Last week, I previewed the Maryland Terrapins’ offense under new offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery on a position-by-position basis. In this article, I’ll break down what the defense figures to look like under new defensive coordinator Jon Hoke. After running a base 4-3 scheme since 2015, the team will be switching over to a base 3-4 defensive system.

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Defensive Ends

Projected Depth Chart (5-Technique)
1. Brett Kulka (Redshirt Senior)
2. Lawtez Rogers (Redshirt Sophomore)
3. Tyler Baylor (Redshirt Freshman)
4. Cherokee Glasgow (Redshirt Freshman)

Projected Depth Chart (3-Technique)
1. Keiron Howard (Redshirt Senior)
2. Brandon Gaddy (Redshirt Sophomore)
3. Jalen Alexander (Redshirt Freshman)
4. B’Ahmad Miller (Redshirt Sophomore)

With the Terrapins moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme, the role that the defensive line plays is a bit different. They’ll likely base out of an “Under” front, meaning that the line shifts depending on how the opposing offense lines up formationally. The 5-Technique is a more traditional strong-side defensive end, while the 3-Technique plays the role of a smaller defensive tackle. The former is relied upon to take on offensive tackles more often, and the latter typically takes on offensive guards.

Kulka returns for his sixth season in College Park, and will likely start at the 5-Technique position. While he is a bit undersized, his playing style has allowed him to play roles like this in the past. With the team running a 4-3 scheme during the past few seasons, he moved inside to the defensive tackle position due to injuries and performed well. Behind him are a number of young players with solid potential, particularly Rogers and Baylor. Against bigger offensive lineups, Hoke could turn to one of these bigger, younger players and utilize Kulka on passing downs.

Howard returns for his fifth season, and projects to be one of three seniors starting along the Terrapins’ defensive line. He appeared in all 12 of the team’s games last season as a backup defensive tackle, and is a perfect fit for the 3-Technique position in Hoke’s 3-4 scheme. He’ll likely receive some competition from Gaddy and Alexander, both talented young players who are poised to break out. With so many seniors at the top of the defensive line’s depth chart, the coaching staff will be watching to see which of the younger backups will be ready to step into starting roles in 2020.

Nose Tackles

Projected Depth Chart
1. Oluwaseun Oluwatimi (Senior)
2. Sam Okuayinonu (Junior)
3. Anthony Booker, Jr. (Freshman)

If there’s one position on the defensive line that is a bit troubling, it’s the nose tackle spot. After Adam McLean and Oseh Saine left the program, the team will turn to Oluwatimi as their starter. The senior from DeMatha Catholic High School has played in every game during the last two seasons, and started a game in 2018. Last year he led the team with three forced fumbles.

Okuayinonu joined the program this year as a junior college transfer from Mesabi Range Community College in Minnesota. He’s on the smaller side for a nose tackle, but may be forced into this role due to depth issues. He could also see some time at either defensive end position. Booker, Jr. is a true freshman from Winton Woods High School in Ohio who joins the team this season as a 3-star recruit. He has excellent size for the position, and could see immediate playing time.

Outside Linebackers

Projected Depth Chart (Strong-Side)
1. Shaq Smith (Redshirt Senior)
2. Ahmad McCullough (Redshirt Freshman)
3. Kameron Blount (Freshman)
4. Oladimeji Olayinka (Sophomore)

Projected Depth Chart (JACK)
1. Keandre Jones (Redshirt Senior)
2. Bryce Brand (Junior)
3. Deshawn Holt (Freshman)
4. Jacob Purcell (Freshman)

With the transfer additions of Smith and Jones, the outside linebacker position looks to be Maryland’s strongest heading into the 2019 season. Smith was projected to be a starter at Clemson, and played all 15 games for the National Champions last year. He was the top recruit from the state of Maryland when he joined the Tigers as a 5-star recruit. As the starting strong-side linebacker, he’ll be tasked with setting the edge on rushing plays and occasionally covering opposing tight ends and running backs. His experience playing for one of the best football programs in the country has already been felt with his leadership and work ethic.

While Jones likely wouldn’t have started for Ohio State, he would’ve played a very key role as a pass-rusher and probably would’ve started for essentially any other team in the country. Like Smith, he was one of the top recruits from the state of Maryland and was ranked as a 5-star prospect. He played in every game for the Buckeyes during the last two seasons. As the team’s starting JACK, he’ll play a hybrid linebacker/defensive end and will be able to showcase his pass-rushing abilities.

Behind the two transfer seniors are a number of talented young players who should see some of the field in 2019. McCullough and Blount are expected to back up Smith on the strong side, though the latter may have better size at this point to set the edge against opposing linemen and tight ends. Brand and Holt will now back up Jones after Durell Nchami suffered a season-ending knee injury during camp.

Inside Linebackers

Projected Depth Chart (MIKE)
1. Chance Campbell (Sophomore)
2. Isaiah Davis (Redshirt Senior)
3. Bruce Miller (Redshirt Senior)
4. Wyatt Cook (Senior)
5. Tanyi Makia (Redshirt Sophomore)
6. Kobi Thomas (Freshman)

Projected Depth Chart (WILL)
1. Ayinde Eley (Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Fa’Najae Gotay (Redshirt Freshman)
3. Cortez Andrews (Freshman)
4. David Brownlee (Sophomore)
5. Sean Greely (Freshman)

With the team moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme, Locksley loaded up on inside linebackers in his 2019 recruiting class and in some of his positional changes. The strong-side inside linebacker is typically relied upon to roam the middle of the field above the defensive linemen, and occasionally blitz and man up on running backs and tight ends. The weak-side inside linebacker is typically used more in coverage, and is smaller and quicker than the strong-side linebacker and will always stay on the field on passing downs.

