Adam McLean is finally primed to be a regular contributor on Maryland’s defensive line

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.

Adam McLean, Defensive tackle, No. 91

Height: 6'2
Weight: 298 pounds
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
High school: Quince Orchard

How he got to College Park

McLean fielded offers from a litter of blue blood-programs as the No. 14 defensive tackle in the Class of 2015. After racking up 47 tackles and seven sacks as a junior at Quince Orchard, the No. 2 player out of Maryland pledged his fealty to Big Ten rival Penn State in April of that year.

Come November, McLean would decommit from the Nittany Lions and flip his commitment to Maryland under former head coach Randy Edsall, becoming the highest rated recruit for Edsall’s 2015 class. Eligibility issues prohibited McLean from being able to enroll in time for the 2015-16 season, but he was squared away come the following spring.

McLean saw action in just one game during the Terps’ 2016 season, but provided a wonderful cameo in the postgame celebration following the home win over Michigan State.

He was a wrecking ball in high school, and looks to reclaim that dominance in his sophomore campaign with the Terps.

2017 prospectus

The two defensive tackle positions so far look to be locked up by Kingsley Opara and Cavon Walker, veteran linemen on a unit that didn’t fare all too well last season.

McLean came to College Park a sizeable 313 pounds, but has dropped 15 pounds since then and now has the frame and build of Walker and Opara. Head coach DJ Durkin most likely won’t throw McLean in as a starter just yet, but he provides a viable third option who’s surely hungry to prove himself after two years of mainly watching from the sidelines.

Dream season

McLean gets consistent reps on the defensive line throughout the season, living up to the hype that made him such a highly touted DMV-area recruit. The Gaithersburg native has the natural talent and pedigree to become an every-down starter by the time he’s a senior, so Durkin will take this season to see what he’s made of.

Up Next

This lineman has 13 tackles in 16 games.

Murderlandboy, say_al and Scaletta each have two this week. Terpluvian and ziowa9 have one.