Fall Camp Preview: Linebackers

Returning: Isaiah Davis, Brett Zanotto, Gus Little, Shane Cockerille, Jermaine Carter Jr., Nnamdi Egbuaba, Jalen Brooks, Tyler Burke, Matt Gillespie, Mbi Tanyi

Incoming: Antoine Brooks, Brett Shepherd

Graduated: Avery Thompson, Jefferson Ashiru

Last season:

As a sophomore last season, Jermaine Carter Jr. proved to be one of the Big Ten’s best playmakers on the defensive side of the ball after recording a team-leading 103 tackles, including 14 for a loss. Carter finished the year sixth in the conference in tackles per game (8.6) and was reliable against the run and pass.

Carter might have to follow that up with an even better junior season performance in order for the Terps linebacking corps to be formidable in 2016.

Junior Jalen Brooks returns after starting 11 games as a sophomore and is Maryland’s most experienced linebacker outside of Carter. Brooks was impressive at times last season and finished fifth on the Terps with 64 tackles while also recording two interceptions--the most among Maryland linebackers.

Sophomore inside linebacker Brett Zanotto gained some valuable playing time last year by appearing in 10 games. The Western Pennsylvania native looked to be one of the Terps' better options in the middle of the defense during spring football and could be in line for a starting role in 2016 if he can produce a solid fall camp.

Sophomores Tyler Burke and Mbi Tanyi, as well as redshirt freshman Gus Little should also contend for starting roles if they impress in August and at the very least give the Terps some depth at linebacker.

Top Storyline:

How will the Terps linebackers fare in a hybrid defensive front?

Switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defensive front was one major storyline for the Terps defense last season, but this year’s linebackers will have to know how to play both.

Maryland’s defensive front is expected to vary this season based upon the situation. The Terps could have four linebackers on the field for some plays and then only three for others with the BUCK position being the wildcard that could have a hand in the dirt or be in a two-point stance.

The skill sets of some Terps linebackers will be better-suited for one front than they are for the other and it will be up to the new coaching staff in College Park to figure out which combination of players works best for certain scenarios.

Prediction:

Everyone knows Carter--a Preseason Butkus Award Watchlist selection--is set to start in the middle, so the question becomes who will surround him.

Brooks and Zanotto will likely occupy the other two starting spots once the regular season starts because of their experience but they likely will not be handed anything by a coaching staff that didn’t recruit them.

Burke, Tanyi, Little and Shane Cockerille could all make a push if they outplay Brooks and Zanotto in fall camp, but Isaiah Davis (younger brother of former Maryland safety Sean Davis) and Nnamdi Egbuaba will look to throw their hats into the ring, as well.

Maryland’s new head coach D.J. Durkin is a former college linebacker and has always boasted a strong linebacking corps as a coach. He will certainly do whatever it takes to make sure the Terps are strong in the middle of the defense, and he could even want to see the freshmen that he recruited as linebackers--Antoine Brooks and Brett Shepherd--at some point just to see what the future holds for him at the position.