Profiles In Terpage – A Countdown To The Football Season: David Mackall
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 one of the few freshmen who burned their redshirt last season.
David Mackall, Sophomore, Defensive End
Stats:
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 240
Ratings: Four stars, #9 in Maryland, #15 strongside defensive end by Rivals in 2008, #5 prep school prospect by Rivals in 2009; three stars, #83 defensive end by Scout; three stars, #105 defensive end by ESPN, #17 outside linebacker 2014 class by NFL Draft Scout
40-yard dash time: 4.7
High School Stats (senior season): 91 tackles, six sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries
High School Stats (junior season): 140 tackles, 13 sacks, one fumble recovery, one safety
College Stats (through one season): 18 tackles (nine solo), one interception
High School: Edmonson-Westside High School (Baltimore, Md.)
How’d He Get To College Park?
David Mackall is one of the best recruits to come to Maryland over the past five years. One of the top players in Maryland in 2008 and 2009, he racked up 231 tackles over his final two years in high school with 19 sacks as arguably the best defensive end in Baltimore for each of those two years.
Mackall ended up choosing Maryland over East Carolina, Georgia, Clemson and Syracuse, brought to College Park by former offensive coordinator James Franklin. He fell about 50 points short of the SAT requirement, however, and ended up going to Fork Union for a year (along with fellow 2009 commit Lorne Goree).
Mackall was originally recruited to play the old LEO position, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker slot. The Terps didn’t have the spot last year, so Mackall moved to linebacker. This year, he’s back to a similar position – ROCK, another hybrid defensive end/linebacker spot.
Mackall came in to College Park last spring, and impressed the coaches immediately. Throughout spring practice, coach Friedgen praised Mackall’s ability to go after the ball, and said he was the most impressive defensive player during the spring other than Joe Vellano. He burned his redshirt that year, playing mostly on special teams, but earning some time as a reserve middle linebacker.
More after the jump.
Nickname:
When asked by Matt Bracken of the Baltimore Sun – “My family calls me Mookie.” Mookie it is.
Career Highlight:
There are a few obvious choices. The seven tackle game against Morgan State, the 34-yard interception return to the goalline in the Military Bowl…but this is it, without a doubt:
Career Lowlight:
Burning his redshirt last year to play limited time on special teams and as a reserve linebacker.
Arbitrary Top Five List:
Alumni from Edmondson-Westide:
1. Omar Little (from the Wire)
2. Bunk Moreland (also from the Wire)
3. John Miller
4. Charlie Pittman
5. Nathaniel T. Oaks
Dream season:
Mackall stars off the edge, recording at least eight sacks and being named to one of the first two All-ACC teams.
Nightmare season:
Mackall regresses in his second season, struggling to adapt to the new position and splitting time with Isaiah Ross.
2011 Prospectus:
David Mackall is one of the most exciting new starters on Maryland’s roster. He had a lot of hype surrounding him after his impressive high school career, but some of that died down when he had to go to prep school again. After performing well there, however, he blew up last year’s spring practice, bringing back all of that excitement. After an impressive freshman campaign, he enters the fall as the starter at ROCK, one of the new positions on Maryland’s defense.
ROCK takes over for Anchor, which was the strongside defensive end position last year. Anchor was manned by Justin Anderson, who has now moved to the inside, and Mackall seems like the perfect fit for the new position. It’s similar to the LEO position he was recruited to play, and he gets to show off his biggest strengths – rushing the passer and getting to the ball. One of the better things Maryland did on defense last year was force turnovers, something that new defensive coordinator Todd Bradford made a priority in his time at Southern Miss. Mackall reflects that strategy, and while his only turnover last year came on an interception, he should force plenty of fumbles with jarring sacks and hits in the backfield over the next few years.
There are three new starters on Maryland’s defensive line, and they’re all from the 2010 recruiting class, which is showing great returns thus far. Of the three (Mackall, Murphy and Monroe), Mackall is the only one with collegiate playing experience, and he’s also the only one with a considerable amount of hype coming out of high school. His only issue as a linebacker was in the coverage game, but with his new position, he doesn’t have to worry about that in the slightest. Mackall will have one job and one job only – take down whoever has the ball, a la Richard Kiel’s character in the old Longest Yard. Luckily for the Terps, that’s one thing he knows how to do very well.
Up Next:
Our next player is the only returning starter who is still starting on the defensive line.