2002 Football Outlook, Part VIII
8/9/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 9, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the eighth and final installment of an eight-part series that has taken a look at each facet of the 2002 University of Maryland football team as it prepares for its first day of full-squad workouts on Saturday. With the season opener against Notre Dame looming on August 31st, this series first looked at the offense and the quarterback position (July 30); the running backs (Aug. 1); wide receivers and tight ends (Aug. 2); the offensive line (Aug. 5); the defense and defensive line (Aug. 6); the linebacking corps (Aug. 7); the defensive backfield (Aug. 8); and the special teams (today).
PART VIII: SPECIAL TEAMS
One thing Maryland was sure of as it entered last season was that it would boast one of the best punters in the country. A year later it can extend that claim as it stands to have one of the most complete kicking games in the country if it can only maintain the level at which it performed in the second half of last season.
Brooks Barnard returns for his senior year and his final bid at the Ray Guy Award. Barnard has been in the top seven nationally in each of the last two years and has been a weapon for the Terps in terms of field position. A first team All-ACC selection last year, Barnard stands to close his career as Maryland's all-time punting leader as he carries a 43.9-yard career average into the season. In spring ball, he also showed ability on kickoffs, a role he will challenge for in the fall while also serving as the Terrapins' holder on field goals and extra points.
The placekicker spot started off a bit shaky a year ago, but was solidified by year's end and ultimately became one of the strong points of the team. Nick Novak earned honorable mention All-ACC honors after a tremendous start to his collegiate career a year ago. He showed moxie in a game-winning kick at Georgia Tech and consistency the remainder of the year while hitting 12 of his final 14 field goal attempts in the regular season with his only misses coming from 50 and 62 yards, respectively. Novak worked to improve his leg strength in the offseason and heads into 2002 as the Terps' top placekicker. Newcomer Adam Podlesh will also be in the mix at kicker.
One position that will see some competition this year is long snapper. Jon Condo was strong in the position last year while Jesse Kluttz has come on in the offseason and improved his snapping skills
Among the names to watch in the return game are Mario Merrills, Steve Suter and Rich Parson. Merrills showed the ability to find the seam on kickoffs in the spring while Suter looked good in that role as well as on punts. Parson showed promise last season handling kickoff and punt return duties.
"Our special teams are in good shape, but there will still be competition," said Friedgen. "We had some guys perform well last year and we anticipate to be in at least that good of shape this year. Brooks (Barnard) is a weapon for us and I hope that Nick can continue on the track that he got on in the second half of last season."
