Game Notes -- Terps Take on No. 10/9 Florida State

Oct. 24, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

Terps vs. Noles Game Notes (PDF)
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The University of Maryland football team hits the road in search of its second win over an ACC Atlantic Division opponent and looking to keep itself alive in the divisional race as it heads to Tallahassee, Florida, to take on the Florida State University Seminoles. Kickoff from Doak Campbell Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. with the game being televised regionally on ABC Sports and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network (radio pregame starts at 2:00 p.m.).

Maryland (4-3, 2-2 ACC) gave itself opportunities last week against third-ranked Virginia Tech as it forced four turnovers -- double the Hokies' season total coming into the game -- but was unable to capitalize in the 28-9 loss. The Terrapins trailed by only four at halftime but were unable to mount enough offensive momentum to overcome the nation's top-ranked scoring defense. For more on the loss to Virginia Tech, see "Quick Hits, Week Seven."

Florida State became bowl eligible last weekend with a 55-24 victory over Duke in Durham. In the win, quarterbacks Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee each threw for a pair of touchdowns -- three of which went to Greg Carr -- while accounting for 376 passing yards and helping the Seminole offense to 539 total yards.

This week's game is the second of three road contests in a four-game stretch for the Terrapins. In addition, beginning with the Temple game, the Terps will finish the season playing four of its final six games away from home.

Maryland is not ranked in either poll this week but did receive one vote in this week's USA Today Coaches poll. Florida State is ranked 10th in the Associated Press and ninth in the USA Today Coaches' polls, respectively. The Terrapin's last win over a ranked opponent was a 45-33 win over Virginia on October 1st.

Series Notes -- Terps vs. `Noles

Saturday's contest marks the 16th meeting between the Terrapins and Seminoles. The two teams first played in 1966 with a regular series beginning with FSU's joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1992. Florida State had won all 14 games prior to last year.

Maryland earned its first-ever win in the series last year when it topped the fifth-ranked Seminoles, 20-17, in College Park. In an otherwised troubled season, the Terrapins pulled things together offensively and defensively on Halloween Eve for its first victory over a Top 5 opponent since 1983.

In last year's win, QB Joel Statham was 21-of-40 for 333 yards and a touchdown while the Terp defense limited Florida State to just 50 yards rushing and forced a pair of interceptions. TB Josh Allen's 72-yard run after a swing pass from Statham was the play of the game while, notably, the Terps controlled time of possession in the game, 34:45 to 25:15.

Overall, Florida State has been in control of the series, with the Terps coming no closer than 14 points prior to last season.

In the three meetings under Friedgen prior to 2004, Maryland's problems with the Seminoles had largely been a result of their own miscues. In those three games, the Terps turned the ball over 11 times (seven interceptions, four fumbles) -- mistakes that have resulted in 42 Seminole points off of turnovers.

In the last meeting in Tallahassee, the Terrapins' struggles were primarily on the offensive side of the ball. The team had yet to snap out of an early-season offensive slump and was only able to muster 197 total yards against the `Noles. Linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was the star of the game for the Terps as he intercepted Chris Rix's first pass of the game, ran over Rix and TB Lorenzo Booker on the way to the end zone for Maryland's only TD of the game. Jackson later blocked an FSU field goal in what was the first trip to his home state as a collegian.

On-field history aside, the Terrapins have one other positive note in regard to their history with the Seminoles. In winning the ACC Championship outright in 2001, Maryland became the first team to hold the title since the `Noles joined the league in 1992.

Scouting the Seminoles

Florida State enters this weekend's game with the Terps perched atop the ACC's Atlantic Division with a 6-1 record (4-1 ACC). The Seminoles are ranked 10th nationally (ninth in the coaches' poll) and are coming off of a 55-24 win over Duke.

The Seminoles suffered their first loss of the season two weeks ago when they fell at Virginia, 26-21. The Cavaliers and Wake Forest are the only two common opponents for the `Noles and Terps (FSU beat Wake, 41-24).

Like Maryland this year, Florida State has been more successful passing the football than it has throwing. FSU ranks sixth nationally and best in the ACC in pass offense (333.4 ypg) while it ranks 87th nationally (and 10th in the ACC) in rush offense at 117.0 yards per game.

The Seminoles' tradition-rich defense has been once again strong. This year's group ranks in the Top 25 nationally in rushing (19th/107.1 avg.), total (10th/286.0 avg.), scoring (15th/17.43 avg.) and pass defense (14th/178.9 avg.).

