Profiles in Terpage: L.A. Goree

L.A. Goree, Senior (RS), Inside Linebacker, #53

Stats:

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 235

Twitter: @lagoree53

Collegiate Stats: 181 tackles (102 solo), fifteen and a half for a loss, five sacks, three fumbles forced, one fumble recovered, three passes defended, one interception, one pass breakup

High School Stats (Senior Year): 90 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns

247sports composite Ratings: Three stars, 62nd-best outside linebacker in the nation, 23rd-best player in Maryland

Who Maryland beat: Illinois, Syracuse, West Virginia, Akron, Ohio

High School: C.H. Flowers by way of Fork Union

Hometown: Springdale, Md.

High School Highlights:

How'd He Get to College Park?

Goree was a standout at Flowers, posting ridiculous stats in his junior year and being named a consensus all-state player in his senior year. Goree was also first team all-county and an honorable all-state selection as a junior.

Generally considered one of the better prospects in Maryland, Goree had to take a prep year at Fork Union because of academic struggles before he was able to enroll. As a result, Goree is even more mature than most redshirt seniors.

Goree chose Maryland over West Virginia, Illinois, Michigan State and others, thanks to the school's proximity to home. He calls himself a "Maryland boy", and told Matt Bracken back when he committed that it meant a lot to him to have the opportunity to "represent your city and state".

After redshirting in 2010 as a WILL linebacker, Goree moved to the inside in 2011 and thrived. As a redshirt freshman,  he ended up finishing fifth on the team with 60 tackles (and an astonishing eight for a loss). He had a solid sophomore season but stepped up his game as a junior in 2013. Goree played in 11 games and was often around the ball finishing third on the team with 76 tackles despite missing the Clemson and Wake Forest games. As a junior he led the Terps in tackles on three separate occasions including a 16 tackle effort against Virginia that earned him ACC Linebacker of the week.

Nickname:

"L.A."

Career Highlight:

Freshman All-American; 16 tackles against Virginia

Dream Season:

Goree and Cole Farrand combine for a strong inside linebacking duo, each putting together at least 80 tackles.

2014 Prospectus:

Maryland has two starting inside linebackers in Brian Stewart's 3-4, and Goree will look to take his game up a notch in his second season as a full-time starter in his Maryland career. Goree had an outstanding high school career and two strong seasons as a reserve. He showed great potential as a first time starter  and he and Farrand should make an impressive duo up the middle, especially stopping the run (although Goree has shown a skill in the past for pass defense). Put him together with fellow senior Cole Farrand and it should make it that much harder for opposing running backs to break long gains.

The even better news for Maryland is that though both of these guys are seniors, the Terps have a solid pair of backups in Abner Logan and Brock Dean with redshirt freshmen Jalen Brooks and Jermaine Carter, Jr. waiting in the wings. The Terps look to be solid in the middle of that 3-4 for years to come.

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