Marcus Minor looks to step in as Maryland football’s right tackle of the future

Our summer football preview is rolling on. After looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, we’ve turned our attention to the offensive line this week. We have looked at the left tackles, left guards, centers and right guards, and now will be wrapping Offensive Line Week up with a look at Maryland football’s right tackle position.

The Terps replace Damian Prince, who started a total of 39 games in his career, including 33 since 2016. Prince committed to the Maryland football program in 2014 with a five-star rating and became one of the best linemen in the conference, earning Third Team All-Big Ten by the media for the 2018 season. Now that he’s in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Maryland will likely turn to a redshirt sophomore to replace him.

The frontrunner: Marcus Minor, No. 72

Height: 6’4
Weight: 307
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Hometown: Lanham, Md.
High School: DeMatha Catholic

After playing football at DeMatha Catholic High School, Minor elected to stay in his backyard and committed to Maryland as a consensus four-star recruit and was rated as the No. 5 player in the state of Maryland by ESPN. While he was recruited as an interior linemen — Scout had him as the No. 1 guard in the state of Maryland — Minor has demonstrated his flexibility along the offensive line, filling in at both tackle spots last season.

The Lanham, Maryland, native started his first game as a freshman at the right guard position against Michigan State but has seen time at the left tackle position as well. Last year, Minor started three of the first four games before missing the final eight due to injury. However, he was healthy in spring practice and spent his time with the first team.

The challenger: Tyran Hunt, No. 67

Height: 6’7
Weight: 317
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Hometown: Boykins, Va.
High School: Southampton

Hunt entered Maryland in 2017 as a three-star recruit ranked as the No. 33 player in Virginia, per the 247Sports Composite. The Boykins, Virginia, native showcased his ability to play both sides of the ball at Southampton High School, but the Terps placed him on the offensive line when he arrived. Unlike Minor, Hunt did not see any game action during his freshman season and appeared in six games as a reserve offensive lineman in 2018.

Since joining the program, Hunt has added 17 pounds, and at 6’7, he boasts a profile that can compete in the Big Ten trenches. With the number of departures on this offensive line in the offseason, expect him to have at least a rotational role again.

The newcomer: Marcus Finger, No. 64

Height: 6’5
Weight: 296
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Fort Myers, Fla.
High School: Fort Myers HS

Finger is the youngest of the right tackle group as a Class of 2019 commit. The Fort Myers, Florida, native was the No. 265 prospect in Florida and the nation’s No. 166 offensive tackle. He had originally committed to UCF in June 2018, but after taking an official visit to Maryland in February, Finger committed to Mike Locksley and the Terps just before National Signing Day.

In his Hudl, Finger demonstrates his ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line, including center and guard, and reach the second level of defenders off of the snap.