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In 2016, Maryland was essentially as bad at stopping the run as any Power 5 team was at any important football thing. The Terps ranked 127th out of 128 FBS teams in Defensive Rushing S&P+. They also finished dead last in adjusted line yards, which means the defensive line is very much to blame for the team’s ghastly run prevention.
On the flip side, this group was very effective in the passing game. Maryland recorded 37 sacks last season—nearly three per game—and finished 14th in adjusted sack rate. While the line isn’t responsible for all of that production, it did play a leading role, and that’s something to build on.
The Terps return three defensive linemen who started at least six games last season, and there’s plenty of potential behind them.
Defensive ends
| Player | Year | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | 2016 |
| Jesse Aniebonam | SR | 46 tackles (25 solo/21 ast), 14.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks, 1 FF |
| Chandler Burkett | SR | 35 tackles (27/8), 4.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks |
| Melvin Keihn | R-JR | 24 tackles (9/15), 2.0 TFL |
| Brett Kulka | R-JR | 11 tackles (5/6), 1.0 TFL, 0.5 sacks |
| Andrew Isaacs | R-SR | Played TE/special teams |
| Dion Goldbourne | R-FR | Redshirt |
| Lawtez Rogers | FR | High School (3-star recruit) |
| B'Ahmad Miller | FR | High School (3-star recruit) |
Defensive tackles
| Player | Year | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | 2016 |
| Kingsley Opara | R-SR | 41 tackles (21 solo/20 ast), 11.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 FF |
| Cavon Walker | R-SR | 30 tackles (19/11), 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks |
| Mbi Tanyi | JR | 9 tackles (7/2) |
| Oseh Saine | R-SO | 5 tackles (2/3), 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks |
| Kieron Howard | R-SO | 1 tackle (0/1) |
| Adam McLean | SO | Played in 1 game (Sept. 3 vs. Howard) |
| Cam Spence | FR | High School (4-star recruit) |
| Breyon Gaddy | FR | High School (4-star recruit) |
| Brandon Gaddy | FR | High School (3-star recruit) |
Maryland has both talent and experience here. Aniebonam and McLean were each four-star recruits, and the former made the most of his first starting opportunity last season. Two of the Terps’ three freshman defensive tackles were similarly acclaimed as prospects; if Spence or either Gaddy twin either can make a splash in camp, that will be a boost on the inside.
The starting defensive tackles, however, figure to be redshirt seniors Opara and Walker. They’ll give Maryland a pair of veterans in the middle, with Burkett and Aniebonam flanking them. That’s four seniors, which makes this Maryland’s most experienced unit. The run defense should improve—though it’d be hard not to—and the pass rushing ability throughout the line gives reason for optimism.
In other news
Kevin Huerter’s USA team beat Joshua Tomaic’s Spain, 96-72, in Sunday’s bronze medal game at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Cairo. Huerter finished with four points, five boards and an assist, while Tomaic tallied nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
Melo Trimble didn’t play at all in the Vegas Summer League this weekend, but both Diamond Stone and Robert Carter Jr. impressed with new teams, as did high-flying Jake Layman.
Hey @JLayman10, how you doin'?! pic.twitter.com/XrofTejWH2
— Maryland Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) July 8, 2017
Maryland added scholarship kicker Joseph Petrino to its 2018 class on Friday morning.
Here’s our rehashing of Offensive Line Week. We’ve also got a storystream with all of our weekly position roundups, so you can find all of our season preview content in one place.