First-year starter Drew Weatherford has been solid at quarterback for FSU. The redshirt freshman leads the ACC in total offense and passing average while ranking fifth in passing efficiency.

Defensively, FSU has a number of standout players. Among them are the other two ACC linebackers to join D'Qwell Jackson as semifinalists for this year's Butkus Award, A.J. Nicholson (55 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2 int.) and Ernie Sims (28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 int.).

Senior Kamerion Wimbley has been the team's top pass rusher, accounting for 7.0 sacks and 8.5 TFLs, both in the Top 5 in the league.

Florida State's Bobby Bowden

Bobby Bowden is in his 30th year at Florida State, a program he has molded into a perennial powerhouse in college football. In his time in Tallahassee, he has posted a 284-71-4 record while his career record stands at 357-103-4.

Bowden has the most wins of any active coach. His 19 bowl victories are second only to Joe Paterno, with both coaches trailed by legendary names such as Paul "Bear" Bryant, Tom Osborne and Lou Holtz, to name a few.

Bowden is the only coach in college football history to post 14-straight 10-win seasons which he accomplished from 1987-2000.

Under Bowden, the Seminoles have had nearly unprecedented success in bowl games, going 19-8-1 in his tenure. Bowden's career record in bowl games gives him the best win percentage of any coach in NCAA history, surpassing the .692 of another Bobby, legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd.

Local Ties

The Terps have nine players who call the Sunshine State home: TB Josh Allen (Tampa/finished his final year of high school in Maryland); WR Nolan Carroll (Green Cove Springs/Clay HS); OG Garrick Clig (Port Orange/Spruce Creek HS); TB J.P. Humber (Lakeland/George Jenkins HS); LB D'Qwell Jackson (Largo/Seminole HS); DE Jermaine Lemons (Tampa/Thomas Jefferson HS); LB Marvin Peoples (Apopka/Apopka HS); WR Terrell Skinner (St. Petersburg/Boca Ciega HS) and OG Donnie Woods (Dade City/Thomas Jefferson HS).

Florida State has no players or coaches with ties to the state of Maryland.

Quick Hits, Week Six

Maryland held Virginia Tech to 63 yards and no points in the first quarter, marking the first scoreless quarter of the year for the Hokies. Virginia Tech's seven first-half points were a season low for a half.

The Terrapins goal line stand on fourth down from their own one-yard line produced a fumble (forced by Milton Harris) which was recovered by Gerrick McPhearson. That recovery marked the first fumble Tech had lost this season (it had 10 fumbles and recovered them all coming into the game).

The Terrapins intercepted Tech QB Marcus Vick three times, marking a career-high for Vick, who had thrown only two interceptions in the Hokies' first six games this year. The Hokies turned the ball over four times in the game, two more turnovers than it had all season coming in.

Safety Milton Harris helped stop a Virginia Tech drive with his first career interception, just the third this season thrown by Marcus Vick and the third for the Terrapins this season as a team.

D'Qwell Jackson's third-quarter interception against the Hokies was his first of the season and fifth of his career.

Attendance was 54,838 for the Virginia Tech game, the largest crowd of the season and the second-largest in school history.

Select Company

Ralph Friedgen's 36 wins in his first four years as a head coach ranks tied for 10th in NCAA Division I-A history for fourth-year coaches. His company on that list is noteworthy.

Nestled between Nebraska's Tom Osborne (9th) and Boston College's Frank Leahy (12th) stands Friedgen and a coach who Terp fans may recognize -- current defensive coordinator Gary Blackney. Blackney posted a 36-8-2 record at Bowling Green from 1991-94.

Though he was the top third- and fourth-year coach in ACC history by wins, the order to finish atop the list in his fifth will be tall. Maryland will have to win four games for Friedgen to tie the mark of 44 wins set by Clemson's Danny Ford from 1979-83. Now seven games into his fifth season, Friedgen has 40 wins which ties him with UNC's Dick Crum (1978-81) in the third spot. With a victory over FSU, he will move into a tie for second with former Terrapin mentor Jerry Claiborne (1972-76).

A Wealth of Experience

Atop the Maryland coaching staff are a head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator who combined, have as much experience as nearly any threesome in Division I-A football. Between Ralph Friedgen, Charlie Taaffe and Gary Blackney, there is a combined 97 years of full-time coaching experience at either the pro or collegiate levels.

