Maryland Closes Out Homestand Saturday vs. Clemson
10/22/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Oct. 27
Maryland (4-3, 1-2 ACC)
vs.
Clemson (5-2, 2-2 ACC)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium (51,500)
TV: ABC - Dave Lamont (play-by-play), James Hasty (color) and Joe Schad (sidelines) have the call.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. XM Satellite Radio Channel 191. Pregame with Gary Stein and Scott McBrien begins at 2 p.m. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (10 affiliates): LIVE 105.7 FM (WHFS) - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN Radio 1300 AM (WJFK) - Baltimore (Flagship); WJFK 106.7 FM - Washington D.C.; WTBO AM 1450 - Cumberland; WFMD AM 930 - Frederick; WARK AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WMSG AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WMED 1460 AM - Easton; WPTX 1690 AM - Lexington Park, Md.
In the Red Zone...
• The University of Maryland had its two-game winning streak snapped Saturday with a heart-breaking 18-17 home loss to Virginia. The Terps close out their three-game homestand Saturday when the Clemson Tigers visit College Park for an ACC Atlantic Division matchup. The teams will face off at 3:30 p.m. in Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium with the game being televised regionally on ABC. The Terps, who are in the midst of four home contests in a five-game span, will look to even their ACC record at 2-2. The Tigers are currently third in the Atlantic Division with a 2-2 mark. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network will handle the broadcast of the matchup with pregame starting at 2 p.m. The game will be replayed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30 on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.
• The Terps come into the weekend ranked 51st nationally in total defense (358.6 ypg), including the 42nd-ranked pass defense (205.43 ypg). Maryland got its top playmaker back in Saturday's Virginia game when junior linebacker Erin Henderson returned to the lineup. Henderson missed the Georgia Tech game (Oct. 6) with a knee injury, but returned vs. the Cavaliers to post a career-high 18 stops. He is among the top tacklers in the league for the second straight year, ranking first in stops. He is also tied for third in the country in tackles (12.3 pg). He has led the team in tackles each game he has played this season. The junior was a preseason All-American and is a Butkus Award semifinalist. He is also on the watch lists for the Nagurski Trophy, and Bednarik Award. Junior LB Dave Philistin, a first-year starter, picked up the slack vs. the Yellow Jackets with a career-high 21 tackles. Senior tackles Dre Moore had a pair of sacks vs. Virginia and leads the team with four. Junior cornerback Kevin Barnes is tied for fourth in the league in interceptions (0.50 pg).
• The Terps offense, which was been decimated by injuries, is led by a solid ground game, which features senior backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore. Lattimore ranks third in the ACC and 46th nationally in rushing (89.9 ypg), and has tallied a league-high nine rushing TDs. Maryland's 157.4 rushing yards per game ranks second in the ACC. Lattimore and Ball combined for over 200 yards vs. No. 10 Rutgers, which was ranked third in the nation in total defense entering the game. Clemson ranks second in the ACC in total defense (289.7 ypg), including ninth in rushing defense (143.0). Sophomore WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, a member of the 2007 Biletnikoff Award watch list, leads the team in receptions (27) and receiving yards (419). Senior guard Andrew Crummey, a preseason All-American and candidate for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, is the leader on the offensive line, but he is shelved indefinitely with a fractured leg. The Terps also lost left guard Jaimie Thomas (likely for the season) when he fractured his right fibula in the first quarter of the Virginia game. Sophomore Chris Turner has stepped under center for junior Jordan Steffy who is in his first year as a starter. Steffy has missed the last two games due to the effects of a concussion suffered at Rutgers. Turner has completed 37 of 56 passes for 507 yards over the last 10 quarters of action. He has also not thrown an interception since replacing Steffy.
