Football Enters Year 2 of Ron Vanderlinden Era
6/21/1999 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 2, 1998
Youth was served a year ago when the University of Maryland opened up the Ron Vanderlinden era, and it's certain to be on the Terrapins' plate again in '98.
Maryland lists 24 freshmen or sophomores on its preseason two-deep, 10 of whom will enter fall camp No. 1 at their respective positions. A year ago, in Vanderlinden's inaugural season as head coach, 13 freshmen -- true and redshirt -- saw significant playing time, including nine who started at least one game.
This season, as Vanderlinden and Co. continue their efforts to rebuild the Maryland program, the second-year coach says a shortage of depth at a number of positions will mean early playing time for several underclassmen.
"We've had a productive off-season and spring practice," says Vanderlinden, who knows all about rebuilding Division I-A football programs, having been intimately involved in successful turnarounds at both Colorado and Northwestern. "Particular improvement has been made physically at most positions. But a lack of depth will require several of our underclassmen -- including freshmen -- to vie for significant playing time, including starting positions."
Offensively, the major task facing the Terps will be replacing quarterback Brian Cummings, who was at the controls for most of the past three seasons and figures prominently on major Maryland passing lists. Sophomore running back LaMont Jordan is a prominent returnee who will be joined by three starters on the offensive line and most of the wide receiver corps.
Defensively, Maryland will feature one of the nation's top linebacker duos -- Kendall Ogle and Eric Barton, who finished 2-3 in the ACC in tackles a year ago -- but must revamp both the front four and secondary units.
A difficult schedule awaits the Terps, who faced the nation's 22nd-most demanding slate (according to the Sagarin Ratings) last season. All told, Maryland is scheduled to face five teams coming off bowl appearances and seven which posted winning records in '97. The opposition's cumulative .562 winning percentage in '97 is the second-highest among ACC schools.
A breakdown of the Terps by position:
Quarterback:
A pair of juniors -- Ken Mastrole and Trey Evans -- are expected to resume their spring battle this fall for the right to replace Brian Cummings, who started 25 games over the past three seasons and finished his career listed among the top five on most major school passing categories.
Mastrole, a 6-3, 225-pounder, saw limited duty as a sophomore in '97 after starting three games in 1996. He holds a significant edge in game experience over the other quarterbacks, having thrown 108 career passes as a Terp. As a sophomore last season, Mastrole made seven relief appearances and threw 19 passes while backing up Cummings, who is now playing in the CFL. Two years ago Mastrole became the first quarterback in school history to start as a redshirt freshmen when he took the field vs. West Virginia. He went on to play a total of eight games in '96, completing 36 of 89 passes for 354 yards and one touchdown before breaking his collarbone vs. Duke.
"Ken has the only game experience and the most practice reps of the quarterbacks on our roster, and he will be given every opportunity to step up and assert himself in this role."says Vanderlinden.
Evans, also a fourth-year junior, has seen scant duty as a Terp but has positioned himself for a run at the starting job by improving his arm strength, accuracy and ability to run the offense.
"Both players made significant progress learning and executing the new Maryland offense during the spring," says Vanderlinden. "Mastrole has a strong arm and better than average mobility for a player his size. Evans demonstrated the ability to make plays under pressure in the spring."
Behind Mastrole and Evans are a pair of redshirt freshmen, Gil Harris and Erik Lipton, and incoming freshman Calvin McCall (Orlando, Fla.).
Running Back:
Sophomore LaMont Jordan, last year's runner-up for ACC Rookie of the--Year honors, headlines the Terps' stable of running backs. A 5-11, 214-pounder out of Forestville, Md., Jordan is coming off a rookie campaign in which he established Maryland freshman standards for rushing yards (689) and attempts (159). His 689 yards ranked eighth nationally among true freshmen running backs, and his 920 all-purpose yards led all ACC freshmen.
Jordan, a 1998 preseason All-ACC selection who accounted for 71 percent of the Terps' rushing yards last season, became the first rookie in Maryland history to register two 100-yard rushing games, turning the trick in games vs. Temple (135) and North Carolina State (126). His effort in the win over Temple earned him ACC Rookie of the Week honors. Jordan averaged 4.3 yards per carry and finished third on the team with 22 receptions in '97.
"LaMont Jordan has demonstrated the ability, speed and power to be rated among the ACC's best backs." says Vanderlinden.
