About a week ago, the Terps released the new Fall 2010 Football Depth Chart, with some changes. Two days ago, we looked at the offense. Today, let’s focus on the defense:
Note – I only marked a redshirt (RS) for the freshmen, to distinguish them from first-year players.
Defensive End
1. Drew Gloster – SR
2. Derek Drummond – JR
3. Bradley Johnson – FR (RS)
4. Marcus Whitfield – FR (RS)
Both Johnson and Whitfield are linebacker/linemen tweeners, and there are no surprises here. Gloster has finally found a position he can stick with.
Anchor
1. Justin Anderson – SO
2. Isaiah Ross – SO
3. Carl Russell – SO
The anchor is just another defensive end, and it is a position that Justin Anderson has locked down for the Terps.
Nose Tackle
1. A.J. Francis – SO
2. Zachariah Kerr – SO
3. Ian Davidson – JR
Kerr will most likely also back up Joe Vellano at defensive tackle, as Francis will be playing almost every down (a very good thing for Terps fans).
Defensive Tackle
1. Joe Vellano – SO
2. Maurice Hampton – JR
Vellano has been incredibly impressive throughout spring practice and camp, and works very well with Francis.
Sam (Strong-side) Linebacker
1. Adrian Moten – SR
2. Darin Drakeford – SO
3. Nick Peterson – JR
Moten, a senior, is a versatile linebacker who is a leader on the field. Peterson, a walk-on transfer from Navy, joins the depth chart here.
Mike (Middle) Linebacker
1. Alex Wujciak – SR
2. David Mackall – FR
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Wujciak is one of the best linebackers in the country, so that’s not an issue. However, with Avery Murray and Javarie Johnson (both Mikes) leaving the program, and Ben Pooler (a Will) succumbing to injury (forcing Ryan Donohue to move to the weak side), true freshman David Mackall is now the only backup listed for Wujciak on the depth chart. Donohue will probably play a good amount of Mike as well, but this shows how much confidence the coaches have in Mackall (or the lack of depth they have at Mike, depending on your level of pessimism).
Will (Weak-side) Linebacker
1. Demetrius Hartsfield – SO
2. Ryan Donohue – SO
3. Lorne Goree – FR
As mentioned earlier, Donohue moves here from Mike after Ben Pooler’s season-ending injury. Hartsfield played extremely well during his freshman campaign, and has a lot of promise for the Terps in the future. Goree played at Fork Union Military Academy last season with Mackall.
Cornerback 1
1. Cameron Chism – JR
2. Avery Graham – FR (RS)
3. Michael Carter – SR
Chism is recovering from an injury, and it’s a good sign that the coaches decided to list him on top of the depth chart. Graham jumps Carter here, which is no surprise – he has looked very good in his year or so on campus.
Cornerback 2
1. Trenton Hughes – JR
1. Dexter McDougle – FR (RS)
3. Jeremiah Johnson – FR
Yep, this is the only starting position still not solved. Hughes has been the favorite since the beginning, but McDougle has played extremely well during this camp and my money’s on him. Johnson, a true freshman, has played well enough to be listed.
Free Safety
1. Kenny Tate – JR
2. Eric Franklin – SO
3. Titus Till – FR
Franklin has done well in his limited role so far, and will look to hold off Till, who has a huge amount of potential, for as long as he can. Tate is one of the most talented defensive players in the ACC.
Strong Safety
1. Antwine Perez – SR
2. Travis Hawkins – FR (RS)
3. Matt Robinson – FR
Another true freshman cracks the secondary depth chart in Robinson. Hawkins is a highly touted guy at strong safety, but Robinson has been immensely praised by the coaches this summer for his intelligence, size, and hitting ability.