July 12, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the third in a seven-part series previewing the 2006 University of Maryland football team. The Terrapins open fall practice on August 7th in preparation for their season opener against William & Mary at Byrd Stadium on September 2nd.

Today's edition of the outlook for 2006 details the Terps' prospects at wide receiver and tight end, players who will likely be key to a proficient offensive attack. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the Terrapins' August 7th Media Day 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).

Wide Receiver
The Terp trio of Derrick Fenner, Danny Melendez and Jo Jo Walker have moved on, leaving the team without 109 of the 210 balls caught last season. That pretty much sums up the team's concerns at the position headed into 2006.

On the positive, the five players recruited for last season all appear to have panned out from a talent perspective, a feat not often achieved in a single signing class. This year's group of receivers, though lacking experience, have the athletic intangibles that few - if any - have ever had at Maryland.

At the "X" spot, second-year players Isaiah Williams and Terrell Skinner will square off for the starting job. Williams is the total package athletically, but has not put it all together on the field. If he is able to, the team will have a top-flight receiver. Skinner is a quiet, go-about-your-business player who Friedgen praises for his toughness on a regular basis. A former quarterback, Skinner runs well, has long arms and made plays when given a chance in the spring. Sophomore Matt Goldberg is the veteran of the group while first-year player Adrian Cannon could also be a factor as the most highly-touted incoming receiver.

The team's most experience will reside at the "Z" spot where Drew Weatherly, one of just two senior wide receivers, resides. In the offseason, Weatherly looked like the player the Terps thought they had when he arrived on campus with then-wide receiver Vernon Davis. He has good size and speed and looked in the spring like he will be able to utilize that this season. Sophomore Danny Oquendo (the starter in the slot) will back up Weatherly. Oquendo is quick and hard-nosed and has become one of the quarterbacks' favorite targets because of his reliable hands. Another player who may be a difference-maker is redshirt freshman Darrius Heyward-Bey, the fastest player on the team. Heyward-Bey is a field stretcher and as he continues to learn the offense, could become a major factor. True freshman Emani Lee-Odai will also work at "Z."

Behind Oquendo in the slot is the fifth 2005 signee looking to make his mark, Nolan Carroll. Carroll started making his move midway through last year, showing he had overcome an injury suffered as a prep and looks as though the move from the outside was the correct one. He is quick and has shown the ability to make plays in traffic. Senior Greg Powell is a steady receiver who will help from an experience standpoint while Stephen Smalls, the team's best leaper (47-inch vertical jump), will look to learn the offense.

"I like the group of receivers we have," said Friedgen. "You can't lose as much as we lost and just expect to move on without a hiccup. My hope is that they continue to progress throughout the season and give us some of what we see from an athletic standpoint. They should be a good group, it is just a matter of when."

Tight End
The ACC's top receiver and the Terps' top offensive player of a year ago has departed for the National Football League and has left in his wake shoes that no one expects to be filled completely. But what the Terrapins still have in the fold will hopefully add up to close to what has been lost with the departure of Vernon Davis.

Much in the same mold as Maryland's other departed tight end, Derek Miller, Dan Gronkowski and Joey Haynos will enter the season atop the depth chart serving as the squad's "big" tight ends. Both are over 6-5, have added size and strength in their last few years in the program and improved as blockers. What they have to offer in the passing game is not yet known, but both have good hands. Gronkowski's transition from quarterback, which he was when he arrived at Maryland, has been one of steady improvement while in the spring, Haynos showed the ability to get down the middle of the field and use his height to make plays.

The other player fitting the "big" tight end mode is Tommy Galt, a redshirt freshman who could get a look in multiple tight end or goal line formations.

The Terrapins do not utilize an H-back the way they did two years ago, but with the departure of Davis and the addition of Friedgen as offensive coordinator that could change that a bit. Junior Jason Goode and true freshman Drew Gloster each have the versatility to catch, block and split out wide. Goode has yet to break out but will be counted on to provide more of a spark to the passing game. Goode and Gloster both run well and could provide Friedgen with potential matchup problems for a defense as they progress.

"Our tight ends did better in the spring than I anticipated," said Friedgen. "Gronkowski and Joey Haynos both block pretty well. Are they Vernon Davis? No. But they are two good tight ends and hopefully they can continue to improve."

Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com:
Offense/Quarterbacks        Posted July 13
Tailbacks/Fullbacks         Posted July 18
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends   Today
Offensive Line              Tuesday, July 25
Defense/Defensive Line      Thursday, July 27
Linebackers                 Tuesday, August 1
Secondary/Specialists       Thursday, August 3

Other important dates:
ACC Media Kickoff           July 22-24
Start of Camp/Media Day     Monday, August 7
Season Opener               Saturday, September 2
ACC Opener (at Ga. Tech)    Saturday, October 7

For season ticket information, please call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070 or (800) IMA-TERP (8377).