Behind Jordan at the tailback spot are junior Harold Westley and sophomore Mukala Sikyala, Jr. The 5-7, 178-pound Westley rushed for 421 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a freshman in '96 before being shifted to wide receiver last year. Now bigger and stronger, Westley has returned to his more natural running back position, where the Terps hope to take advantage of his breakaway speed. Sikyala, a walk-on, also figures to contribute at this spot after a solid spring performance.
A newcomer to watch is Marc Riley, a 6-3, 205-pounder out of Coram, N.Y., who was rated among the Terps' top signees this past February.
At fullback, the Terps return a pair of lettermen in sophomore Matt Kalapinski and junior Kenny Rogers. The 6-1, 225-pound Kalapinski, a tough inside runner and tenacious blocker, is back after picking up valuable playing experience as a true freshman, when he made four starts while appearing in all 11 games. Rogers, a 5-9, 198-pounder, is a versatile back who can also be utilized at the tailback spot. Also on the depth chart at the fullback position are Frank Mentzel and incoming freshman Chad Killian, an all-state choice out of Pittsburgh, Penn. Wide Receiver:
The Terps return seven lettermen who totaled 89 catches for 1,195 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Leading the way is redshirt sophomore Moises Cruz, who topped the team in receptions (29) and receiving yards (337) in '97. Cruz, who was not charged with a drop last season, had at least four receptions in five games in '97, including a season-high six grabs (for 91 yards) vs. Ohio.
Cruz enters fall camp listed No. 1 on the depth chart at the slot position, where he is backed up by returning two-year letterman Bruce James and one-year letterman Keon Russell. James, a 5-8, 173-pound senior, has totaled 47 catches for 511 yards and one touchdown in his career, but has been hampered by injuries.
At flanker, junior walk-on Jermaine Arrington moved to the top of the depth chart following an impressive spring showing. A 5-9, 172-pound junior who has the speed to get deep, Arrington showed flashes of big-play potential during spring drills.
Pushing Arrington at the flanker spot will be three returning lettermen: sophomore Omar Cheeseboro, senior Kendrick Walton and sophomore Doug Patterson. Cheeseboro, who was slowed in the spring by a pulled hamstring, is expected to be one of Terps' top playmakers in '98. Last year, the 6-2, 190-pound Cheeseboro led the team in touchdown catches (4) while finishing tied for fourth on the squad in receptions (14) and second in average yards per catch (14.7). Two of his four TD receptions came vs. North Carolina State.
Walton, a three-year letterman, rates as one of college football's truly inspirational stories in '98. The 6-2, 181-pounder missed the end of the '97 season and all of spring drills after developing a cancerous tumor in his mouth, but opted to return for his final collegiate season even though it means playing without most of his lower teeth, which had to be removed during surgery. Patterson is a true sophomore who totaled nine catches and averaged 13.7 yards per catch as a freshman in '97.
Sophomore letterman Jason Hatala, a 6-0, 174-pounder, heads the depth chart at split end, where he is backed by fellow sophomore Curtis Jones. Hatala last season averaged 20.4 yards per catch on 11 receptions, totaling a Maryland freshman record 129 receiving yards in a victory over Duke.
Incoming freshmen who will get a look from the coaching staff are Maurice Shaw (Suitland, Md.) and Guilian Gary (Horseheads, N.Y.).
Tight End:
The Terps have improved themselves at this position with the addition of Wisconsin transfer John Waerig, and the development of sophomore Mike Hull and redshirt freshmen Eric James and Matt Murphy. True freshman Todd Wike, one of the prominent signees in the Terps' 1998 recruiting class, joins the fold following a stellar prep career in Lebanon, Pa.
Waerig, a 6-2, 261-pounder, played the 1994 and '95 seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to Maryland, where he redshirted the '97 campaign. A tough, physical tight end, he is an outstanding blocker and above-average receiver who figures to be an impact player for the Terps in '98.
Hull, who has added weight and strength in the off-season, was one of the Terps' top freshmen a year ago, making 10 starts and totaling 13 catches for 185 yards and one touchdown. James and Murphy, both of whom continue to progress in the Maryland system, return after redshirting in '97.
Offensive Line:
The coaching staff is expecting significant improvement from the Terps' offensive front, which returns three starters from a year ago. "Our intent," says Vanderlinden, "is to put the best five linemen on the field, so there could possibly be several position changes before we settle on a starting unit. We are looking for ability, toughness, and a relentless attitude."
Anchoring the offensive line is 6-7, 299-pound senior John Feugill, an 11-game starter at right tackle in '97 who has had 23 starting assignments during his Maryland career. A preseason All-ACC choice by Athlon, Feugill "was the most consistent performer on the 1997 offensive line and is looked to be the leader in that group this season," says Vanderlinden.
