Maryland Football: Will Terps climb out of cellar in year two of Mike Locksley?

Defense will look to be more than just Swiss cheese

Maryland’s defense did not slow many teams down in 2019. The Terps finished 109th in the nation and dead last in the Big Ten in total defense as they allowed 449.2 yards per game.

The biggest struggle for the Terps was slowing down the passing game as they finished last in the Big Ten and 116th in the nation with 271.3 yards through the air allowed.

Slowing down the pass will not get any easier for the Terps in 2020 as leading tackler and defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr., who also finished time for the team lead with five pass breakups, is gone. However, they do bring back cornerback Nick Cross who tied for the team lead in interceptions with two and pass breakups with five. Jordan Mosley also returns to the secondary after finishing second on the team with 79 total tackles, breaking up three passes and grabbing a pick a year ago.

At linebacker, Maryland will also have holes to fill as both Keandre Jones and Isaiah Davis have departed. They do return, Chance Campbell, who made 54 total tackles in 2019 and bring in four-star recruit Ruben Hyppolite II who will likely have a chance to start right away.

Up front, Maryland will look to improve upon a 2019 season that saw them finish 83rd in the nation in run defense, allowing 177.9 yards per game. This will be a tall task as Maryland’s three leaders in tackles for loss in Jones, Brooks Jr. and Brett Kulka are all gone.

They do return defensive tackles Oluwaseun Oluwatimi, who made 6.5 tackles for loss and Sam Okuayinonu, who had 4.5 tackles for loss. In addition, Maryland brings in three-star JUCO recruit Ami Finau out of Independence Community College, who should beef up the Terps’ defensive line.

With a mix of young players and returners, major improvement for Maryland’s defense is hard to expect, but they should benefit from many having a year in defensive coordinator Jon Hoke’s system heading into 2020.