Maryland's 2009 class was a very promising haul for the program. Ranked No. 29 in the 247Sports Composite, the Terps haven't eclipsed No. 38 (2010, 2012) since. As the last two members of the class make their way out of College Park, it's time to review the class's contributions to the program.
The Terrapins had 26 signees in the class, including five four-star recruits. Fourteen of those recruits ended up finishing their career in College Park -- the other 12 transferred. Of the five blue-chippers, four transferred elsewhere.
Over the next few days, we'll be looking at each of Maryland's last six recruiting classes. We'll start with Ralph Friedgen's last two classes, which still had a few players left on the 2014 squad, and move through Randy Edsall's first four with the Terrapins. All rankings via the 247Sports Composite.
Multi-year starters
De'Onte Arnett, DE, Forestville Military Academy (Md.), four stars, .9187 composite rating
The one blue-chip recruit from the class who stuck around, Arnett never developed into the all-conference defensive lineman many hoped he would be but still managed to leave his mark on the program. After redshirting in 2009, Arnett flipped to the offensive line during the 2010 season after injuries decimated the unit. He played in five games as a reserve in 2011 before winning the right guard job as a junior in 2012, starting nine games that season. As a senior in 2013, Arnett started all 13 games at left guard. According to his LinkedIn page, Arnett is now an account executive at a mortgage company.
Dexter McDougle, ATH, Stafford Senior (Va.), three stars, .8588
An explosive athlete from Torrey Smith's high school, McDougle developed into a shutdown corner and a return threat during his time in College Park. After redshirting in 2009, he recorded six tackles in his very first game against Navy. McDougle finished the 2010 season with 22 tackles, three passes broken up and five kick returns -- the last year he didn't start for Maryland at cornerback. McDougle won the job before the 2011 season and never let up, recording 151 tackles and six interceptions in his career. His senior season ended just three games in, as McDougle broke his collarbone returning his third interception of the year. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, missing his rookie season with a torn ACL.
C.J. Brown, QB, Seneca Valley Senior (Pa.), three stars, .8525
After redshirting in 2009, Brown missed nearly the entirety of the 2010 season with a shoulder injury. He and fellow 2009 signee Danny O'Brien (more on him later) shared the job in 2011, and Brown recorded 12 total touchdowns and established himself as a running threat. After O'Brien transferred, Brown missed the 2012 season with an ACL injury, starting what would be a historically bad year for Maryland quarterback health. Brown finished his career as Maryland's all-time total touchdowns leader, starting both the 2013 and 2014 seasons (after receiving a medical redshirt) and leading the team to back-to-back bowl berths. Brown threw a career-high 10 interceptions as a graduate senior in 2014 and saw declines in virtually every major passing and rushing statistic as the team moved to the Big Ten.
L.A. Goree, OLB, C.H. Flowers (Md.), three stars, .8484
Goree ended up going to Fork Union Military Academy and reclassifying to 2010. We'll break him down with that group, as that's the year he stepped on campus.
Darin Drakeford, OLB, Roosevelt Senior (D.C.), three stars, .8472
Drakeford recorded 18 tackles as a reserve linebacker in 2009, doubling that total the next season and adding in 5.5 tackles for a loss. He won the starting SAM job as a junior in 2011, forcing a team-high four fumbles (tied for a program-high since 1987) with 68 tackles. As a senior, Drakeford transitioned to the WILL position and thrived, recording 49 tackles (9.5 for a loss) and six sacks. He is now on the Kansas City Chiefs' roster.
Eric Franklin, S, Archbishop Curley (Md.), two stars, .7891
Franklin was a reserve safety for the first two years of his career, breaking through as a sophomore in 2010 with three interceptions. He won the starting job heading into the 2011 season, ranking second on the team with 106 tackles. Franklin's role moved much more towards coverage in his senior season, and he deflected six passes with 48 tackles that year. According to his LinkedIn page, Franklin works as a physical therapist in Maryland and helps coach at his former high school.