Only two other programs can boast more experience at the top of their coaching staff than Maryland's near century of experience. Penn State leads the way with Joe Paterno (HC), Galen Hall (OC) and Tom Bradley (DC) accounting for 117 years of experience, while Florida State is second with Bobby Bowden (HC), Jeff Bowden (OC) and Mickey Andrews (DC) accounting for 101.

The coaching experience on the Terrapin staff does not end with Friedgen and his coordinators. The Maryland staff of position coaches, overall, possesses a combined total of 212 years of full-time experience at either the collegiate or pro levels.

That total includes five coaches (excluding Friedgen, Taaffe and Blackney) who have been at it for 15 years or more, and the 212 years means an average of over 21 years of experience per coach on the 2005 staff.

Coaching Connections

Ralph Friedgen is not the only member of the Terrapin coaching staff with previous ties to College Park, though this is his fourth stint at Maryland (player from 1965-68; graduate assistant from 1969-72; offensive coordinator/offensive line coach from 1982-86 and the present stint).

Defensive line coach Dave Sollazzo was a graduate assistant for the Terrapins in 1984 and defensive line coach in `86-87.

As stated previous, Sollazzo is also one of several coaches with a connection to another school -- The Citadel. Sollazzo played for (1974-76) and helped coach (1989-98) the Bulldogs, while Friedgen coached there from 1973-79. Charlie Taaffe was a head coach there from 1987-96 and outside linebackers coach Al Seamonson served there from 1987-99.

Friedgen was actually Sollazzo's position coach at The Citadel. In addition, the head coach at the college at the time was former Terp mentor and current Army coach Bobby Ross (Bulldog head coach from 1973-77; Terps from `82-86).

It's Not How You Start...

Since 2001, Maryland has now started the season 1-2 a total of three times. With the inexperience of this year's team and the strength of the ACC, a rebound like those of year's passed is questionable, but it is still of note how those other team's finished considering the Terps have now won three-straight since a 1-2 start.

Maryland started 1-2 in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In `02, the Terps went on to win eight-straight and ultimately 11-of-12 down the stretch, finishing the season 11-3, Peach Bowl champions and ranked No. 13 in the country.

In 2003, the Terrapins ran off wins in nine of their last 10 games after opening the season with a win and a pair of losses. That year, the team finished 10-3, beat West Virginia 41-7 in the Gator Bowl and was ranked 17th in the final Associated Press poll.

This year, the Terps started 1-2 and are now 3-1 since.

Raising the Bar

With its win on October 8th over Temple, Maryland has 40 victories over its last four-plus seasons.

The Terps' total of 36 wins from 2001-04 was the second-highest four-year win total in school history. Maryland's top effort was 37 wins under Jerry Claiborne from 1975-78.

The 2004 season marked the first time in Friedgen's tenure that the team failed to win 10 games. In the 108 years of football prior to Friedgen's arrival, Maryland had never put together three straight nine-win seasons much less 10 like the Terps' did from 2001-03.

Since 1892, Maryland has had seven 10-win seasons, three of which have come in Friedgen's four-plus years.

Sam Quarter-bach

In the last two seasons, all eyes have been on the quarterback position at Maryland. Last year, there was little mention of Sam Hollenbach (pronounced HALL-un-bock) as a serious contender for the job, but a start against Wake Forest in the 2004 finale and the ensuing strong overall play in `05 makes it clear the Terrapin coaching staff to have found their man.

Hollenbach had found the bottom of the depth chart in his first two years, struggling both with the offense and with delivering the football. Perseverance, work and a change in his throwing motion, however, have steadily moved him to the starting job and early season success.

In his first seven games this season, the Pennsylvania native is 127-of-203 (63 percent) for 1,671 yards with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also rushed for two TDs.

Against #19/18 Virginia, Hollenbach didn't start slow, but the way he finished made it seem like it. Two early interceptions dogged the Pennsylvania native, but his final three quarters showed no fear as he completed 18 of his final 22 passes for 249 yards. On the day, he finished 25-of-33 for 320 yards with a pair of TDs and interceptions. His completion and yardage totals were both career highs.

Entering this week, Hollenbach is 5-3 in his career as a starter and has a pass efficiency rating of 135.8, fifth-best in the ACC.

Hollenbach is currently second in the ACC in total offense with an average of 249.9 yards per game and in passing average with 238.7.

