Melvin Keihn brings athletic upside to Maryland football’s pass rush

Profiles in Terpage is back for 2017. Last week, we focused on the offensive line; this week, we’re flipping sides of the ball and looking at the defensive line.

Melvin Keihn, DL, No. 15

Height: 6’1
Weight: 225
Year: Redshirt junior
Hometown: Towson, Maryland
High school: Gilman

How he got to College Park

Keihn was born in Monrovia, Liberia, but left for the United States when he was just eight years old. He’s actually on his first trip back to his childhood home right now to see his mom for the first time in 14 years. Even better, it’s a surprise! His mom, Satta, had no idea he was coming.

Once Keihn got to America, though, he lived in the Baltimore area and earned a three-star ranking on the 247Sports Composite. He originally signed with Virginia Tech, and even played his freshman season there, seeing action in all 13 games, albeit mostly on special teams. He sat out the 2015 season after announcing he’d transfer to Maryland.

Career highlight

This is more a compilation of all of Keihn’s tackles last season, but you can see what he brings to the field. At only 225 pounds, he’s fast enough to run down running backs and mobile quarterbacks, but is also tenacious enough to make plays on the interior as well.

2017 prospectus

Keihn will likely split time with senior Jesse Aniebonam at the BUCK position and will have added value in clear passing situations when Maryland can leave the run stuffers on the sideline and send everybody after the quarterback. He and Aniebonam are the two upperclassmen who’ll see time at BUCK, but younger guys like redshirt freshman Dion Goldbourne and true freshman Bryce Brand could see some rotational time as well. After appearing in 10 games last season, it’s fair to think that number should increase, as will Keihn’s role.

Dream season

Keihn earns about a 45-45-10 timeshare at BUCK with Aniebonam and the other guys and comes up with some clutch, drive-halting sacks, solidifying himself as the leading candidate to replace Aniebonam’s production when he leaves after this season.

Next up

This defensive lineman was born in Massachusetts, but played high school football in Jacksonville, Florida.

say_al and Terpluvian are the early leaders this week.