Nick Ferrara, K, St. Anthony's (N.Y.), two stars, .7796
Like most specialists on scholarship, Ferrara won a starting job as a freshman, serving as Maryland's kicker and occasional punter in 2009. He was also very good at it, earning freshman All-America status from the FWAA after making 18 of 25 field goals, with a long of 50, and all 26 of his extra point attempts. Ferrara then lost the starting kicking job to senior punter Travis Baltz in 2010, serving as the team's kickoff specialist before winning back both the kicking and punting jobs in 2011. He made just 12 of 20 field goal attempts that year and averaged 39.5 yards per punt. Ferrara missed his senior season with a hip tendon injury, making way for freshmen Brad Craddock and Nate Renfro. According to his LinkedIn page, Ferrara works for a law firm in Louisville.
Bennett Fulper, OG, Gretna Senior (Va.), two stars, .7667
For all of Maryland's offensive line problems over the years, they found a catch in Fulper. He became the first true freshman to start a game on the offensive line for Maryland since Bruce Campbell, making starts at left and right guard. Fulper started seven games in 2010, playing both right guard and center, before fully moving to center and starting his final two years at the position. According to his LinkedIn page, Fulper is the general manager of a milk cooperative in Virginia.
Contributors
Pete DeSouza, OT, DeMatha Catholic (Md.), three stars, .8463
The last DeMatha recruit to actually play for Maryland, DeSouza's career was cut short when an October 2010 scooter accident fractured both of his legs and ended his career. He had played five games at right tackle that season, including three starts, and eventually returned to the program as a student coach. According to his LinkedIn page, DeSouza now works in insurance.
Dave Stinebaugh, ATH, Perry Hall (Md.), three stars, .8421
An all-everything player from Baltimore, Stinebaugh played tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, free safety and punter at the high school level, but settled on tight end in College Park. After playing five games as a redshirt freshman in 2010, Stinebaugh missed the 2011 season with an injury. He played mostly on special teams in 2012, returning as the team's starting tight end as a senior in 2013. He caught 15 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns that season.
Bradley Johnson, OLB, Dinwiddie County (Va.), three stars, .8315
Johnson switched between defensive end and linebacker (inside and outside) during his time with Maryland, making his only career start in the 2010 Military Bowl against East Carolina. That year he recorded 14 tackles -- over the rest of his career combined, he totaled six. According to his LinkedIn page, Johnson now works as an Industrial Engineering Specialist with UPS.
Marcus Whitfield, OLB, Northwest (Md.), three stars, .8250
Like Johnson, Whitfield switched between defensive end and outside linebacker during his time with Maryland. He eventually caught on at the WILL position, taking over for Drakeford and having a career year his senior season. Entering the year with 4.0 career tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks, he recorded 15.5 tackles for a loss and nine sacks in the 2013 campaign and earned a shot with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is not currently listed on their roster.
Isaiah Ross, ILB, Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.), three stars, .8146
Ross's career was cut short by injuries, playing just one complete season (2010). He recorded 39 tackles in his career in College Park, with six for a loss and 2.5 sacks.
Nick Klemm, OT, Wheeler (Ga.), two stars, .7667
After redshirting in 2009, Klemm served as a backup tackle for each of the next two years. He won the starting left tackle job out of camp in 2012 before true freshman Mike Madaras took it away four games in. After Madaras abruptly left during the 2013 season, Klemm was passed by Moise Larose on the left tackle depth chart. He missed the first eight games of the 2013 season and did not play after recovering from injury.
Transferred
Travis Hawkins, CB, Quince Orchard (Md.), four stars, .9207
After redshirting in 2009, Hawkins played a role in Friedgen's last season, recording two tackles in eight games in 2010. He transferred to Delaware after that season, becoming an all-conference cornerback with the Blue Hens and starting for three straight seasons. Hawkins was cut by the New England Patriots in August.
Pete White, OG, St. John's College (D.C.), four stars, .9108
A massive local lineman prospect, White redshirted the 2009 season. He played eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2010, starting one game, and played all 12 games in 2011 with six starts. White missed most of the 2012 season with an injury, transferring to Temple and starting eight games in 2013.
