July 12, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The following is the final installment of the 2006 Maryland Football Outlook. 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 takes a look at the Terrapins' defensive backs and specialists. The Terps open camp in four days and kickoff their 2006 campaign in under a month. Fans interested in tickets can purchase here at UMTerps.com or see the phone numbers at the bottom of this page.
Defensive Backs
Friedgen credits Tim Banks, a former college defensive back and a Gary Blackney disciple from his days at Bowling Green, for the work he has done with the secondary following Blackney's retirement last year. Banks has done nice work with the returning players, but where his coaching has shown is with several of the younger defensive backs.
Senior Josh Wilson is the anchor of the group at boundary cornerback. Wilson is one of the team's fastest players, good in coverage and is arguably one of the best corners in the league in run support. He is also versatile enough to move to field corner if called upon. Sophomore Kevin Barnes works behind Wilson and - along with Jamari McCullough - is coming off of a very good spring. At 6-1, Barnes is the team's tallest corner and a a good leaper. McCullough showed a nose for the ball in spring and made great strides over last season, giving the Terps added depth. Redshirt Adam Kareem and newcomers Pha'Terrell Washington and LaQuan Williams will also work on the boundary side.
There will be competition for playing time at field cornerback. Junior Isaiah Gardner will look to lock down the starting job in fall. The former Notre Dame transfer played well last season and will look to make use of what might be the secondary's all-around most athletic frame (sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash; 42-inch vertical). Challenging Gardner will be Richard Taylor - another player who has made great strides in the last year - and Anthony Wiseman, the second-year player who seems fully recovered from a knee injury suffered his senior year of high school and back to his speedy ways. Two newcomers, Brandon Jackson-Mills and Taji Thornton, will also get their first crack at playing time on the field side.
Senior Marcus Wimbush heads the list at strong safety playing the pass better than he has at in point in his tenure. A big hitter, Wimbush will get competition from former Navy cornerback Hunter Reddick and second-year player Jeff Allen. Reddick will give the team versatility in nickel and dime packages with his cover ability and showed in the spring that he is a playmaker.
Christian Varner enters his second year as the team's starting free safety. Varner is instinctive and brings another big hitter to the defensive backfield. His cover skills are improved and he brings leadership to the secondary. Fellow junior J.J. Justice has also stepped up his skills in coverage and will compete with Varner at the spot. Justice runs well for a player his size and is has played both safety spots, giving the Terps even more versatility.
"I couldn't be happier with the job Tim Banks has done," said Friedgen. "Players like Josh Wilson we didn't have to worry about - we knew we would be okay there. But where I have seen a difference is in players like Jamari McCullough and Kevin Barnes. Even a player like Marcus Wimbush. They just seem to be more comfortable with what they are doing and I think Tim has done a great job communicating with them. It has improved our depth and improved competition."
Specialists
Maryland returns nearly every player in key special teams slots this year. It did not lose a kicker, punter or snapper and appears to be in good shape in the returns.
Senior Dan Ennis and sophomore Obi Egekeze will be at it again in the fall, working to determine the team's starting placekicker. Ennis got off to a fast start last season, hitting his first 11 field goals, but had a little trouble down the stretch, opening the race back up. Egekeze injured his leg in camp last year and was never a factor, but hopes to display the strong leg that had him highly-touted as a prep. He will also be in a battle for kickoff duties with Chris Roberts.
Entering his final season, Adam Podlesh is a viable All-American candidate at punter. Podlesh has had three outstanding seasons to date, displaying any quality the Terps could have hoped for out of the position - distance, hang time, directional kicking and placement.
The long snapping duties will be manned by Andrew Schmitt, while Brendan McDermond will handle short snaps. The Terrapins enter this season with the second-longest streak in the nation for games without a punt block, dating back to November of the 1999 season (Georgia has the longest streak with its last block taking place in September, 1999).
The lone loss from last season was Jo Jo Walker, one of the league leaders in all-purpose yards. Handling punts will be Danny Oquendo, a tough player whose good hands won him the job. Josh Wilson will open the year getting a look returning kicks, giving the team a speedy breakaway threat at that spot.
"We need to improve at kicker," said Friedgen. "Its as simple as that. I don't know if I need to put more pressure on them, but that is what I am going to do and we will see who comes out best. Adam Podlesh is one of the best punters in the country and hopefully he closes his career with his finest season. He has given us all that we could have asked to this point."
Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com:
Offense/Quarterbacks Posted July 13
Tailbacks/Fullbacks Posted July 18
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends Posted July 20
Offensive Line Posted July 25
Defense/Defensive Line Posted July 27
Linebackers Posted August 1
Secondary/Specialists Today
Other important dates:
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).
