Maryland Football Position Preview: Linebackers

Nov 16, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall reacts with linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. (23) after the the Terapins defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies 27-24 in overtime at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

To continue breaking down the outlook for the Maryland football program this season, we’ll now take a look at the linebacker positions, which feature plenty of fresh faces. The entire defense will look different, as the Terps are moving from a 3-4 defensive scheme to the 4-3. Let’s take a look at how Maryland will stack up at linebacker in the 2015-16 college football season.

The Terps will need to replace each linebacker position, as all of the starters for them last season were graduating seniors. So, you most likely haven’t heard of many of the players we’re about to discuss. Nonetheless, Maryland will still have high expectations for this unit.

Maryland released their preseason depth chart last week. As it currently stands, rising sophomore Jermaine Carter is the starter at inside linebacker. The former 3-star prospect will be tasked with a major role in the Terps’ defense this season. Carter appeared in all 13 games last season, making 27 tackles and forcing two fumbles, which led the team. He excelled on the special teams unit, which is another factor that played a part in him being dubbed the starter. As he moves into the starting role, Carter will be looking make his mark on the Big Ten.

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Flanking Carter at the outside linebacker positions will most likely be sophomore Jalen Brooks and junior Abner Logan. Brooks appeared in 12 games as a redshirt freshman and made four starts. He finished the season with 21 tackles and made a career-high seven tackles against Penn State. Logan played in the last seven games of the season for Maryland, recording just five tackles. In the previous season, he recorded a career-high 15 tackles in a game against Clemson. He has been one of the better scout team players for the Terps in the past and it will be interesting to see how he responds to being thrust into the starting role.

Other players who should make contributions on Maryland defense this year include UConn transfer Jefferson Ashiru, senior Avery Thompson, and junior Brock Dean.

The linebacker corps is most certainly a work in progress for the Terps, as there is quite a bit of inexperience throughout the depth chart. However, playing in the Big Ten, there is no time to feel sorry for yourself. These guys will have to grow up quick and they will be expected to perform.

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