Maryland returns ample experience in the secondary, but its starting safety Beau Brade who continues to draw NFL buzz heading into the 2023 season.
Brade was named among ten highly regarded NFL prospects deserving more hype by On3 this morning.
Based on intel from NFL scouting sources, here are 10 highly regarded NFL prospects on defense not being talked about enough at this point (listed alphabetically).
More on each here: https://t.co/LODkLuZR0C pic.twitter.com/bxxEFZaVIJ
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) July 18, 2023
In the last 10 NFL drafts, seven Maryland defensive backs have been selected in the first 105 picks, including three the last two years. Brade may be the next one. In his first year as a starter, Brade was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. He led the Terrapins with 86 tackles and also posted two interceptions and two forced fumbles. In a win over SMU, he became the first Maryland player since 1998 with 15 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in a single game. Current feedback from NFL scouting sources on Brade is in the second-to-third round range. One scout mentioned to On3 that he believes Brade has the potential to be an NFL starting safety and that he expects Brade to immediately be an asset for an NFL team on special teams.
The accolade comes off the heels of Brade also rated the second-best draft-eligible strong safety in Phil Steele’s preseason preview earlier this month.
Brade saw time in all five games of his true freshman season before becoming a rotational piece in 2021, appearing in all but one of Maryland’s 13 games as he finished with 14 tackles. After taking over as the full-time starter alongside Dante Trader Jr. last fall, Brade proved himself among the defensive playmakers as he led the defense with 85 tackles while registering five pass breakups, four tackles for loss, and a pair of interceptions and forced fumbles.
The Trader and Brade tandem will once again lead Maryland with Tarheeb Still and Ja’Quan Sheppard (recent profile here) lead the cornerback room with ample confidence in the secondary heading into 2023. But if the buzz holds true this fall, Brade could become the second Maryland safety drafted under Mike Locksley and at least fourth defensive back selected since 2022.
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