Caleb Porzel, RB, Good Counsel (Md.), four stars, .9044
Porzel played in seven games as a true freshman in 2009, rushing for 75 yards on 30 carries. He left the school before the 2010 season, transferring to East Central Community College in Mississippi and rushing 36 times for 125 yards.
D.J. Adams, RB, Norcross (Ga.), four stars, .8926
Adams redshirted in 2009 and had a very good 2010 season as a goal-line running back. He ran for 11 touchdowns that year, a Maryland freshman record, and became the first Terrapin back since Chris Downs in 2002 to have two three-touchdown games. Adams saw his carries drop in 2012 under Randy Edsall, rushing for just four touchdowns, and he transferred to FCS Portland State. He became an all-conference player with the Vikings, rushing for 31 touchdowns and 2,567 yards in two years there. Adams was a part of the San Diego Chargers' practice squad last year.
David Mackall, SDE, Edmondson-Westside (Md.), three stars, .8632
Like Goree, Mackall reclassified to the 2010 class. We'll break him down with that group.
Cody Blue, DT, Fork Union Military Academy (Va.), three stars, .8537
Blue switched between offensive and defensive line during his time in College Park, but was never able to fully find a place in either rotation. He ended up playing in seven games at Maryland, leaving the program before the 2012 season.
Zack Kerr, DT, Fork Union Military Academy (Va.), three stars, .8472
Another massive interior prospect, Kerr played in all 12 games as a true freshman reserve defensive tackle in 2009, serving as the backup once again in 2010. He left the team with academic issues during the coaching transition, landing at Delaware in 2012 and becoming an All-American defensive tackle at the FCS level. Kerr played in 12 games this season with the Indianapolis Colts, recording 16 tackles.
Avery Murray, ILB, West Florence (S.C.), three stars, .8451
Murray played 10 games as a true freshman in 2009, recording seven tackles. He abruptly transferred to Coastal Carolina before the 2010 season, but no stats can be found from his time there.
Avery Graham, CB, Clarksburg (Md.), three stars, .8431
After redshirting in 2009, Graham played in 13 games over the next two seasons as a reserve defensive back, recording 17 tackles for Maryland. He transferred to FCS Stony Brook, playing in three games in 2012. Graham later returned to Maryland as a member of the track team in 2014, running the team's top times in the 60, 100 and 200 meter races.
Justin Anderson, SDE, Blythewood (S.C.), three stars, .8389
Anderson played as a true freshman in 2009, playing six games as a reserve defensive tackle and recording three tackles. In 2010, he won the starting job at the anchor position, recording 22 tackles with 5.5 for a loss. Anderson suffered an injury prior to the 2011 season and ended up redshirting, returning in 2012 to record six tackles in five games. He transferred to UMass prior to the 2013 season, recording 56 tackles and four sacks his senior season.
Danny O'Brien, QB, East Forsyth (N.C.), three stars, .8368
After redshirting in 2009, O'Brien won the starting job in Ralph Friedgen's last season. He was named a freshman All-American after leading the Terps to an 8-4 regular season record and a Military Bowl win. O'Brien threw for 22 touchdowns against eight interceptions that year, averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. After the coaching transition, O'Brien split the quarterback job with CJ Brown and saw declines in every major passing statistic. He transferred to Wisconsin, holding the starting job briefly before finishing the year with three touchdowns and 6.1 yards per attempt. O'Brien then transferred to Division II Catawba, throwing for 15 touchdowns and averaging 6.8 yards per passing attempt. After a brief stint on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, O'Brien latched on with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League. He passed for 421 yards and two touchdowns as a backup this season.
Ryan Donohue, ILB, St. Joseph Regional (N.J.), three stars, .8125
Donohue's two years as a reserve linebacker with Maryland were memorable, if only for his pick-six against Wake Forest in the 2010 season. He ended up playing 20 games with the Terrapins, recording 12 tackles. Donohue transferred to Connecticut after that year, playing in five games as a reserve linebacker in 2012 and winning a starting job in 2013 (recording 28 tackles).