The Terps also return starters in 6-2, 271-pound sophomore Ben Thomas and 6-5, 284-opound junior Brad Messina. Thomas, an 11-game starter at center as a redshirt freshman, "has the ability and now the experience to assert himself as one of the better centers in the ACC." says Vanderlinden. Messina, an 11-game starter at left guard, has shifted to left tackle where the coaching staff wants to take advantage of his size and athleticism in their bid to replace Darryl Gilliam, who made 32 starts during his four-year Maryland career. Backing up at the tackle spots are three-year letterman senior Ryan Rezzelle (6-8, 282), redshirt freshman Mike Sherman (6-o4,302) and sophomore Brett Trammell (6-5, 295)
At right guard, 6-3, 292-pound junior letterman Jamie Wu leads the race to replace the departed Pat Ward, a 22-game starter during his Terrapins' career. Wu is backed by 6-5, 284-opound redshirt freshman Chris Snader and 6-4, 290-pound sophomore Timm Howard. At left guard, 6-3, 278-pound junior Eric Timothy and 6-4, 287-pound redshirt freshman Mike George are waging a close battle for the starting job.
Three freshmen newcomers include guard Bob Krantz (Clifton, Va.), center Sam Marvis (Greensburg, Pa.) and tackle Matt Crawford (Moravia, N.Y.).
Defensive Line:
Junior nose tackle Delbert Cowsette is the lone returning starter on a defensive front that is undergoing some major reconstruction. The Terps must replace three senior starters from a year ago, including Eric Ogbogu, a sixth-round draft choice of the New York Jets who was the South team's defensive MVP in the Hula Bowl.
"Having lost starters in Eric Ogbogu, Eric Hicks and Johnnie Hicks, all of whom saw their eligibility expire, there will be an opportunity for several young players to step up and fill the gaps," says Vanderlinden.
Cowsette, 6-1, 270, is a key returning veteran the coaching staff will look to for leadership and performance. An 11-game starter in '97, Cowsette led the Terps in tackles for losses (10) and ranked fifth on the squad in total tackles (63) last season. He has appeared in 22 games and recorded more than 100 tackles during his career. He is backed by 6-3, 267-pound redshirt freshman Melvin Fowler, Jr.
At the other inside position is sophomore letterman Kris Jenkins, a 6-5, 282-pounder who showed vast potential while logging some significant playing time as a true freshman in 1997. Jenkins saw action in all 11 games last season, finishing the campaign with 17 tackles. Behind Jenkins on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Derrick Jones, a 6-1, 257-pounder, and 6-2, 264-opound sophomore Jason McCauley.
Manning the defensive end positions going into fall camp are senior letterman Rasheed Simmons and junior letterman Peter Timmins. The 6-5, 244-pound Simmons, a former Michigan transfer, was a five-game starter in '97 who totaled 32 tackles and a pair of sacks. The 6-3, 240-opound Timmins has been shifted to defense after starting much of last season at the H-back spot.
"Rasheed Simmons improved steadily throughout the '97 season and has a chance to emerge as a solid defensive tackle in the ACC," says Vanderlinden. "Timmins has shown the quickness and ability to get off blocks and make plays that you look for at that position."
Lending depth behind Simmons are 6-3, 237-pound junior Eric Calendine and 6-1, 246-opound redshirt freshman Albert Surman. Backing Timmins is 6-1, 238-pound junior Jomo Huggins and 6-2, 231-pound senior walk-on Chris Hayes. The Terps will also take a look at a host of newcomers on the defensive front, including Nate Rust, Jr., a junior college transfer from Lackawanna JC who is expected to be in the mix at a defensive end position. The other newcomers are all freshmen: 6-3, 235-pound Durrand Roundtree (Baltimore, Md.), 6-2, 245-opound Charles Hill (Palmer Park, Md.), 6-2, 255-pound Todd Bradley (Yorktown, Va.) and 6-4, 220-pound William Shime (Ft. Washington, Md.).
Linebacker:
Maryland returns one of the nation's top linebacker tandems in seniors - Kendall Ogle and Eric Barton, who finished 2-3 in the ACC in tackles last season. The pair combined for 272 tackles in '97 and have totaled 471 stops in their careers.
"Both are among the premier linebackers in the nation," says Vanderlinden of the Butkus Award candidates. "They possess the size, speed, tenacity and instincts to finish their careers as the top linebacker duo in the ACC, if not the country."