Campbell played in all but one game as a true freshman last season, tallying 10 total tackles. He came to College Park as a 3-star recruit from nearby Calvert Hall High School in Towson, Maryland. Davis was the team’s starting inside linebacker in 2018, but nagging injuries during camp have set him back a bit. He was the Terrapins’ second-leading tackler last year, and finished third in sacks. Regardless of who starts at this position, both players will see plenty of the field.

Eley saw action in all 12 of the team’s games in 2018 after coming to College Park as a highly-regarded 3-star recruit in the 2017 recruiting class. He tallied 13 total tackles last season and had an interception in the game against Bowling Green. Behind him on the depth chart are a number of talented young players, particularly freshmen Gotay and Andrews. The former came to Maryland as a safety, but has bulked up enough to bring his speed to the linebacker position. The latter is one of the most underrated members of the team’s 2019 recruiting class from the state of Florida.

Seniors Miller and Cook sit behind Campbell and Davis on the strong-side depth chart. Miller came to College Park in 2017 after transferring from Dean Junior College in the state of Massachusetts. He was notably awarded a full scholarship this summer on the field at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore during the Ravens’ preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. Cook is a walk-on from Baltimore, Maryland.

Cornerbacks

Projected Depth Chart (Field)
1. Tino Ellis (Senior)
2. Kenny Bennett (Redshirt Sophomore)
3. Deonte Banks (Freshman)
4. Erwin Byrd (Freshman)

Projected Depth Chart (Boundary)
1. Marcus Lewis (Redshirt Senior)
2. Vincent Flythe (Redshirt Freshman)
3. Kareem Montgomery (Redshirt Senior)
4. Tahj Capehart (Redshirt Sophomore)
5. Lavonte Gater (Freshman)

For the past few seasons, the Terrapins’ secondary has been one of the team’s biggest strengths. 2019 will be no different, with seniors at three of the four starting spots. At the cornerback position, Ellis and Lewis return to lock down both sides of the field.

Ellis has appeared in every single game since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2016, and has transformed himself from a 4-star wide receiver prospect into one of the conference’s best cornerbacks. He started every game in 2018 and led the team with 11 pass breakups. As the starting field cornerback, he’ll typically match up against opposing teams’ split end receiver.

Lewis saw action in five of the team’s first seven games last season after transferring from Florida State. He left the program briefly towards the end of 2018 before returning when Locksley was hired in December. He’s an important part of the Terrapins’ secondary, and will typically match up against opposing teams’ flanker receiver as the boundary cornerback.

There are a number of young and talented cornerbacks behind Ellis and Lewis on the depth chart. Bennett and Capehart return to the team for their third seasons. Neither has seen much of the field thus far, and the latter is transitioning from wide receiver. Flythe returns for his second season after seeing action in just three games as a true freshman. Montgomery joins the group this year as a graduate transfer from Lehigh. He missed the entirety of 2018 due to injury, but has seen action in 26 games during his career and has experience at both cornerback and safety.

Banks, Byrd, and Gater come to College Park as members of Locksley’s 2019 recruiting class. All were ranked as 3-star recruits and likely won’t see much of the field this season.

Safeties

Projected Depth Chart (Free)
1. Deon Jones (Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Jordan Mosley (Sophomore)
3. Fofie Bazzie (Redshirt Sophomore)

Projected Depth Chart (Strong)
1. Antoine Brooks, Jr. (Senior)
2. Nick Cross (Freshman)
3. Treron Collins (Freshman)

Despite losing Antwaine Richardson to a season-ending injury during spring camp, Maryland’s safety position is very strong heading into 2019. With a number of talented young players complimented by one of the conference’s best defenders, Hoke ought to be very excited to let his safeties loose on opposing offenses.

Brooks, Jr. will be transitioning from nickel cornerback to strong safety in Hoke’s 3-4 defensive scheme, and will be receiving plenty of attention from NFL scouts in his final collegiate season. He’s been named to preseason watch lists for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award. Last year, he led the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 and finished third on the team in tackles with 68. While he’ll start at strong safety in Hoke’s base defense, he’ll likely move down to his natural nickel cornerback position when the team goes with extra defensive backs.

Richardson was projected to start at free safety, but that position will now be taken by either Jones or Mosley. Their competition has been ongoing and both players are neck-and-neck. Both saw action in most games last season, with Mosley tallying 29 tackles and Jones racking up 17. Regardless of who wins the job, both will likely see plenty of the field in 2019.

One of the biggest storylines of National Signing Day this season was Cross flipping from Florida State to Maryland at the last minute. He comes to College Park as a 4-star recruit, and will likely see time at strong safety when Brooks, Jr. moves down to nickel cornerback. Bazzie and Collins will add depth at the position.

Coaching Staff

Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach – Jon Hoke
Special Teams Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach – John Papuchis
Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach – Cory Robinson
Defensive Line Coach – Delbert Cowsette
Outside Linebackers Coach – Brian Williams

Zack Kiesel
Zack Kiesel

Terps Analyst

Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: [email protected].

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