With Maryland soccer’s season opener, we now flip our consideration to give attention to its linebacker corps. Make certain to learn our earlier analyses on the Terps within the okay, okay, r, d, e and e rooms.
Maryland’s scenario at off-ball linebacker seems far safer than it did at the beginning of 2025 when not one of the room’s starters had skilled time in a beginning function. Whereas just one starter returns, the amount and high quality of enjoying time up and down the depth chart places the Terps in a a lot better place within the field heading into this season.
Among the many departing linebackers are Keyshawn Flowers and Michael Harris, who each transferred out of this system following Maryland’s intensive offseason recruiting efforts. Whereas Harris — whose function was considerably restricted after a robust junior season in 2024 — returned to his dwelling state to play for USF, Flowers has but to discover a touchdown spot after coming into the portal in June.
With quite a lot of expertise, archetypes and athletic backgrounds to select from, second-year inside linebackers coach Zac Spavital appears to make the most of one of many extra proficient models within the Large Ten. Nonetheless, he may also have to navigate a lineup of a number of new skills and climate fierce competitors for snaps.
Maryland’s 2026 linebacker depth chart
| NAME | YEAR | 2025 STATS |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Wingate | Senior | 12 video games (12 begins), 102 tackles (62 solo), 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sack, 1 INT |
| Carlton Smith | Sophomore | 12 video games (1 begin), 64 tackles (41 solo), 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT |
| Trey Reddick | Junior | 11 video games (10 begins), 53 tackles (35 solo), 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks |
| Stephen Dean III | Redshirt Senior | 12 video games (12 begins), 117 tackles (62 solo), 9 TFL (at VMI) |
| Darius Grimes | Redshirt Junior | 12 video games, 11 tackles (7 solo) |
| Keyari James | Redshirt Sophomore | N/A (damage) |
| Travares Daniels II | Redshirt Freshman | 1 recreation, 6 snaps |
| Chris Wells | Redshirt Junior | N/A |
| Kellen McConnell | Redshirt Sophomore | N/A |
| Jordan Williams | Redshirt Senior | N/A (performed basketball at Rice) |
| Kaden Carter | Freshman | Highschool (4-star) |
Expertise within the field
The returning performers in Maryland’s lineback room mixed for 23 begins in 2025 in comparison with the only begin logged by the unit’s returners the season prior. These begins proved extraordinarily productive for Daniel Wingate, Carlton Smith and Trey Reddick, who every logged over 50 tackles and appeared in tandem in all however one recreation final season.
Wingate enters 2026 as one of many premier linebacker skills within the Large Ten, and it’s simple to come back to that conclusion simply by taking a look at him. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound athlete stands taller than each different inside linebacker the Terps have by at the least an inch. He wore the inexperienced dot for all 12 video games final season and made his presence identified on each play, turning into the primary Maryland participant to eclipse 100 tackles since Tre Watson throughout his All-American season in 2018.
Regardless of logging only one begin throughout his true freshman season, Smith enters this 12 months with huge potential for elevated reps after securing 41 solo tackles in 2025. Whereas he struggled in protection eventualities, Smith was a mainstay for the Terps within the open discipline and earned a PFF grade of 76 for run protection and 81.5 for total tackling. He could also be a big assist system up the intestine for a defensive deal with unit that obtained shelled final 12 months throughout Large Ten play.
Reddick, nevertheless, ought to completely complement Smith on the weak facet after he carried out properly in protection and offered essential strain in passing conditions by means of his sophomore 12 months. Reddick contributed 5.5 tackles for loss in 2025 and was a power to be reckoned with on brief out routes all season lengthy. If he can restrain himself from overly aggressive tackles that resulted in a number of ejections final season, the junior may present the spark Maryland wants within the WILL slot.
Unconventional newcomers
Spavital introduced in a trio of very intriguing recruits throughout the offseason, each discovering a stranger path to School Park than the final. After bringing in only a pair of three-star freshmen final 12 months – with solely one in all them getting significant enjoying time – the Terps opted to shoot for high-upside transfers and prestigious highschool skills to bolster defensive depth.
Kaden Carter marks the lone highschool recruit introduced into Maryland’s linebacker room, probably attributable to a depth chart that’s greater than saturated close to the highest. Carter, nevertheless, could wiggle his approach onto the sphere because of the excessive status that comes together with him – he’s the third-highest ranked linebacker recruit in group historical past. His expertise working monitor in highschool ought to assist him regulate properly into both a weak or strongside backup function.
Stephen Dean III elected to hitch the Terps for his closing 12 months of eligibility after an extremely profitable season on the Virginia Army Institute. The mike linebacker logged a monstrous 117 tackles final season, a mark ok to put him thirteenth within the nation, whereas offering glorious help in each speeding and passing eventualities.
One of the uncommon routes any newcomer discovered their approach to Maryland is that of Jordan Williams. The previous Rice guard was initially recruited by Maryland males’s basketball head coach Buzz Williams, however will now return to a sport he hasn’t performed since highschool after discovering restricted success on the hardwood. His snaps will probably be few and much between.
Potential depth members
With immense expertise throughout the depth chart, many highly-touted gamers should battle it out for platoon spots or any reps they’ll get their fingers on. Travares Daniels II and Darius Grimes squarely match into this class after the lineman-linebacker hybrid Grimes took most of his snaps on particular groups whereas Daniels performed simply six snaps and appears to show his worth in his second 12 months at Maryland.
Keyari James appeared promising after a strong freshman season in 2024, however missed the whole thing of the next season attributable to damage and will carve out an honest chunk of reps in reserve roles. Chris Wells and Kellen McConnell additionally look to realize their first on-field motion as Terps with their remaining eligibility starting to expire.