With a thin corps on Maryland football’s offensive line, another member from the opposite side of the ball has come over to provide reinforcements. Breyon Gaddy is the second defensive lineman to change positions under the new staff, head coach Mike Locksley announced Monday.
Gaddy was recruited as a 360-pound defensive lineman and and spent his first two seasons at the position alongside twin brother Brandon Gaddy. Breyon dropped 24 pounds before last season and played in 11 games, totaling six tackles and a forced fumble. Now, he’ll join the group charged with preventing turnovers. When Gaddy last played offensive line, he blocked for quarterback Tyler DeSue at Bishop Sullivan Catholic.
“We’re going to take a look at [Gaddy] as an offensive guard, as an interior lineman for us,” Locksley told reporters Monday. “We’re trying to continue to find ways to build depth. He’s a big body that’s showed some good athleticism, the ability to move and showed some short-area quickness.”
Gaddy joins Austin Fontaine as another defensive lineman to flip sides of the football this summer. Redshirt sophomore Tahj Capehart changed positions from wide receiver to cornerback coming off an ACL injury, while Virginia Tech transfer Sean Savoy switched from wide receiver to cornerback this spring, then switched back to wide receiver over the summer.
“The offensive line is the one are we’ve got to continue to develop our players at that position,” Locksley said Monday. “We’ve got to have 10 [offensive linemen] for a two-deep throughout the season. Some of these young guys are going to be forced into developing.”
In other news
Women’s basketball’s Taylor Mikesell and three former field hockey players represented Maryland and the United States to the tune of a silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the Pan American Games.
Football had one of the toughest schedules in the nation last year and it doesn’t get much easier this season.
Soccer announced a pair of additions from Team IMPACT, with Maryland’s newest signees getting a warm reception from the teams.
"Tanner couldn't be a better fit for us" - @SashoCirovski
— Maryland Soccer (@MarylandMSoccer) August 12, 2019
The boys welcomed Tanner Reyes to the squad from @GoTeamIMPACT!https://t.co/x6YP2iXZxX #HeATerp pic.twitter.com/Ymh31JOXUC
Still glowing after an unforgettable Sunday officially welcoming Mikayla to the Maryland family ❤️
— Maryland W. Soccer (@TerpsWSoccer) August 12, 2019
More: https://t.co/TDe8mWwuBt@GoTeamIMPACT x #FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/4qU4ZxleoV
Football invited Rachel Baribeau, founder of Changing The Narrative and a Heisman voter, to College Park for a motivational speech.
"Find what it is that sets your soul on fire and run towards it with everything you've got."
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 12, 2019
Thank you, @RachelBaribeau, for sharing such a powerful message with us. #ChangingtheNarrative pic.twitter.com/ATnjcWlMVu
Former men ‘s basketball star and NBA player Steve Francis stopped by College Park to hang out with Mark Turgeon and see Anthony Cowan Jr. in a meeting the latter described as making him “starstruck.”
One of the best to lace it up in College Park!
— Mark Turgeon (@CoachTurgeon) August 12, 2019
Great to see @SteveFranchise3 today! pic.twitter.com/TyO2GfWrX2