• The Terps special teams has distinguished itself well after seven games despite three new starters. True freshman Travis Baltz took over for Adam Podlesh at punter and junior Obi Egekeze replaced Dan Ennis as the place-kicker. Baltz ranks seventh in the ACC in punting average (41.5). He averaged a career-best 49.6 yards per punt vs. Georgia Tech (Oct. 6) and ranks first in the ACC in punting average (46.1) in league contests. Egekeze has hit 6 of 10 field goals, with two of the misses coming from beyond 50 yards. Redshirt freshman Da'Rel Scott, a backup running back, served as the kickoff return specialist vs. Wake Forest and Rutgers, but sat out vs. Georgia Tech. He returned vs. Virginia. Junior Danny Oquendo is the lone returning specialist. He averages 9.2 yards per punt return, which is eighth in the league.
Quick Hitters...
• Maryland has won 10 of its last 15 games, including six its last 10 conference contests, dating back to last season.
• Maryland is 195-158-4 (.552) all-time in ACC contests, including a 31-20 (.608) mark under Friedgen.
• The Terps had won their last six contests decided by a touchdown or less until Saturday's 18-17 loss to Virginia.
• The Terps' 2007 schedule is ranked 11th-most difficult in the nation, based on past opposition. Maryland's opposition so far this season has posted a record of 23-13 (.639).
• Maryland is completing a three-game homestand Saturday. The Terps haven't played three consecutive home games since the 2002 season when Akron, Florida State, Eastern Michigan and Wofford visited College Park (Sept. 7 - Sept. 28). They haven't played three consecutive conference home games since the 1999 season when Clemson, North Carolina and Duke played at Byrd (Oct. 16 - Oct. 30.).
• Lance Ball became the ninth back in school history to go over 2,000 career rushing yards with his team-high 86 yards in the win over Georgia Tech. He needs two rushing yards to move from ninth to eighth (Willie Joyner [1980-83], 2,140) on the Terps' career rushing chart. With 20 more yards, he'll reach seventh (Alvin Blount [1983-86], 2,158).
• Keon Lattimore needs three rushing yards to move from 17th to 16th (Alvin Maddox [1975-78], 1,571) on the Maryland career rushing list. With 43 more yards, Lattimore will move into the top 15.
• Ball has rushed for six touchdowns over the last three games.
• Sophomore Darrius Heyward-Bey ranks 19th on Maryland's career receiving yards list (1,113) and has a chance to move into the top 10 before season's end despite just 20 games at the position (see chart on pg. 6).
• Since turning the ball over three times in a 31-24 overtime loss to Wake Forest (Sept. 22), the Terps have committed just one turnover in the last three games and are plus two in that category over that time span.
Henderson Doesn't Miss A Beat...
Junior LB Erin Henderson returned to the lineup after missing the Georgia Tech game (Oct. 6) with a knee injury and picked up right where he left off, totaling a career-high 18 tackles against Virginia (Oct. 20). The junior has led Maryland in stops in all six games he has played in this season. It was his 12th career game with double-digit tackles, and his fifth straight. On Thursday Henderson was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best collegiate linebacker, as announced by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (DACO). He ranks first in the ACC and tied for third nationally in tackles per game (12.2).
One-Two Punch...
Senior backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball rank among the top running back duos in the nation and lead the second-ranked rushing offense (157.40 ypg) in the ACC. Lattimore has posted four 100-yard games and tallied 629 yards on the season. His 89.9 yards per game rank third in the ACC and 46th in the nation and Ball's 59.9 ypg are 10th in the ACC. The Terps are the only team in the league with two players ranked among the top 10 rushers. Ball and Lattimore have combined for 17 rushing touchdowns and are on pace to post over 1,800 rushing yards. Last season, Ball and Lattimore combined for over 1,500 yards and were just one of just five running back tandems in the nation to gain over 700 yards apiece.
Did You Know?...
