Like Glasgow, Alexander’s only collegiate action thus far came in last season’s opener against Howard where he recorded one tackle.
I’ve projected Alexander to serve as the team’s third-string defensive tackle in 2020.
Anthony Booker, Jr. (Redshirt Freshman)
2020 Projection: Third-Team (Nose Tackle)
2019 Statistics: 3 tackles (1.0 for loss), 0.0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Booker, Jr. appeared in three games for the Terrapins last season, preserving his redshirt while gaining valuable experience on the field. In the team’s season opener against Howard he recorded two tackles, including one for a loss.
I’ve projected Booker, Jr. to serve as the team’s third-string nose tackle in 2020.
Riyad Wilmot (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Fourth-Team (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics (High School): 48 tackles (7.0 for loss), 6.0 sacks
Wilmot comes to College Park as a 3-star recruit from the prestigious St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was ranked as the 47th-best strong-side defensive end in the country, and chose the Terrapins over offers from Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Purdue, and Texas, among others.
I’ve projected Wilmot to serve as the team’s fourth-string defensive end in 2020, though he could find his way onto the two-deep at some point during the season.
B’Ahmad Miller (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Fourth-Team (Defensive Tackle)
2019 Statistics: 4 tackles (0.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Miller saw action during Maryland’s games against Howard and Rutgers in 2019, recording all but one of his 4 tackles in the season opener.
I’ve projected Miller to serve as the team’s fourth-string defensive tackle in 2020.
Almosse Titi (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Fourth-Team (Nose Tackle)
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 27 tackles (5.0 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 0 forced fumbles
Titi is the third junior college addition to Maryland’s defensive line this season, arriving from Iowa Western Community College. He was ranked as the 12th-best junior college defensive tackle in the country, and chose the Terrapins over offers from Arizona, Arkansas State, Southern Miss, and USF, among others.
I’ve projected Titi to serve as the team’s fourth-string nose tackle in 2020, though he will have a chance to compete for the backup job during summer camp.
Greg Rose (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Fifth-Team (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 44 tackles (13.5 for loss), 10.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Rose joins the team as a junior college walk-on after spending his last two seasons at Lackawanna Community College.
I’ve projected Rose to serve as the team’s fifth-string defensive end in 2020.
Isaac Bunyun (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Fifth-Team (Defensive Tackle)
2019 Statistics (High School): N/A
Bunyun joins the team as a walk-on after playing his high school football at nearby High Point High School in Beltsville, MD.
I’ve projected Buyun to serve as the team’s fifth-string defensive tackle in 2020.
Tre Smith (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Fifth-Team (Nose Tackle)
2019 Statistics (High School): N/A
Smith comes to College Park as a 3-star recruit from Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg, MD. He was ranked as the 133rd-best defensive tackle in the country, and chose the Terrapins over offers from James Madison, Kent State, Old Dominion, and Temple, among others.
I’ve projected Smith to serve as the team’s fifth-string nose tackle in 2020, and he’ll likely take a redshirt year this season.
Ryan Brown (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Sixth-Team (Defensive End)
2019 Statistics (High School): N/A
Brown joins the team as a walk-on after playing his high school football at Northern High School in Dunkirk, MD.
I’ve projected Brown to serve as the team’s sixth-string defensive end in 2020.
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.