How He Stacks Up

Below is a look at how Sam Hollenbach compares to the other three starting quarterbacks (Shawn Hill, Scott McBrien and Joel Statham) in their first seasons under Ralph Friedgen and Charlie Taaffe (through seven games).
Player Att-Cmp-Int TD Yds. Eff. YPG S. Hill 208-122-6 7 1,453 122.7 207.6 S. McBrien 139-76-4 6 1,169 133.8 167.0 J. Statham 160-87-9 7 1,072 113.8 153.1 S. Hollenbach 203-127-9 8 1,671 135.8 238.7

Receivers Having Big Year

One of the noticeable differences in this year' steam besides the play at quarterback has been that of the team's receivers under first-year coach Bryan Bossard.

Through seven games a year ago, Maryland's leading receiver was Derrick Fenner, who had caught 20 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers accounted for 50 receptions and 659 yards.

By comparison, this year's top three wide receivers -- Danny Melendez, Jo Jo Walker and Fenner -- have posted 71 receptions for 927 yards. The third-leading wide receiver (Fenner) has one more reception than he did as the team's leader at this point last year.

The team's top producer in the passing game this year has actually been TE Vernon Davis who has 28 receptions for 538 yards and three TDs.

Green Shells

Last year's Maryland team was a young bunch, but this season, the Terrapins are even more green than last.

Friedgen likes to throw out a note about the number of players on the roster with three or more years eligibility remaining, but his number (58) has been based on a look at student-athletes receiving financial aid.

A look at the entire roster is astounding. A total of 72 Maryland players are sophomore or younger with 47 of those Terps being freshmen (redshirt or true).

Through seven games, Maryland has had seven true freshmen and 13 redshirt freshmen see action.

With DE Jeremy Navarre starting in game one and OT Jared Gaither in game four, the Terps have had a true freshman start the earliest in a season in Friedgen's tenure on either side of the ball.

Noting the Terp "D"

When he was hired to come to Maryland, the talk about the mark Ralph Friedgen would make in College Park was all about offense. In each of the four seasons heading into 2005, however, the most consistent Terp unit was the defense.

Since 2001, the Maryland defense has allowed an average of 18.7 points per game and has yet to finish a season with a scoring average above 20.0.

Since 2001, 38 of Maryland's 57 opponents (67%) have been held to 20 points or less.

Since 2002, Maryland has held its opposition scoreless in 84 quarters (11 in 2005). When it held Virginia Tech scoreless in the first quarter of this year's game, it became the first team to hold the Hokies scoreless in any quarter through seven games of 2005.

Maryland has held eight opponents to 100 yards or less passing since 2001 and two (Navy and West Virginia) this season.

In Blackney's tenure, Maryland has held its opposition below 100 yards rushing 13 times.

In week five of this year, Virginia's Marques Hagans became the first quarterback since Chris Rix in 2003 to throw for more than 250 yards against Maryland. Hagans was 17-of-35 (.485) for 270 yards and no TDs against the Terps.

Just twice since game two of 2003 has a quarterback been able to pass for more than one touchdown against the Terrapins (Virginia Tech's Bryan Randall last year and Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst in week two of this season).

The Terps' effort in game four of this year was its first true notable accomplishment of 2005. The Terrapins held Wake Forest to just 244 yards of offense, but more importantly, 111 on the ground, 159 below the Deacs' average coming into the game.

Though it struggled holding Virginia Tech in check in the fourth quarter this year, the Maryland defense did have at least one notable accomplishment against the Hokies as it intercepted QB Marcus Vick three times (Vick had only been picked twice in his previous six games of the season).

Blackney's "D" Pulling Rank

Since Gary Blackney arrived in 2001, Maryland's defense has consistently been among the national leaders in several categories. Below is a look at some of the defense's accomplishments in that time (bold denotes Top 30 national ranking):

		2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Total Def.:	30	36	15	21	37
Scoring Def.:	18	7	6	27	40
Pass. Def.:	82	52	12	8	6
Pass. Ef. Def.:	34	36	17	16	38

In addition to the ranking in categories listed above, it is notable that in 2001 the Terps finished ninth in the NCAA in rushing defense, seventh in turnovers gained, and ranked second nationally (behind Miami) with 24 interceptions.