The Terps are one of only two teams in the nation to have two players with eight or more rushing touchdowns and one of four having a pair of players with seven or more. Keon Lattimore's nine touchdowns first in the ACC, while Lance Ball checks in tied for second with eight. Steve Slaton (10) and Pat White (8) of West Virginia are the other duo with eight or more rushing TDs, while Darren McFadden (7) and Felix Jones (7) of Arkansas, Tashard Choice (7) and Jonathan Dwyer (7) of Georgia Tech and Jonathan Stewart (7) and Dennis Dixon of Oregon (7) all have at least seven. Lattimore's nine scores are already tied for 15th on the Terps' single-season rushing TD list, while Ball's 22 rushing touchdowns are sixth on the Maryland career chart.
Injuries Taking a Toll...
The Terps have been hit by the injury bug in some key areas, RG Andrew Crummey, a preseason All-American, could miss the rest of the regular season after fracturing his left fibula vs. Georgia Tech (Oct. 6). Reserve DT Travis Ivey is likely out a number of weeks with a knee injury suffered vs. the Yellow Jackets. LB Rick Costa, who was starting for an injured Erin Henderson, incurred a sprained neck vs. the Yellow Jackets and missed the Virginia game. QB Jordan Steffy sat out vs. Georgia Tech and Virginia after suffering a concussion vs. Rutgers (Sept. 29). The Terps also lost Alex Wujciak, who was expected to vie for one of the starting linebacker roles, during the preseason. The injuries continued Saturday vs. Virginia as starting left guard Jaimie Thomas was lost for the season with a fractured right fibula. FB Cory Jackson also played most of the Virginia game with a broken hand.
Clemson at-A-Glance...
• Clemson (5-2, 2-2) is third in the ACC's Atlantic Division behind Boston College (3-0) and Wake Forest (3-1), and just ahead of Maryland.
• The Clemson offense exploded in the team's 70-14 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday. It was the Tigers' highest point total in 26 years. Quarterback Cullen Harper matched a school record with five touchdowns and completed 20 of 22 passes for 273 yards, as the Tigers ran up 656 total yards of offense.
• As a team, the Tigers rank an impressive 23rd in the NCAA in scoring offense and 30th in total offense.
• Harper leads the ACC in passing efficiency with a 151.55 rating, a number which also ranks 16th in the nation. The junior is completing almost 64 percent of his passes, and has 19 touchdowns through the air this season, with only four interceptions.
• While Harper has excelled in the passing game, opposing quarterbacks have had a difficult time moving the ball against the stingy Tiger pass defense. Clemson ranks third in the nation in that category, allowing only 146.71 yards per game through the air. Clemson stands at 10th in the NCAA in total defense.
• Harper's favorite target has been wide receiver Aaron Kelly, who leads the ACC with 91.00 receiving yards per game. That number is tied for 24th in the country.
• Punter Jimmy Maners is 10th in the country in punting yards (44.57). Saturday's game will mark the third consecutive week that Maryland will face a punter ranked in the top-10 nationally in punting average. (Also Virginia's Ryan Weigand and Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks)
Maryland-Clemson Series History...
• Saturday's game will mark the 55th meeting between the Terrapins and Tigers. The two teams met for the first time in 1952, and have played every year since, with Clemson owning a 29-24-2 edge in the all-time series. Maryland is 11-12-1 against Clemson in games played in College Park.
• The Terps are 4-2 against the Tigers under Coach Ralph Friedgen, including a 13-12 win last season in Clemson. S.C. Prior to Friedgen's arrival, Clemson had taken eight straight and 13 of 14 in the series.
• A year ago, Maryland won 13-12 at Clemson after Dan Ennis nailed a 31-yard field goal as time ran out on the clock. With the victory over the 19th ranked Tigers, the Terrapins moved into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division race.
• Sam Hollenbach led the Terps in that game, completing 23 of 34 passes for 247 yards before a crowd of 79,000 fans. He hit on 11 straight throws during one stretch, including Maryland's only touchdown play, a 7-yard scoring pass to Danny Oquendo.
