Maryland started freshmen Keith Bowers (defensive end) and Lorne Goree (middle linebacker) on Saturday against West Virginia. On the surface, that isn’t a particularly substantial observation.
But consider: It was only the 17th time in the last 11 seasons Maryland started multiple freshmen on defense.
SEE RELATED:It gets a little more interesting. If Goree starts Saturday against Temple over an injured Darin Drakeford and the depth chart holds up and Andre Monroe makes his first career start at defensive tackle, Maryland will start three freshmen on defense.
The last time that happened? The 2000 season finale against Georgia Tech, when defensive back Andrew Smith Jr., defensive tackle Scott Smith and linebacker Mike Whaley all started. Andrew Smith drew the start that day over an injured Curome Cox, who is now a graduate assistant with the Terps.
In any case, here are the freshman starting combinations on defense for the Terps since 2001:
2005
Trey Covington/Jeremy Navarre (8): West Virginia, at Wake Forest, Virginia, at Temple, Virginia Tech, at Florida State, at North Carolina, Boston College
2008
Dion Armstrong/Derek Drummond (1): at Boston College
2009
A.J. Francis/Demetrius Hartsfield (7): at California, James Madison, Middle Tennessee, Rutgers, Clemson, at Wake Forest, Boston College
2011
Keith Bowers/Lorne Goree (1): West Virginia
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