The Maryland All-Randy Edsall team: Pass-rushing linebacker

As the offseason kicks into another gear, Testudo Times readers will be voting on the All-Randy Edsall team. All players who started multiple games under Randy Edsall (2011-14) at Maryland are eligible for consideration.

With former defensive coordinator Brian Stewart now at Nebraska as the defensive backs coach, we can start to put Stewart's time at Maryland into a little bit more perspective. Despite his experience coaching in the secondary (and Edsall's), Maryland's defensive backs struggled during his time with the school. The Terps didn't struggle at the WILL linebacker position, producing multiple pass-rushers good enough for NFL opportunities.

Feel free to vote using whichever criteria you please. After we finish with each position, we'll post the results of the full team. Stats are only from the specific position during games played under Edsall.

Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil

Stats (2 seasons): 39 tackles (22 solo), six for a loss, five sacks, one interception, four pass deflections

Cudjoe-Virgil arrived in College Park in 2012 as a little-known transfer from Division II Seton Hill, blocking a school-record six kicks as a sophomore (and team captain) in 2011. After redshirting his first season on campus due to NCAA rules, he split time with Marcus Whitfield at the WILL position in 2013, playing in the first six games of the season and starting one before suffering a season-ending injury. His best performance came against UConn, notching three tackles for a loss and two sacks.

In 2014, Cudjoe-Virgil was passed for the starting job by talented youngster Yannick Ngakoue after missing the first few games with injury. The transfer ended up starting three games that season and recorded a career-high 21 tackles, but saw slights drops in his tackle for loss and sack numbers.

Darin Drakeford

Stats (2 seasons): 117 tackles (69 solo), 12.5 for a loss, seven sacks, one interception, three pass deflections, six forced fumbles

After two successful seasons as a reserve linebacker under Ralph Friedgen, Drakeford exploded onto the scene with Randy Edsall in his new role, racking up tackles and consistently making plays in the backfield for the Terrapins. He was one of the best players on two very bad Maryland teams, reaching double-digit tackles four times in that dreadful 2-10 2011 campaign.

Yannick Ngakoue

Stats (2 seasons): 47 tackles (31 solo), 18 for a loss, eight sacks, one interception, two pass deflections, one fumble forced

Splitting time with Cudjoe-Virgil and star freshman Jesse Aniebonam, the sophomore Ngakoue still managed to make an impact as a first-year starter in 2014. He ranked ninth in the Big Ten with 13.5 tackles for a loss, recording six sacks and firmly establishing himself as one of the Big Ten's top linebacking prospects.

Marcus Whitfield

Stats (2 season): 61 tackles (33 solo), 16 for a loss, 9.5 sacks, five pass deflections, two fumbles forced

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.