• The last three meetings between the schools have been decided by a combined eight points. The Tigers triumphed 10-7 in 2004 and 28-24 in 2005 before Maryland's one-point victory last season.
Offensive Notes...
• Maryland has done an excellent job holding the ball and keeping it away from its opponents. The Terps rank 10th in the NCAA in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 32:17 minutes per game. Through their first five games of the year, the Terps led the nation in TOP, averaging 34:48 minutes per game.
• Maryland is winning the time of possession battle partly because it is holding onto the ball. The Terps have only lost 10 turnovers this season, tied for 17th best in the country.
• After taking a 7-3 lead in the first quarter of the Virginia game, Maryland has now outscored its opponents 57-19 in the opening quarter of games this season.
• The Terps posted a season-high 458 yards of total offense vs. Rutgers (Sept. 29) and had over 200 rushing and passing yards for the second time this season (also Villanova). QB Chris Turner came off the bench to throw for 149 yards in his first significant career action.
• One of the foremost offensive minds in the collegiate or pro game, head coach Ralph Friedgen is in his second season as the Terps' offensive coordinator.
• With nine touchdowns on the season, running back Keon Lattimore has now tripled his season total from each of the last two seasons (three).
• Lattimore ran for only 31 yards against Georgia Tech (Oct. 6), his lowest total of the season. Prior to that he had ran for 737 yards in his last seven games, stretching back to last season (119 vs. Wake Forest, 85 vs. Purdue, 106 vs. Villanova, 111 vs. FIU, 80 vs. WVU, 112 vs. WFU, and 124 vs. Rutgers.). His 89.9 rushing yards per game rank third in the conference and 46th in the country. Lattimore had 65 yards vs. Virginia (Oct. 20).
• Lattimore and fellow senior back Lance Ball have become quite familiar with the end zone this season. The seniors have scored a combined 17 touchdowns on the year, and both continue to climb the single-season list for rushing touchdowns. Lattimore is currently tied for 15th on the list with nine scores, while Ball is tied for 17th with eight. Lattimore needs only two more scores to move into the top 10. LaMont Jordan set the single-season record back in 1999 with 16 scores on the ground.
• Only two pairs of Maryland backs have ever rushed for more combined touchdowns in a single season. Chris Downs (13) and Josh Allen (8) totaled 21 in 2002, and Bruce Berry and Marc Riley had 10 each for the Terps in 2001.
• Lattimore and Ball average a combined 14.57 points per game. Lattimore (7.71 ppg) and Ball (6.86 ppg) rank fifth and tied for eighth, respectively, in the ACC.
• The dynamic tailback duo combined for 1,558 yards last season, and have hit the ground running to start 2007. Through seven games this year, the pair have combined for 1,048 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on 239 carries. Lattimore and Ball were one of just five running-back combos in the nation last season to collect over 700 rushing yards apiece.
• Both players continue to climb Maryland's career-list for rushing yards as well. Ball, now with 2,138 yards, stands at ninth place. He is within two yards of Willie Joyner, who is eighth with 2,140. Keon Lattimore's 65 yards against Virginia moved him to 17th on the career rushing list with 1,568 yards. He will open Saturday's game against Clemson only three yards behind Alvin Maddox, who has 1,571.
• Lattimore has rushed for over 100 yards in four of Maryland's seven games this season, a number which is even more impressive considering he is splitting time with Ball.
• Only six players in school history have more than 100-yard rushing games in a season than Lattimore, who currently stands at four. Steve Atkins (1978) and Charlie Wysocki (1980) jointly hold the record with eight in one year.
• Lattimore has six career 100-yard rushing games (119 vs. Wake Forest and 114 vs. Virginia in 2006; 106 vs. Villanova, 111 vs. FIU, 112 vs. WFU, and 124 vs. RU in 2007). That puts him in a tie for fifth on Maryland's career list.
