2005 Football Outlook, Part VII
7/28/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 28, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the seventh in a nine-part series previewing the 2005 University of Maryland football team. The Terrapins are less than three weeks from the start of fall practice (Aug. 8) in anticipation of the season opener against Navy at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 3rd.
Today's portion of the outlook takes a look at the Terps' linebackers, a unit ranked by some publications as the best in the ACC. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of July (and the first week of August) for a breakdown on each component of this year's team (a complete list of when each position's outlook will be posted on UMTerps.com can be found at the bottom of this page).
Linebackers
As has happened on occasion in the past, an injury has actually helped this year's group of linebackers.
The Terrapins return all three starters from last year, but heading into spring ball, star "Mike" linebacker D'Qwell Jackson had wrist surgery, making him was unavailable to work in the spring. As it turns out, his absence helped a pair of players step up.
In the middle, highly touted sophomore Wesley Jefferson stepped in for Jackson and played the best he has played since arriving at Maryland in 2003 as the nation's top-rated prep linebacker. Jefferson is an instinctive player who seems to have turned the corner. What he will give the Terps this year is an outstanding backup and some rest to arguably the league's top returning defensive player.
Jackson finished second in balloting by two votes for last year's ACC Defensive Player of the Year, is on almost everybody's list as a first team All-American for 2005 and is a candidate for the Butkus, Bednarik and Lombardi awards. The league's leading tackler a year ago, his time away in the spring helped him continue his role as the leader of the defense as he was in almost every defensive huddle throughout offseason workouts. He is a great tackler who plays sideline to sideline and is a warrior on game days. While what Jackson will bring is a given, several players including Chase Bullock and Marvin Peoples will be looking to gain experience behind he and Jefferson.
The other spot that seemed to benefit from Jackson's absence in the spring was the "Will" position. Senior starter William Kershaw was noticeably the best defensive player of the offseason, making plays all over the field and looking like the player the Terps thought they have had for years. He is strong, runs well (4.6) and seemingly gets through blocks with ease. Backing him up, redshirt freshman Erin Henderson posted the best numbers in almost every scrimmage of the offseason, looking like a smaller version of his Butkus Award-winning brother, E.J., (a comparison the younger Henderson both appreciates and dreads). The bottom line is the brothers are both playmakers. Newcomer Dave Philistin of New Hampshire, another athletic true freshman, will be playing behind the duo.
At strongside linebacker, David Holloway returns for his junior season after playing above any expectation anyone had for him last year. Holloway is very good against the run, a solid tackler and is very strong despite his size (4.7, 36-inch vertical, 405-pound bench, 600-pound squat). The hope is that junior Jeris Smith can step in to help the team's depth at the position.
"Wesley Jefferson really gives us a lot of depth when he is at `Mike,'" said Friedgen. "I don't think there is any question that is where he is supposed to be. William Kershaw had a very, very good spring and Erin Henderson finds the football and his added size and strength has helped. And with D'Qwell, we obviously know what we have there and Holloway has been a very good linebacker for us. As a group, I would say we are pretty good."
Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com: Offense/Quarterbacks Posted July 7 Tailbacks/Fullbacks Posted July 12 Wide Receivers Posted July 14 Tight Ends Posted July 19 Offensive Line Posted July 21 Defense/Defensive Line Posted July 26 Linebackers Today Defensive Backs Tuesday, August 2 Specialists Thursday, August 4Other important dates: Start of Camp/Media Day Monday, August 8 Fan Day Sunday, August 21 Season Opener vs. Navy Saturday, September 3 Home Opener vs. Clemson Saturday, September 10
For season ticket information, please call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070 or (800) IM A-TERP (8377).
