Maryland football turns to underclassmen for depth at cornerback

After breaking down quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen, defensive linemen and linebackers as part of our football preview coverage, it is now Defensive Backs Week here at Testudo Times. We began with a positional overview, and after profiling Antoine Brooks Jr., we looked at specific pods of players: starting cornerbacks, a pair of free safeties, a the duo at nickel corner and the best opposing defensive backs on the schedule.

Today, I’ll be taking a glance at a trio of backup cornerbacks who will provide important depth as the season goes along. Vincent Flythe, Ken Montgomery and Kenny Bennett all have at least some experience in the program, and their roles could increase under a new scheme in 2019.

Vincent Flythe, No. 12

Height: 5’11
Weight: 179
Year: Redshirt freshman
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
High School: Howard D. Woodson

Flythe was ranked as the No. 8 player in Washington, D.C., by the 247Sports Composite, earning three-star grades across the board. He earned Second Team All-Met honors from The Washington Post as a senior, and he caught the eyes of a number of programs, including Georgia, Syracuse and Wisconsin. Flythe appeared in three games as a freshman in 2018, allowing him to take a redshirt season and preserve his four years of eligibility.

Ken Montgomery, No. 15

Height: 6’1
Weight: 168
Year: Redshirt freshman
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
High School: Hillsborough

Montgomery is lanky at his current frame, but his off-the-charts athleticism is what caught the eyes of a number of programs. Per the 247Sports Composite, the four-star cornerback received a whopping 40 Division I offers, including from powerhouse programs like Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Georgia, USC and more. Montgomery ultimately chose College Park as his home, and after taking a redshirt last season, he figures to be around for a while and could make an impact in the secondary.

Kenny Bennett, No. 24

Height: 6’2
Weight: 199
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
High School: Academy at Palumbo

Bennett is the biggest of the trio, weighing just a tick under 200 pounds. He’s also had the benefit of an extra year in the program, though that hasn’t resulted in a ton of snaps just yet. He took a redshirt year following a two-appearance season in 2017, and as a redshirt freshman last year, he found playing time in three games. Bennett, the No. 15 player in the state of Pennsylvania per the 247Sports Composite, chose Maryland over Pittsburgh, Temple and Virginia Tech.

This group will be battling for snaps.

All three participated in the Red-White Game in April, and Flythe led the way in that small sample. He had four tackles, including one for loss, while adding a pass breakup in coverage. Bennett added three solo tackles, while Montgomery picked up one as well. In the cornerback pecking order, all three likely fall behind Tino Ellis and Marcus Lewis on the outside. However, depth is always crucial, and opportunities could arise at any time.