Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, January 23, 2015

Maryland?s Big Ten debut was a success by most measures, as Randy Edsall led the Terrapins to a third-place finish in the East with a 7-6 overall mark and 4-4 Big Ten record.

Maryland will welcome back some good talent in 2015, including kicker Brad Craddock and cornerback William Likely, who were both consensus All-Big Ten selections. Craddock won the Groza Award as the nation?s top kicker. Likely had two pick-sixes and ran back a kickoff and a punt for a TD. Safety Sean Davis-the team?s second-leading tackler–and linebacker Yannick Ngakoue also are back after earning some postseason honors.

Edsall has some key players to replace to keep competing in the uber-competitive Big Ten East, including wideout Deon Long and linebacker L.A. Goree. Here are the five Terrapins that will be most difficult to replace.

QB C.J. Brown. He started all 13 games, hitting 53.4 percent of his passes for 2,288 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Brown also led the team in rushing with 539 yards and eight TDs.

WR Stefon Diggs. He was limited a bit by injury but still was able to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and honorable mention by the media. Diggs led the team in receptions (62), receiving yards (792) and receiving touchdowns (5).

LB Cole Farrand. He was an active force who led the team with 118 tackles. Farrand also made 5.0 tackles for loss and broke up seven passes, showing aplomb vs. the run and the pass. He was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten selection.

DT Darius Kilgo. He tallied 43 tackles with 8.0 tackles for loss and two sacks, helping stuff the lanes for opposing running backs. Kilgo was honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media.

DT Andre Monroe. At 5-11, 282 pounds, Monroe was a sawed-off force on the interior who was quick, strong and difficult to block. Monroe led Terrapin defensive linemen in tackles with 61, and paced the squad with 14.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He was named second-team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable mention by the coaches.

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About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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