March 15, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland hosted its annual Pro Day today in College Park with a host of former players showing their wares in front of National Football League scouts. Representatives from 25 teams put the Terps through their paces in front of a crowd of over 100 spectators that included scouts, media, former and current players.

The group of players featured 11 recently-departed Terrapins and former Terps Dennard Wilson, Sammy Maldonado and Mike Whaley. Also in attendance were former Terrapins Domonique Foxworth, Steve Suter and Bruce Perry, among others, who were there in support of their former teammates. Also of interest was the appearance of former Terrapin head coach Mark Duffner who was there scouting for the Jacksonville Jaguars after having recently been named that team's linebackers coach.

Tight end Vernon Davis and linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and William Kershaw did not test with the rest of the group, accepting the work they had done at the February NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The trio participated at the end of the day in individual workouts out on the football practice fields.

The lone player who did test after having gone to the combine was cornerback Gerrick McPhearson, a player who made a marked improvement over his effort in Indianapolis, knocking an estimated tenth of a second off of his time at the combine. McPhearson blazed to a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash, the best of the day.

McPhearson was not the only Terp to excel in the sprint, however, as he was one of four players who ran under a 4.4 on the turf at Cole Field House. Derrick Fenner, Danny Melendez and Jo Jo Walker all clocked in at a 4.34, the best times they have run at Maryland. Also of note was a 4.45 registered by safety Milton Harris.

In the bench press, tailback Mario Merrills was the star of the day, putting up 225 pounds 28 times. Tight end Derek Miller posted 22 reps, quite a feat with his long arms, while Maldonado put up 21.

Several Terps also did well in the vertical jump. Fenner and Melendez each skied 41 inches with Merrills and Walker leaping 39 and Harris posting a 38.5.

All told, it was a great offseason testing-wise for the Terps with the numbers posted today and at the combine, an event where Davis was widely-held as the most impressive of any player, regardless of position.

Spring Game to be Televised
This year's spring game will be televised by ESPNU it was learned by athletics department officials today. The game, held April 29 at 3:00 p.m., could be televised live or tape delay. Information about a specific time and date will be posted on UMTerps.com as it is learned.