Football Practice Report No. 9
8/18/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
At 5-9, 187 pounds, Steve Suter ranks as one of the smallest Terps on Maryland's 104-man football roster.
But when it comes to assessing the top fall-camp performers among his troops, second-year head coach Ralph Friedgen rates him among the biggest.
The sophomore wide receiver has solidified his role as one of the Terps' leading wideouts with his consistent effort and heads-up play during the first week of two-a-days. In Saturday's first scrimmage, the diminutive Suter shared the team lead with three receptions, including a pair of sideline-hugging grabs against tight, man coverage. He finished the workout with three catches for 47 yards.
"Steve Suter is improving daily," says Friedgen of Suter, who hails from Manchester, Md. "What pleases me so much is he is becoming a very confident player."
Suter put together a stellar prep career at North Carroll High School, where he earned first team all-state honors and honorable mention All-America mention from USA Today during his senior season of 1999. He redshirted the 2000 season at Maryland but saw action in only four games a year ago when a broken index finger on his left hand prevented him from making a bigger impact.
Now healthy, Suter has emerged as one of the Terps' team leaders and a coach on the field, according to Friedgen.
"He's a very intelligent receiver and he's helping his teammates by telling them what the coverage is, or if he sees the blitz coming he's able to communicate that to the quarterback," says Friedgen. "Last year he was young and I didn't know if he would be able to play for us. He was supposed to be fast but it seemed he never played fast. Part of that was probably because he was thinking so much. To see where he is now is what coaching is all about. Where before he may have experienced frustration, now he is in total control of his own game and very proud about it."
Suter currently is listed No. 1 on the depth chart at the slot position, but he's versatile enough to play at other wide receiver spots, according to Friedgen. In addition, he heads the Terps' punt returning depth chart.
If that's not enough, Suter is an Iron Terp who this past off-season set Maryland's all-time records for wide receivers with a 741 strength index, a 550-pound squat and 330-pound clean.
The message: don't mess with Steve Suter.
