Profiles in Terpage: Jake Wheeler

Jake Wheeler, Senior (RS), Offensive Tackle, #61

Stats:

Height: 6'7"

Weight: 305

Twitter: None that we could find

Collegiate Stats: 36 games

High School Stats (Senior Year): N/A

247sports composite Ratings: Two stars, 146th-best offensive tackle in the nation, 289th-best player in Florida.

High School: American Heritage

Hometown: Hollywood, Fla.

High School Highlights:

How'd He Get to College Park?

Jake Wheeler was teammates with at least four future D-1 basketball players at American Heritage, including University of Florida stud Kenny Boynton. In fact, Wheeler's got a nifty little b-ball highlight tape, and was recruited for both basketball and football coming out of high school. Wheeler had offers from Florida Atlantic and Columbia, among others, to play basketball, but decided he had more potential on the football field, and signed with the Terps - the only school to offer him a football scholly, as far as we know. Scout reports that he did receive interest from Alabama and Miami, however.

Wheeler is the third-oldest of ten Wheelerites, including older brother Jared - an offensive guard at Miami. Like so many others from Florida, Wheeler was recruited to the Terps by Don Brown, who was able to create a pipeline of sorts from your favorite football peninsula to College Park before bolting to Storrs.

At American Heritage, Wheeler started at both left tackle and defensive end, while spending some time at tight end and outside linebacker. His athleticism led some to believe he would play tight end at Maryland, but in his big frame the Terps' coaches saw promise on the offensive line. Wheeler played in the 2009 Florida North-South All-Star game.

After redshirting in 2010, Wheeler played in all twelve games in 2011 as a back-up offensive tackle and occasional special teams contributor. He has played every game in the previous two years as well, mostly on special teams.

Nickname:

"Big Wheels"

Career Highlight:

Playing in every game of his career.

Dream Season:

Getting some meaningful playing time on the offensive line in his final season in College Park.

2014 Prospectus:

Wheeler has one last chance to pan out as a sleeper prospect, and he's got a pretty good opportunity in front of him. Moise Larose is suspended and Larry Mazyck had academic issues, so Maryland is quite possibly looking at a situation where two true freshman start at the tackle positions. Wheeler could serve as a mentor figure to them as a senior on the offensive line, or he could break through and get some playing time with his big frame and experience.

Up Next:

Our next player is one of just two players from his home state on the Terps, but is the only one of the two who could change positions.

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Scaletta moves into a tie for fifth.

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