Having worked on a farm in Owings Mills during childhood, Maryland football defensive lineman Roman Braglio understands what it means to work hard.
Braglio’s family breeds and raises Charolais cattle, and he began helping out at an early age. He baled hay. He pulled weeds. He did whatever was asked of him, building a type of ambition that’s allowed him to become one of the Terps’ top defensive linemen.
“As much as I would hate to tell my father this,” Braglio said, “I can thank him for making we work all those years.”
But entering Braglio’s senior season, the Terps need his contributions to extend beyond making tackles and sacking opposing quarterbacks. He’s now the veteran of the group that lost two of its players to the NFL last season.
“The leadership probably would be Roman Braglio,” associate head coach and defensive line coach Mike London said. “He’s a guy that’s played. He’s a guy that understands what it takes and the whole preparation part, physically and mentally. He’s had a pretty good camp thus far, so I expect big things out of him.”
After two seasons in which he made 23 appearances, Braglio became a starter on the line as a junior in 2015. He made 10 starts, finishing the season with 35 tackles. He ranked third on the team with three sacks.
Braglio was leading by example — just the way he liked it.
He didn’t need to raise his voice, as the unit also featured defensive linemen Yannick Ngakoue and Quinton Jefferson, both of whom earned conference recognition last season. Ngakoue, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, set the program’s single-season sacks record with 13.5. Jefferson, meanwhile, led the team’s linemen with 39 tackles.
But when Stefon Diggs and Darius Kilgo were drafted to the NFL in the fifth and sixth round, respectively, Braglio’s role expanded.
In the past, Braglio said he’d take a teammate to the side to talk to him. But he understands now there are instances where he needs to express his emotions on the field.
“Whether it’s getting into a player or getting into the whole defense or the team —— things like that — sometimes it’s just got to be done, whether it’s good or bad,” Braglio said.
Braglio touched on the group’s skill and depth at Fall Sports Media Day on Aug. 16. He cited the improvement of redshirt freshman Keiron Howard and the performances of players such as Cavon Walker, David Shaw and Brett Kulka.
Defensive lineman Jesse Aniebonam and defensive end Melvin Keihn have been one of the best position battles in camp, said coach DJ Durkin. Aniebonam, in Durkin’s mind, is playing the best football of his career.
Maryland released depth chart Monday night with Braglio In a conference call Friday, Durkin said he expected to use an eight or nine-man rotation up front. The coaches have an idea of who will see the field first against Howard Saturday, but the first-year coach wants to keep each player motivated in practice.
Expect Braglio to hold his teammates accountable, too. It’s part of the increased responsibility he’s taken on during his last season in College Park.
“He helps the offensive line get better also because, I mean, he brings great energy,” offensive lineman Derwin Gray said. “He makes us really have to work our technique and our focus and our landmarks on the defensive line.”
