OT Jaelyn Duncan Talks Braswell's Coaching Style, NFL Scouts, Hometown Love

Maryland is still working on the starting offensive line during the opening days of fall camp, but the return of Spencer Anderson and Jaelyn Duncan at right and left tackle provides much-needed stability as all eyes will be whether Maryland can control the line of scrimmage this season. Whether the Terps’ starting five can take the next step will be a key storyline as Maryland hopes to go bowling for the first time in the Mike Locksley era, but Duncan’s presence helps ease concerns as the towering tackle is set to protect Taulia Tagovailoa’s blindside for another season. Duncan has started 16 consecutive starts heading into the 2021 season and his gradual progression through each season has caught the eye of the staff as Locksley pointed out the ‘night and day’ development at the end of the 2019 season.

Locksley again praised Duncan at the end of this year’s spring game, adding that he thought “the guys like Jaelyn [Duncan] and Spencer [Anderson] really did a good job in there for us the most part on that side of the ball.” But with fall camp in full effect with just weeks until the start of the season, Duncan is ready to show his best football is still ahead of him.

“Offseason been pretty good, lot of good work from the team, from myself. Trying to go out and have a great season,” Duncan told Inside the Black and Gold. But Duncan’s journey in College Park has been met with adversity given the list of college coaches who have played a hand in Duncan’s development is lengthy. Formally recruited by former position coach Tyler Bowen, Duncan played under both Bryan Stinespring and John Reagan before Brian Braswell took over as the new offensive line coach this offseason. Braswell was the assistant that the players often found themselves working with during the 2020 season, paving the way for his offseason promotion as Duncan explains why Braswell works well with his players.

“Coach Braswell, he’s a great guy. He has a lot of experience at different levels in the NFL, the XFL, college. He knows how to talk to kids, and he also treats us like we’re adults. He teaches us next level things while also keeping it at the college level, so we don’t get flooded. He has a lot of knowledge; he really knows what he’s talking about. The way he explains the defense and stuff is a lot different than what we’re used to, so we all take a lot of good notes.”

The NFL experience that Braswell has will be something that Duncan works hard to master this season. Rated the 14th-best offensive tackle prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft by Walter Football, Duncan is among the long list of Terps that could opt for the NFL following the 2021 season. For now, the draft isn’t on Duncan’s mind, but he knows what he wants to show NFL scouts on film. “I want to show scouts that I’m very consistent with my pass pro. I’m a very talented guy, athletic but you know, got to see how to see how the season goes.”

Time will tell whether this fall will mark the final season that Duncan plays for Maryland, but what he does know is the fate of the 2021 season is solely in the hands of the players and coaches. A former four-star prospect out of St. Frances Academy, Duncan signed with Maryland over verbal offers from LSU, Alabama, Michigan, and Penn State among others as the Terps were able to keep the blue-chip prospect in-state. Proximity to home played a key role in Duncan’s recruitment, but with his college career taking full form, the pride that Duncan holds for his home state helps bring out the best in his game.

“Since I’ve come here, being like a community it’s a lot of Maryland guys so you come in and feel welcomed. It’s not that much different from being outside at high school. Coming here, you go to a school in your own town it just pushes you to work harder. You want to put on for where you’re from. You want to win games for your state and put your state on the map.”