Maryland’s linebacker room had young talent emerge alongside the vets, and heading into 2023, the unit challenges the wide receiver room for the deepest position on the roster. “Our linebacker core is the strength of our defense in terms of the experience that they bring back and the talent, Fa’Najae Ruben , Jaishawn , Caleb , Gereme , all those guys have played meaningful snaps and done a really good job,” defensive coordinator Brian Williams said about the unit. “And it helps. It helps for them to be able to again come back and play the same system. They're more confident and recognizing formations and you know, they're the quarterback of the defense. So they have to get us lined up. They have to make sure guys are doing the things they need to do pre-snap and they do that in front of them as well as behind you know, because they see it the most and they're the guys we lean on for that.” Maryland is led by Jaishawn Barham, former freshman All-American, who led the team with four sacks and six TFLs to go along with 58 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The disruptive force gives the heart of Maryland’s defense one of the best linebackers in the conference thanks to his quickness and pursuit at the point of attack. https://twitter.com/TerpsFootball/status/1660678153415671808 He isn’t alone with veterans Ruben Hyppolite and Fa’Najae Gotay leading the inside linebacker room, while second-year linebacker Caleb Wheatland also emerged in his first full season to give the room quality depth. Gereme Spraggins steps into his third year after playing in all but one game last fall, giving credence as to why the room is well-positioned heading into the fall. Add in versatile freshman Mike Harris, who took his recruitment into February before splitting with his twin brother, and the inside linebacker room is in good hands under Lance Thompson. At outside linebacker, however, Maryland struggled to get a consistent pass rush through the season after registering only seven sacks from the unit. Both Greg Rose and Durrell Nchami, last year’s primary edge rusher, are gone as Maryland will turn to fresh blood to fill those shoes. Enter Donnell Brown, the former NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Brown joined summer workouts and is going through his first round of camp with the program where he brings experience to the outside unit. The speed off the edge that the veteran pass rusher brings is what Maryland hopes translates to the Big Ten after a dominant 2022 season. Brown posted 48 tackles including 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and three fumble recoveries to give the room an instant impact addition. He'll have a young buck behind him with Neeo Avery, who flipped from Ole Miss to Maryland back in December, filling in as a JACK. At 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, Avery has the speed and quickness to beat just about anyone off the edge. With Avery still being a freshman, he might still go through some growing pains to start the season but expect him to be an early rotational piece in the revamped pass rush this season. Second-year linebacker Kellan Wyatt has wasted no time since enrolling at Maryland, stepping into a rotational role a mere months after joining the program. After a full offseason, the seasoned, bulked up Spalding product gives the SAM position an athletic piece capable of stepping into an impact role. Maryland also signed former four-star Dylan Gooden, who's developing through his first few months with the program as he adds mass to his long frame. Veteran Riyad Wilmot, who appeared in seven games last fall, rounds out the room as the Terps will be tasked with generating pressure off the edge. There’s little doubt that Maryland has the talent inside to guide them through conference play—and the depth. Maryland saw Ruben Hyppolite miss time last fall and the emergence of Barham and Wheatland helped pick up the slack, and with the entire room back for 2023, they’re in good hands. The biggest question is whether Maryland can generate pressure off the edge and Donnell Brown will be a big part of that answer. The explosiveness from Avery gives the room a young option to turn to while Kellan Wyatt can start opposite, but will the depth of the inside linebacker room give the defense a chance to get creative and give Jaishawn Barham a chance to line up outside? The experience that the unit returns is what instills confidence in the front seven paired with the revamped defensive line, but retooling the room to create pressure remains the biggest priority heading into the Sept. 2 season opener vs. Towson. Related Links
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