Terrapin Football Outlook Part IV
7/10/2003 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 10, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the fourth in a 10-part series previewing the 2003 University of Maryland football team. The Terrapins open fall camp on August 4th in preparation for their season opener at Northern Illinois on August 28th.
Today's portion of the outlook for 2003 features takes a look at the wide receiver position, a spot that is full of promise as the season approaches. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of July for a breakdown on each component of this year's team (a complete list of when each position's synopsis will be posted on umterps.com can be found at the bottom of this page), a squad ranked by most preseason publications in the top 15 nationally.
Wide Receiver
Numbers will not be an issue at wide receiver in 2003. The Terrapins have upwards of 10 receivers likely to earn significant playing time. The big question is who among those who take the field will make the next step and give the team a consistent big play threat.
On one side, seniors Latrez Harrison (Atlanta, Ga.) and Jafar Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) give the team a pair of starting-caliber players. Both have outstanding size (6-3, 225 and 6-2, 212, respectively) and both have shown flashes of big play capability. Harrison is probably the team's best blocking receiver and should be improved over last year -- his first playing the position after starting his career at quarterback -- a season that saw him finish third on the team with 20 receptions and 369 yards and a pair of TDs. Williams was the team's second-leading receiver (28 rec., 562 yards, 2 TD) and will again be a player the team looks at to transform his athleticism into a breakout year.
Harrison and Williams will be backed up at the "X" receiver spot primarily by redshirt freshman Paschal Abiamiri (Randallstown, Md.), junior Maurice Shanks (Hampton, Va.) and newcomer Drew Weatherly (Georgetown, Del.). Abiamiri had a strong spring game (2 TDs) and has good speed while Shanks offers another big target (6-4) to the mix.
On the opposite side, junior Steve Suter (Manchester, Md.) enters the season atop the depth chart. Though he missed spring and will have to catch up a bit at the start of fall camp, Suter made his way to the top of the depth chart outside with the big play ability he displayed last season. Suter is one of the most dangerous players in the ACC in open space and one of the fastest players - if not the fastest player - on the team. He will still see time in the slot, the position he manned a year ago, but will be given a shot outside with the slot in very capable hands.
Joining Suter at the "Z" will be a group of relatively young receivers who can best be characterized by their potential. Sophomores Dan Melendez (Lancaster, Pa.) and Derrick Fenner (Hampton, Va.) are similar players on many counts, giving the Terps speed, precise route running and good hands. Either or both could blossom into the type of receiver Friedgen and staff are looking for. Onnie Onwuemene (Silver Spring, Md.) has shown athleticism that will at least have him continuing to flourish on special teams while incoming freshman Vernon Davis (Washington, D.C.) is a high school All-American with outstanding speed (10.7 in the 100-meters) and size (6-4, 225). Davis will likely see time at a number of different spots to best utilize his skills.
Sophomore Jo Jo Walker (Carrollton, Texas) finished last season looking better and better with each practice and continued with his improvement in the offseason. He is as quick as any player on the team and replaces Suter atop the depth chart as the team's slot receiver. Adding to the depth and talent at the slot is Rich Parson (Newark, Del.), another lightning-quick player who can get down the field.
Overall, it is a group from which the offense can draw from any number of players and the hope being that a few will step up and give the team a threat that will keep opposing safeties from creeping in.
"Our wide receivers are a pretty experienced group and, to me, should be one of the strengths of our team," said Friedgen. "We have a good mix of players who have game experience and some young, talented players. We seem to make the tougher plays as opposed to the easy ones sometimes but if we can get more consistency there - like at quarterback - I think we will see our offense make quantum leaps."
Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com: Offense/Quarterbacks Tuesday, July 1
Tailbacks Thursday, July 3
Fullbacks Tuesday, July 8
Wide Receivers Thursday, July 10
Tight Ends Tuesday, July 15
Offensive Line Thursday, July 17
Defense/Defensive Line Tuesday, July 22
Linebackers Thursday, July 24
Defensive Backs Tuesday, July 29
Specialists Thursday, July 31
For season ticket information, please call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070 or (800) 462-TERP (8377).
