Seventeen-year-old Maryland linebacker has plenty of growth potential
At age 17, Alex Twine should still be at Quince Orchard High in Darnestown, preparing for the Cougars’ region championship game Friday against Churchill.
Instead, Twine is way ahead of schedule, thriving as a linebacker for the University of Maryland. On Monday, the freshman was named ACC rookie of the week after making 12 tackles, including three for losses and a sack, in the Terps’ 45-21 loss to Notre Dame.
Recommended Stories
In a 2-8 season, in which Maryland has lost eight straight games to FBS schools, one of the few positives has been the play of true freshmen such as Twine, defensive end Keith Bowers, and safety A.J. Hendy.
In a season in which he expected to redshirt, Twine has started three games. He was the third freshman linebacker forced into the lineup due to injuries. The 6-foot, 220-pound Twine is one who has remained a starter after the return of Darin Drakeford and Demetrius Hartsfield.
“Last year I was getting ready for my high school playoff game,” Twine said. “Now I’m playing Notre Dame at FedEx. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Twine got his first action in week four against Towson. In his first start, against Clemson, Twine made eight tackles from his weakside linebacker slot. In his second start, against Virginia, Twine had 10 tackles.
Given his age, Maryland coach Randy Edsall was hesitant to plug Twine into the lineup, but had little choice.
“He has been thrown into everything because of his skill and injuries,” Edsall said last month. “And I am worried about how he will be able to handle his school work.”
Few have come as far as fast as Twine, who turns 18 next month. He started school a year early and at QO his lack of maturity showed – on and off the field. As a high school sophomore, he was academically ineligible. As a junior, he was a 175-pound reserve cornerback.
“One day I came in and made a really big hit, then coach put me at linebacker,” Twine said. “I was a real small linebacker.”
But as a senior growth came quickly as Twine was the Montgomery County Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year.
Blooming late kept Twine off the radar of college recruiters. When last season was over, Twine’s lone offers were from FCS schools such as UMass and James Madison. But in December, the efforts of QO coach Dave Mencarini to deliver Twine to Maryland finally bore fruit. Five days after the Terps offered a scholarship, Twine accepted.
“I’m still young and I still have time to grow,” Twine said. “I just feel like over the years, when I hit my spurt, I’m getting bigger and bigger. Another year, hopefully I grow up.”