Jackson A Butkus Semifinalist

D'Qwell Jackson was considered undersized as a prep. He began his career playing in the shadows of a legend (E.J. Henderson) early in his career. Now a senior, the leader of the Terrapin defense has been through just about everything and has emerged as the unquestionable leader of the Maryland defense, a major awards and All-America candidate, and one of the top defensive players at any position in the country.

On Thursday of last week, Jackson was named one of 10 finalists for this year's Butkus Award by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando. He was one of three ACC players named to the list and the first Terrapin since E.J. Henderson, who won the award in 2002.

Jackson has led the Terrapin defense in tackling in each of his two-plus years as a starter (136 in 2003; an ACC-best 123 in 2004; and now an team-leading 83 in 2005).

Thus far in `05, Jackson leads the nation with an average of 13.8 tackles per game.

After missing the Temple game due to injury, Jackson returned to the lineup against No. 3 Virginia Tech and finished with a team-high 11 tackles and an interception -- his first of the year -- which he returned 21 yards to the Hokie 33-yard line.

Against No. 19/18 Virginia, Jackson led the team in tackles with 14 while recording a sack and a half TFL.

Against West Virginia, Jackson moved into the Maryland career top 10 with his 359th tackle (he currently stands sixth with 393).

Jackson's performance in week one against Navy helped him earn ACC Player of the Week honors for his position. He has been named the league's player of the week four times in the last two years.

The fiercest competitor on the Terp roster, Jackson has led Maryland in tackles in 19 of 30 games the last three years and all six of the games he has played in this year. He has also had 18 career games with double-digit tackles (in 30 starts).

Jackson -- a first team All-ACC selection who finished second in balloting (by two votes) for Defensive Player of the Year honors -- averaged 11.2 tackles per game last year, making him the lone player in the league to average 10 or more tackles per game.

A preseason first or second team All-American on nearly every major publication's preseason list, Jackson was on the watch lists of the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards this year, as well as the Butkus.

Turnover Low in `06

In addition to the high number of young Terps taking the field this year, the more experienced Maryland players -- in terms of their academic eligibility -- are somewhat few and far between, leaving the team with likely much the same look next season.

Maryland has 16 seniors on its current roster, with two of those seniors -- OT Stephon Heyer and TB Josh Allen -- may return next season.

Heading into the eighth game weekend of this year, just eight of 22 listed starters are seniors.

On defense, the Terps will lose a total of just four players from its entire two-deep to graduation following this year.

The Terrapin offensive line has just two seniors listed on its 10-man two deep.

The Duke

One of the most physically-gifted players in the history of Maryland football, TE Vernon "Duke" Davis is in the midst of what could best be called a breakout season in 2005.

Davis led the team in receiving yards last year from his H-back position, posting 441 yards (on 27 receptions) in what could best be described as a down year for Maryland's pass offense. Through seven games this season, it is clear he is going to easily surpass those marks.

Davis currently leads the Terps with 28 receptions for 538 yards and three touchdowns. His 76.9 yards per game receiving is second-best in the ACC and third-best nationally among tight ends.

Davis is averaging 19.2 yards per reception, an amazing number for a tight end (and nearly five yards better than each of the two tight ends ahead of him in the national rankings).

In catching five passes for a career-high 158 yards against West Virginia, Davis became the first Maryland player to record back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since 1995 when Jermaine Lewis posted 205 yards on nine catches (9/23/95 vs. Duke) and 189 (9/28/95 at Georgia Tech) in consecutive contests.

Against Clemson, the Washington, D.C. native had his first big game of 2005. He finished with a career-high six receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown, often dragging tacklers with him if not running by them.

For his efforts against both Clemson and West Virginia this year, Davis was named John Mackey National Tight End of the Week.

Named to the Mackey Award watch list this season after being named the national tight end of the week for his play against Duke last year, Davis' strength numbers are unparalleled in Terp history by a tight end. His spring 2005 testing numbers included a 460-pound bench, 685-pound squat, 40-inch vertical jump and a time of 4.41 in the 40-yard dash.

Turtles in Name Only

Though this year's Maryland team is again a young one, it is also notable that team speed and athleticism have improved as the current coaching staff's recruits are fully integrated into the system (2005 will be the first year there will have been no holdovers from the previous staff's recruiting efforts).

The Terrapins had 14 players run in the 4.5-or-better range in the 40-yard dash in spring testing (note that all times are an average of six stopwatches on the same sprint).

