Profiles In Terpage – A Countdown To The Football Season: Darin Drakeford
By petevolk
A recurring series where we will profile every player and coach on Maryland’s roster, counting down to kick-off against Miami. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we profile a former DC High School star who is our first starting linebacker of this series.
Darin Drakeford, Junior, Outside Linebacker
Stats:
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 240
Ratings: Three stars, #3 in Washington DC, #77 outside linebacker by Rivals; three stars, #41 weakside linebacker Scout; three stars, #41 outside linebacker by ESPN, #43 outside linebacker in 2013 draft class by NFL Draft Scout
40-yard dash time: 4.6
High School Stats (senior year): 124 tackles (91 solo), 14 sacks, 37 carries for 768 yards and ten touchdowns, 22 receptions for 422 yards and four touchdowns
High School Stats (junior year): 94 tackles, 22 sacks (a school record), eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception, 31 catches for more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns
College Stats (through two years): 54 tackles (30 solo), 6.5 for a loss, one sack, one fumbled force, two pass deflections
High School: Theodore Roosevelt High School (Washington, DC)
How’d He Get To College Park?
Darin Drakeford was the epitome of a player who was just much better than his competition. While DC has produced some good players over the past few years, it’s not on the same level as the WCAC or other local areas, and Drakeford exposed that with some incredible seasons at linebacker and tight end.
Drakeford was pursued by schools like Illinois, Pitt, Syracuse, and Michigan State, but ended up close to home with the Terps after being recruited by James Franklin.
Coming out of Roosevelt, Drakeford was 6’0″ and 215 pounds, but has since added at least 25 pounds and just looks like a dominant linebacker. After playing in all 12 games and recording 18 tackles as a true freshman, he put it all together as a sophomore, recording 36 tackles as the Terps’ first linebacker off the bench, including a whopping 5.5 for a loss.
Drakeford was named Washington DC’s player of the Year in his senior year, and was a two-time All-Met selection (first team TE as a senior; second team DL as a junior) as well as a four-time All-DCIAA choice.
More after the jump.
Nickname:
Darin “Drizzy” Drakeford
Career Highlight:
The lone sack of his career, in the West Virginia game.
Career Lowlight:
Having to wait until now to get a chance to start.
Arbitrary Top Five List:
Top-charting Darin songs in Sweden:
1. Money for Nothing
2. Step Up
3. Viva la Vida
4. Breathing Your Love
5. Perfect
Dream season:
Drakeford builds on his strong performance and potential, holding down the weakside while recording at least 60 tackles and four sacks.
Nightmare season:
Drakeford struggles in the starting role, splitting time with Lorne Goree and finishing with worse stats than he had as a backup.
2011 prospectus:
Drakeford backed up Demetrius Hartsfield at Will last season, and with Hartsfield moving to the middle the position is essentially all Drakeford’s. He’s a hulking presence at weak-side linebacker, and should be able to work well off of the speed Maryland will find at the STAR position. He specializes in bringing down players behind the line, a skill that can’t be overemphasized on a defense that lacks experienced perimeter rushing.
It will be interesting to see what kind of role the Will position has in Todd Bradford’s defense. Usually, they are responsible for covering the running back on passing downs, but with converted defensive backs (read: faster players) on what was formerly the strong side at STAR, who knows what will happen.
Joining Hartsfield and Kenny Tate as starting linebackers, you’ve got a whole lot of talent there and a good amount of experience – Hartsfield will be entering his third year as a starting linebacker, Tate will be coming into his third year as a starter (albeit first as a linebacker), and Drakeford has played in every game since he stepped on campus. Like last year’s Moten-Wujciak-Hartsfield look, this should be an exciting and talented unit.
Up Next:
Our next player is the first from his state that we have profiled.