Patrick Stevens The Washington Times - August 13, 2008, 10:32AM

One of the things that makes Maryland junior Nolan Carroll an intriguing option at cornerback this season is his size.

In today’s dead tree edition, I mention he’s one of the largest cornerbacks the Terrapins have employed in recent memory. And, of course, I feel the need to offer proof.

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Carroll is 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds. Among his goals for the season, he told me, is “to intimidate people.”

By size alone, he’ll probably do better than most of Maryland’s corners of the last decade. Here’s a look at every guy who has started at corner for Maryland since 1999 (data from each year’s media guide):

 

Cornerback Ht. Wt.
1999
Renard Cox 6-0 189
Tony Okanlawon 5-11 
 180 
Lewis Sanders 6-1 200
2000
Curome Cox 6-1 192
Tony Okanlawon 5-11 193
Andrew Smith 6-0 196
Dennard Wilson 5-11 188
2001
Curome Cox 6-1 185
Domonique Foxworth
5-11 175
Tony Okanlawon 5-11 186
Dennard Wilson 5-11 183
2002
Curome Cox 6-1 199
Domonique Foxworth 5-11 175
2003    
Jamal Chance 6-1 203
Curome Cox 6-1 199
Domonique Foxworth 5-11 169
2004
Domonique Foxworth 5-11 178
Reuben Haigler 5-10 186
Gerrick McPhearson 5-10 190
Josh Wilson 5-9 180
2005
Isaiah Gardner 5-11 194
Gerrick McPhearson 5-10 194
Josh Wilson 5-10 182
2006
Isaiah Gardner 5-11 194
Josh Wilson 5-9 187
2007
Kevin Barnes 6-1 188
Isaiah Gardner 5-11 197

Obviously, these numbers can be fudged a bit; just take a look at Josh Wilson growing an inch heading into his junior year and then shrinking by an inch by the time he entered his final season.

But all things being equal, Maryland would have two starting cornerbacks who are 6-foot or taller for the first time since 1999 if Carroll and Kevin Barnes start. And while some of those smaller guys turned out to be pretty good (Dominique Foxworth, Curome Cox and Wilson spring to mind), Maryland’s secondary will at least have a bigger-than-usual look this season.

—- Patrick Stevens