Shane Cockerille came to the Maryland football program as a three-star quarterback prospect and one of the top-15 overall players in the state.
He felt his work as a signal-caller with the Terps, though, wasn’t fun. When he asked to switch positions to defense, the previous coaching regime didn’t let him.
Instead, Cockerille played in 11 games at fullback last year and contributed at quarterback when the Terps faced mid-season injury issues. He said he buried his frustration in hopes of doing what was best for the team.
When the new staff arrived at the beginning of the offseason, Cockerille requested a switch to defense in a one-on-one meeting with coach DJ Durkin. Nine months later, the redshirt junior started his first game as a Terp at linebacker, logging five tackles in Saturday’s win against Howard.
“I just wanted to go out there [Saturday] and prove that I belonged over there,” Cockerille said. “Finally play something that I wanted to play and have fun with it.”
In their initial meeting, Durkin didn’t promise the Baltimore native the position change. In fact, Cockerille worked as a quarterback through the first week of spring practice and left for spring break thinking that would be his role in 2016.
But during the team’s first dinner after the players returned, Durkin pulled Cockerille aside and said he would test him on defense that week.
“I was like, ‘I’d love to,'” Cockerille said. “I’ve been there ever since.”
That started the process of Cockerille learning his third position entering his fourth year in College Park.
Cockerille said he’s struggled most with footwork and eye control — knowing which gap he needs to target on a run play or whether to drop into coverage for a pass.
To stay on track, Cockerille reminds himself before each play to “have good eyes,” and he watches film to learn which positions to focus on in opponents’ formations when the plays start.
At 235 pounds, Cockerille has added about 15 pounds of muscle from his playing weight as a quarterback. Plus, his experience at the helm of the offense, defensive coordinator Andy Buh said, has helped develop his vision on the other side of the ball.
He’s also relied on linebackers Jermaine Carter Jr. and Jalen Brooks, two players from his class who have become entrenched starters in the middle of the defense, for advice.
“We’re in constant dialogue about what we’re doing and what we’re expecting for the plays,” Brooks said. “That helps a lot.”
What Cockerille didn’t need help with, though, was his physicality.
Cockerille didn’t see much defensive action as a standout player at Gilman School. He only lined up at safety in the team’s four non-conference games per season.
Still, Cockerille, also an All-American wrestler in high school, said he’s always embraced tough hits.
When the former coaches used to ask the quarterbacks whether they wanted to go full-contact in portions of practice, Cockerille was often the first to say yes. Now Cockerille is having fun as the one dishing out blows.
“When coaches are moving you around, they’re actively thinking of ways you can help the team win, and that’s a good thing [because] you don’t want to be a guy that’s forgotten about,” Durkin said. “He’s embraced it. I think it’s kind of a mentality he enjoys.”
