4. Maryland Terrapins College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– The defense started poorly and got stronger, but still finished the season allowing 430 yards and 32 points per game. The pass rush was great, the run defense wasn’t, and coming up with third down stops was an issue. With ten starters back, though, there’s no excuse not to be better. However …
– The linebacking corps lost its star. Leading tackler Chance Campbell is off to Ole Miss, but it’s a deep group overall with 225-pound Ruben Hyppolite looking like a player in the middle and several options on the outside to rotate with 216-pound Ahmad McCullough.
Hyppolite and fellow linebacker Durrell Nchami can rush the passer – when Nchami is healthy – but 305-pound tackle Mosiah Nasili-Kite led the team in sacks from his spot in the interior. He’s big, 330-pound Ami Finau is bigger, and there’s bulk behind them.
– Two. That’s how many interceptions the Terps came up with in their five games, but the secondary should be a plus with everyone returning around all-star-level safety Nick Cross and second-leading tackler Jordan Mosley.
Again, there weren’t any interceptions even with the good pressure and pass rush. However, that’s about to change after Maryland went really, really young on the outside. Once 6-1, 182-pound Tarheeb Still figures it out after a good freshman year, look out.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Maryland Terrapins Schedule Analysis