Today we cover one of two promising redshirt freshmen at the inside linebacking position.
Brock Dean, Freshman (RS), Inside Linebacker, #42
via grfx.cstv.com
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 210
Twitter: Couldn't find any
Collegiate Stats: N/A
High School Stats: 92 tackles (50 assisted), seven sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered, one pass breakup, one interception, one rushing touchdown
Recruiting Ratings: Three stars by Rivals (#37 in Pa.), 24/7 (#48 in Pa., #115 OLB), ESPN (#26 in Pa., #72 OLB), two stars by Scout (#62 MLB)
High School: Bishop McDevitt
Hometown: Harrsburg, Pa.
High School Highlights:
How'd He Get to College Park?
A two-time all-state selection in high school, Brock Dean was one of the top linebackers in the state of Pennsylvania during his high school years, and helped lead the Crusaders to two straight appearances in the state finals.
Dean received scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Temple, and Maryland, but it was the recruiting work of Greg Gattuso that got him to be a Terp. Gattuso originally recruited Dean at Pitt, and he brought his expertise of Western PA with him to College Park, as well as a few prized recruits - including Dean and Quinton Jefferson.
Dean was impressed by the coaching staff at Maryland, as well as the business program at College Park, and he committed to the Terps in late June of last year. During the recruiting process, Randy Edsall told Dean he was hoping the linebacker could be a four-year starter in College Park, and while that's not looking to be the case, the opportunity is certainly there for him to make an impact up the middle.
Last year, Dean redshirted. He was named scout team defensive player of the week once, and made three different travel rosters.
Nickname:
"Brock of Ages"
Career Highlight:
Two straight state title games
Dream Season:
Along side fellow redshirt freshman Abner Logan, Dean becomes one of the primary back-ups on the inside, setting him up for a starting position in two years.
2013 Prospectus:
With the switch to the 3-4 last year, Maryland's inside linebackers play a more important role than ever before. At the top, the Terps thankfully have two solid and experienced contributors in Cole Farrand and L.A. Goree, with senior Bradley Johnson as a viable third option. But it's the two redshirt freshmen, Logan and Dean, who may show the most promise.
We'll talk about Logan later, but Dean was a big-time prospect and big-time player coming out of Pennsylvania two years ago, with buckets of talent and a great sense of the game. After redshirting his first year, it looks like Farrand and Goree will be entrenched at the starting positions for the next two seasons (barring a position change for Goree back out to the outside), meaning that Dean and Logan have to make the best out of a back-up situation for now. Both could make a serious mark on special teams, but with the pressures of the 3-4, the two starters will certainly need relief at times, especially against some of the faster-paced offenses. That's when Logan and likely Dean will be called upon, as two young, talented defenders who are the future of the program's defense.
Up Next:
Our next player went to a school that is one letter away from a Big East basketball-only program.
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ClickClack62 - 6
Maryland1206 - 4
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Redturtle - 2
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thirstyturtlelives - 2
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apgibson24 - 1
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