Ogle, the ACC's leading returning tackler, finished with 138 total stops in 1997, second only to Clemson's Anthony Simmons. He registered double-digit tackle efforts in nine of 11 games in '97, including a career-best 17 vs. Clemson. The 6-1, 231-pound Ogle, who takes a streak of 22 consecutive starts into '98, is backed by redshirt freshman Reggie Lewis and true freshman E.J. Henderson (Aberdeen, Md.).
Barton, a preseason second team All-American by U UAthlon U Uand U UBob Griese, U Uenters his final collegiate campaign with 258 career tackles, including an ACC-best 85 solo efforts last season. A 6-3, 229-pounder who has made 23 career starts, Barton registered 48 tackles during one four-ogame stretch last season despite playing with a cast on his right hand. In 1996, he became only the second sophomore in school history to lead the team in tackles when he totaled 106 stops. Behind Barton on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Monte Graves and sophomore Jon Watkins.
At the bandit linebacker spot, the Terps were dealt a serious blow during spring ball when junior Erwyn Lyght, a nine-game starter who finished sixth on the team in tackles in '97, was sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Waging a battle to replace Lyght in the starting lineup are a pair of freshmen -- 6-1, 225-pound Ryan Swift and 6-1, 220-opound Aaron Thompson -- who are coming off redshirt seasons.
Secondary:
The Terps head into the '98 season minus the services of three starters, including free safety Lewis Sanders, prompting Vanderlinden to label this unit "the area of greatest concern on defense and an area where we need to come of age quickly."
Sanders, the Terps' fastest player and most consistent defensive back last season, will sit out the '98 campaign while he continues to rehabilitate nerve damage in his right shoulder suffered in the season finale vs. Georgia Tech. A year ago, Sanders finished tied for third in the ACC in interceptions (4) and ranked third on the team in tackles (74). He also played an important role on special teams, ranking fifth in the ACC in kickoff return average (24.2).
Paul Jackson, a 5-11, 192-pound two-year letterman, is expected to step in and replace Sanders at the free safety spot. Paul Jackson, who is backed up by 6-1, 202-pound sophomore Tony Jackson, saw significant playing time as a junior a year ago, totaling three interceptions and 27 tackles in 11 games. Tony Jackson saw limited playing time in '97 but has shown an ability to be a playmaker -- he had two interceptions last year and eight pickoffs this past spring.
Sophomore Shawn Forte, who missed the entire 1997 season with a broken leg, is bidding to replace departed strong safety Henry Baker, who finished fourth on the team in tackles (66) and shared the team lead in pass breakups last season. Forte is being pushed by redshirt freshman Chris Sanders, a converted cornerback. Four newcomers -- true freshman Randall Jones (Frederick Md.), Tyrone Stewart (Washington, D.C.), Rod Littles (Gainesville, Fla.) and Marlon Moore (Brandywine, Md.) -- are expected to provide help at the safety positions.
The corner positions entering fall drills are manned by a pair of two-year lettermen: junior Lynde Washington and senior Cliff Crosby, both of whom came out of spring ball ranked among the most improved players in their unit. Washington, a 5-8, 175-pounder who started seven games a year ago, registered 37 tackles and three pass breakups in '97. The 5-10, 172-opound Crosby, a four-game starter in '97, totaled 28 tackles in six games. Backing up at the corner positions are senior letterman Quinzy Fraser and juniors Bryn Boggs and Mike Castleberry. The Terps will have two newcomers at cornerback: Renard Cox, a junior college transfer out of Lackawanna JC in Pennsylvania, is expected to step in and make immediate contributions, and true freshman Tony Okanlawon of Forestville, Md.
Kicking Game:
Sophomore kicker Brian Kopka returns after sharing the team lead in scoring (30 points) last season. Kopka, who became only the third true freshman to kick for the Terps, took over the placekicking chores in the season's fourth game and went on to convert six of 10 field goal attempts and 12 of 13 PAT tries in '97. Kopka earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors following the Duke game, when he connected on all three of his field goal attempts in a 16-10 Maryland win. Pushing Kopka for the starting placekicking chores is senior Brad Rhodes, a three-year letterman who has made 10 of 11 PAT attempts and 2 of 6 field goal tries during his career.
Senior Russ Edwards is back as the team's starting punter after posting a 38.0-yard average as a junior in 1997. Edwards will be challenged for the starting job by third-year sophomore Sean Starner, who saw limited action last season.
