Who replaces Brian Stewart as Maryland's defensive backs coach?

A less highlighted aspect of Maryland's recent switch at defensive coordinator is the new staff vacancy at defensive backs coach. Former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart coached the position in his time at Maryland, and new coordinator Keith Dudzinski handles the inside linebackers. The Terrapins will make a hire at the position before the season, but the move may not come soon -- before his time as a head coach, Randy Edsall was a defensive backs coach, so he may feel comfortable handling the unit himself at the beginning of spring practice (which starts next week).

A hire will eventually be made, giving Maryland another chance to upgrade their staff this offseason. Edsall already made what appears to be one upgrade when he replaced running backs coach Andre Powell with Terry Richardson. Brian Stewart's secondaries in College Park saw two standout corners emerge (Dexter McDougle, Will Likely), but inconsistent play on deep balls plagued his tenure. The Terrapins have an opportunity to fix that while also picking up some ground in the recruiting game, where Stewart was not a tremendous factor.

Based on Edsall's previous hires, here are some names to keep an eye on as Maryland starts the search for a replacement. This isn't done with any inside information, but you should still pay attention: eventual hire Richardson was on our candidates list for the running backs coach job.

The former Edsall assistants

Scott Lakatos, unattached

Lakatos seems the most likely candidate, due to his current employment status, history with Edsall and experience in the SEC. He learned under Paul Pasqualoni as a player at Western Connecticut State and as an assistant with Syracuse before bouncing around some lower division schools as a coordinator and secondary coach. He was hired by Rutgers in 2001 by new head coach Greg Schiano, and left for the defensive backs coach position at Edsall's UConn in 2004. In six seasons with the school, the Huskies finished in the top five in Big East passing defense five times, twice leading the conference.

Lakatos was hired by Georgia prior to the 2010 season, posting an excellent second season with All-American safety Baccari Rambo and future NFL cornerback Brandon Boykin. After a mediocre 2011 campaign, the Bulldogs' pass defense plummeted in 2012, leaving Lakatos as a popular fan scapegoat for Georgia's late-season collapse. He resigned after the season for personal reasons, and has not resurfaced since.

As a recruiter, Lakatos brought multiple in-state blue-chip prospects to Athens. He also recruited Florida for the Bulldogs, an area more on the Terrapins' radar than Georgia. Even closer to home, Lakatos has extensive experience recruiting both New Jersey and Connecticut.

Darrell Perkins, cornerbacks coach, Old Dominion

Perkins replaced Lakatos as Edsall's cornerbacks coach at UConn in 2010, staying on with the Huskies after the head coach's departure for three years as the safeties coach. He was hired by Old Dominion prior to the 2014 season, and recruits D.C. and Central Maryland for the Monarchs. Perkins has Big Ten experience, working as a defensive assistant for Purdue in 2000 and 2001, and worked as a special teams coordinator with three different lower division schools. The Terps still need someone to take care of that, so that could strengthen Perkins' candidacy.

Torrian Gray, defensive backs coach, Virginia Tech

Beyond a longshot, Gray is probably more than happy to stick with his alma mater and head coach Frank Beamer. He was Edsall's defensive backs coach at Connecticut before Lakatos came into the fold, leaving for the Chicago Bears in 2004 and getting hired by the Hokies in 2006.

Tim Cary, defensive backs coach/recruiting coordinator, Fordham

Cary was a graduate assistant at Connecticut from 2008-10 under Edsall, helping coach future NFL defensive backs Tyvon Branch, Darius Butler, Robert McClain and Dahna Deleston. He was hired by Fordham after Edsall's departure to Maryland, bringing in their first scholarship recruiting class since 1954 and coaching future NFL safety Isa Abdul-Quddus. The Rams had three all-league defensive backs last season.

The former Maryland players

Curome Cox, corners/special teams kickoff coverage coach, Coastal Carolina

An All-ACC cornerback at Maryland under Ralph Friedgen, Cox is tied for seventh on the Terps' all-time leaderboard with 10 career interceptions. The Terps went 41-20 during his time with the school, winning the ACC Championship and playing in three bowl games during his time in College Park. Cox spent five years in the NFL, recording an interception with the Broncos, before retiring and serving as an intern assistant coach with Washington.

Cox also counts under the first category -- he was a graduate assistant at Maryland from 2010-12, under both Friedgen and Edsall. Coastal Carolina hired him in 2013, immediately setting a program record in pass breakups (62) and leading the conference in kickoff coverage. The Chanticleers broke that pass breakup record again in 2014 (64), recording 13 interceptions this season.

Dennard Wilson, defensive quality control, St. Louis Rams

Another player recruited by Ron Vanderlinden who saw great success under Friedgen, Wilson was a DeMatha star who turned into an honorable mention all-ACC safety in College Park, serving as a captain and starter for three years. After playing in the NFL for Washington for a few years, Wilson joined DeMatha's staff as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator in 2006. The next year, he joined Friedgen's staff at Maryland as a graduate assistant, leaving to become a scout with the Chicago Bears in 2008. In 2012, Wilson was hired by the Rams, and helps with scouting and player workouts.

The smaller conference assistant

Archie Collins, defensive backs coach, Central Michigan

A two-time letterwinning safety at Michigan State, Collins started his coaching career as the defensive backs coach for his high school, Cass Tech in Detroit. In 2005, he was hired as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Mackenzie High School (also in Detroit), leaving for the same positions at Southeastern High School the following year.

In 2010, Collins was hired at Michigan State by Mark Dantonio, coaching defensive backs and special teams. He was hired at Central Michigan prior to the 2013 season, and has coached units that have finished in the top three in the MAC in interceptions each of the past two seasons. Collins was rated as the second-best recruiter in the conference by 247Sports, bringing in five three-star recruits in the 2015 class.

The 'crutin pipe dreams

Trooper Taylor, cornerbacks coach, Arkansas State

Let's get this part over with: this is never, ever going to happen. But it would be fun! Taylor is one of the nation's best recruiters, being named a top-25 national recruiter on six different occasions over stints with Tennessee and Auburn. Among his notable pickups are some names college and NFL fans will recognize: 5-star cornerback Eric Berry at Tennessee, five-star cornerback Trovon Reed at Auburn, four-star defensive end Corey Lemonier at Auburn, four-star offensive tackle Greg Robinson at Auburn and three-star wide receiver Sammie Coates at Auburn. A former Baylor defensive back, Taylor spent much of his coaching career with running backs and wide receivers before moving back to the secondary with Arkansas State in 2014.

Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, defensive analyst, Alabama

The former head coach of Friendship Academy (D.C.), Abdul-Rahim coached current Maryland players Jermaine Carter, Derwin Gray, Quarvez Boulware, Albert Reid, Yannick Ngakoue and Cavon Walker. He produced one very notable defensive back in his time with the school: Jalen Tabor. A D.C. native, he founded the Friendship program in 2004, leading them to a 62-39 record and producing 98 college players in the past nine seasons. Abdul-Rahim left for the Alabama job before the 2014 season. This is also extremely unlikely.