Head Coach Ralph Friedgen

(On his feelings about this year)
"I'm excited about the season. It seems like we just finished the Gator Bowl and now we've got a very young team that's very enthusiastic and has a lot of talent. I would like to see how they develop in the coming weeks. Obviously, the first thing we're looking for is someone to fill in for Scott McBrien at quarterback. Whoever it is is going to be a young one without a lot of experience so the sooner we can arrive at that, the better. This is a team that has worked very hard in winter, spring, and now in the summer. I think this is one of the better summer's we've had. We're very excited and we know our fans are as well."

(On cornerback Domonique Foxworth)
"I think Domonique Foxworth is the leader of the football team. I've been coaching 35 years and I don't know if I've come across a kid who's as special as Domonique, not just as a football player but as a person. How he works, how he works in the classroom, how he works on the field, what kind of leadership he has -- he's going to go far in life. I think he's interested in pro football but after football; he's going to be a very successful person. Last year, he played very well and made first team All-ACC, but I think he played even better this spring. His technique has gotten a lot better since spring practice and I really think he's going to excel this year."

(On paring down the playbook for a young team)
"We started that at the end of the spring practice. We cut things back and tried to install only what we thought our quarterbacks could handle. We're not putting in as much as we have been in the past. We're trying to narrow it down, do the things we need to do and try do them well. I'm fairly pleased with where we're at right now. It's nice to see how we've improved over the summer. Since this is such a young team, we need to give them a few more scrimmage situations."

(On quarterback Joel Statham's development)
"I have been pleased with Joel for the most part, other than the first half of the spring game. His decision making has been excellent. The ball's going to the right place at a lot time. What we have to do better is finish the play. We've got to throw the ball more accurately; sometimes we've got to catch the ball better; but to me that's the hardest part. That's the biggest part that Shawn and Scott had trouble with. I think Joel is ahead of both of them at this point going into the fall. I'll expect him to be much improved from where he was in the spring." Wide Receiver Steve Suter

(On the upcoming season)
"It is not going to be easy because we have a lot of young players. We are going to have a lot of new players stepping into new roles. We are excited to go into camp and see what happens. We have a lot of young talent but everybody has a lot of passion and you can see it when we are out there practicing. It is not going to be an easy road but we have the players with character to get it done."

(On the quarterback battle)
"I am more than confident in Joel (Statham) or Sam (Hollenbach) or whoever steps up and accepts the number one spot at quarterback. They are going to know that they are going to have a lot of playmakers around them and people who are going to watch their backs and help them out when they are struggling. They are young and they are going to have the same growing pains that everybody else goes through. They are going to also know that we have the confidence in them and that whoever steps up, we will back them 100 percent."

Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson

(On why he chose Maryland)
"I wanted to be apart of something big and that is one of the reasons why I chose to come here. We have a program on the rise. That is what we have been doing for the past three years. By bringing in better recruits every year, we are going to get even better and more people will know about us."

(On being a team leader)
"I am a firm believer in leading by example. My freshman year I had the privilege of learning from E.J. Henderson and the way he led. You just take that role and I have always felt the way to lead is by example. All I want to do is to gain confidence in my teammates and the other 10 players on the defensive side of the ball. It's a constant struggle but you have to strive to get better and be the best you can."

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth

(On being a senior)
"A lot of the young guys just replicate the actions of the older guys. The leaders on the team are really excited and animated and full energy and the younger guys just repeat that activity. We are not very experienced as a whole, but we have some very experienced players who can lead the younger guys. There is no reason why we can't continue our success."

Placekicker Nick Novak

(On his senior season)
"I don't think there is any added pressure because it is my senior season. Obviously I want to do very well but I am not trying to think about it too much. I am just going to take it one kick at a time."

(On expectations for the team)
"Our expectations are to win a national championship. We have a national championship from 1953 and I think it's time that we win another one. We also want to win another ACC championship. This program is on the up we are getting better athletes and better students. Coach Friedgen doesn't just look at the athletic talent, he also looks at the character of a person. All these guys here are great guys and I am honored to be a part of this team.

Offensive Guard C.J. Brooks

(On expectations for the upcoming season)
"I think we have the potential to have another really good season. Hopefully we can make it back to 10 wins or even more. The biggest thing we have to adjust to is the youth of our team and the youth at some key positions such as the quarterback position."

(On his role as a leader)
"It is definitely different to be in a leadership role, but you fall into it naturally. You just have to take charge because it's your last time around. You have to also be ready to do big things but make sure everybody else is on the same page as you are."