Five of the 12 wide receivers who tested in the spring ran 4.54 or better, two tailbacks ran 4.5 or better (Lattimore and Merrills) and five defensive backs ran under a 4.5 (Barnes, McPhearson, Taylor, Wilson and Gardner).

Two receivers who did not test -- newcomers Darrius Heyward-Bey (10.54 100m) and Danny Oquendo (7.46 55mH) -- were among the top prep sprinters in the nation this past track season.

Two notable times -- CB Gerrick McPhearson broke Renaldo Nehemiah's school record with a 4.21; Vernon Davis, at 250 pounds, ran a 4.41.

Ennis Steps Right In

Junior Dan Ennis started his career at Maryland having never kicked in an organized football game. In addition, he was working behind the ACC's all-time leading scorer Nick Novak, a player who still had two-years eligibility remaining. Despite those obstacles, Ennis worked to get better each year and the results are now showing.

In his first season as the Terrapins' placekicker, Ennis has been about as good as the team could ever expect in its first seven games. Thus far in 2005, Ennis has connected on 12 of his 16 field goal attempts and all 16 PATs.

Ennis opened this season connecting on 11-straight field goals before missing his final two kicks at a rain-soaked Temple in week six.

This week, Ennis ranks 10th nationally in field goals and fourth in the ACC with a 2.0 per game average.

Podlesh Moving Up the Charts

Junior Adam Podlesh settled into his career at Maryland before the ink had dried in the record books on his predecessor Brooks Barnard's strong career. Though Podlesh has not cracked all of Barnard's records yet, Maryland finds itself with arguably the most complete and versatile punter in the nation.

Last season, Podlesh maintained a 44.8-yard average (second-best in the ACC and 10th-best in the nation) while his net average (39.4) led the ACC and was also seventh in the NCAA.

On 141 career punts, Podlesh has dropped 36 percent (51) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

With a 45.5-yard average heading into this week, Podlesh does not have enough punts per game to qualify in the conference or nationally. His average, however, would rank sixth nationally and second in the ACC. The Terps are 19th nationally in net punting average (37.6).

Podlesh had one of his best games as a Terp at Wake Forest this year. Dueling the ACC's other top punter, Ryan Plackemeier, Podlesh posted a 49.7-yard average on six punts with three balls downed inside the 20-yard line. In addition, his net average for the day was an impressive 47.7 yards per kick.

In being named the second team All-ACC punter in 2003, Podlesh became the first freshman in school history to be recognized by the league. He earned the honor for the second-straight season in 2004.

Tough Losses

Two weeks into August, the 2005 season had not yet begun, and already the team suffered a number of significant losses due to injury.

Prior to spring ball, it was announced that TB Josh Allen would miss 2005 recovering from a knee injury suffered in the last game of 2004. Allen will enter 2006 sixth on the team's all-time rushing touchdown list (21) and 11th on the career yardage list (1,860).

Just a week into fall camp, the team lost its top offensive lineman, as left tackle Stephon Heyer tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Heyer entered 2005 with 24 straight starts under his belt, most on the offense.

A day after Heyer's injury, redshirt freshman LB Erin Henderson also tore his ACL. Henderson was a backup at two linebacker spots and was playing well in addition to working with a number of units on special teams.

Iron Terps

Maryland's strength numbers over the course of the last five years have been off the charts. This season, 30 players earned "Iron Terp" status, an honor that is based on a player's strength index (determined by a strength/weight formula). That total is the second-highest in team history.

Team averages in categories used to measure index this season include an average bench press of 337 pounds; an average squat of 516 pounds; an average clean of 295 pounds; and an average vertical jump of 33-1/2 inches.

Not only were new individual records set, but the team as a whole improved dramatically, as 89 percent of the players on this year's team elevated their personal bests in strength index. By comparison, 72 percent had bettered their numbers in 2004.

Vernon Davis' strength feats were mentioned earlier in the release, but other notable accomplishments include QB Sam Hollenbach setting team records in index (701), squat (600) and clean (320) and P Adam Podlesh posting a best-ever mark for a punter with a 315-pound clean a year after setting the record in the 40-yard dash (4.46).

By the ranking system used at Maryland, TB Mario Merrills is the team's strongest player pound-for-pound after setting a record strength index for a running back with an 814.

Players Mentioned

Nolan Carroll

Erin Henderson

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Jermaine Lemons

Jeremy Navarre

Danny Oquendo

Terrell Skinner

Footer