• When Lattimore finished with 111 yards on 12 carries against Florida International in week two, he became the first Terrapin back to open the season with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Bruce Perry opened with five straight 100-yard games in Maryland's ACC Championship season in 2001.
• Sophomore wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has caught a pass in each of the Terps last 19 games, the longest active streak on the team. He has led the team in receiving yards in 10 of those contests (Georgia Tech -111, Florida State - 57, Miami - 175, Purdue - 81 in 2006), including six of the Terrapins' games this season (Villanova - 81, FIU - 48, WVU - 56, RU - 61, GT - 109, and UVA - 54).
• Heyward-Bey currently ranks seventh in the ACC in receiving yards per game (59.86). He is tied for 12th in the conference in receptions per game (3.86).
• Entering the season, no quarterback on the Maryland roster had ever started a game. Seven games in, Maryland finds itself with two capable signal callers.
• Prior to his injury, Jordan Steffy was efficient and accurate while directing the Terrapin offense. He is 68 of 100 (68.0 percent) for 674 yards on the year. His completion percentage leads the ACC.
• In his first five games as a starter, Steffy owns a pass efficiency rating of 123.22 which would rank seventh in the conference if he had played in enough games (75 percent) to qualify.
• Turner has shined in relief of Steffy, who left the Rutgers game just before halftime with an injury and missed the next two games versus Georgia Tech and Virginia.
• In his last 2 1/2 games, Turner has completed 41 of 62 passes for 540 yards. He owns an efficiency rating of 138.16, which would place him third in the ACC if he had participated in enough games to qualify.
• In his first career, Turner threw for 255 yards against Georgia Tech on 10 of 17 passing. It was the most yards through the air by a Terrapin quarterback since Sam Hollenbach threw for 374 yards against North Carolina on Nov. 12, 2005.
• The 255 yards passing by Turner were the most by a Maryland quarterback in a starting debut since Scott Zolak threw for 303 in a 20-13 win over Virginia Tech in 1990. Only one other quarterback since 1991 (Scott Milanovich, 253 vs. Virginia in 1993) surpassed 200 yards in their first career start.
• In the previous game, Turner led Maryland to an upset of then No. 10 Rutgers. Turner threw for 149 yards on 14 of 20 passing, and led four second half scoring drives. He was named ACC Co-Offensive Back of the Week for his performance against the Scarlet Knights.
• The 78-yard touchdown pass Turner threw to reserve tight end Jason Goode against Georgia Tech was the first career score for each player. It was also the longest career play for each. Goode's previous career-long was a 57 yard reception against Clemson last year.
• In his first game as a collegiate starter, Steffy completed 19 of 24 passes (79 percent) for 174 yards and one interception. The junior's debut was the most efficient effort by a Maryland quarterback starting his first career game since Brian Cummings completed 83 percent of his passes in a 1995 win over Tulane to open the year.
• Joey Haynos and Dan Gronkowski form one of the top tight end duos in the nation. Each has started at the position. In fact, even though Haynos was the second-leading receiver on the team in 2006, Gronkowski started more games in the Terps' two-tight end set. Gronkowski opened nine contests, while Haynos started six. Haynos is a member of the Mackey Award watch list.
• Injuries have decimated the offensive line. With the injury to RG Andrew Crummey (fractured fibula), the Terps have just one returning starter from last season (C Edwin Williams) playing on the offensive line, though the group has quite a bit of experience. LG Jaimie Thomas, who was lost for the season in the Virginia game (Oct. 20), played in all 13 games last season, starting three, while Dane Randolph played in 11 games, mostly at right tackle. Randolph started four games there, including the Champs Sports Bowl. Starting left tackle Scott Burley has played in each of the last three seasons, including eight games as a sophomore in 2005. Junior Jack Griffin, meanwhile, who was penciled in as the No. 2 right tackle, redshirted last season, but did see action as a freshman and sophomore, though that came on the d-line. Griffin has stepped into Crummey's starting right guard role. Sophomore Phil Costa served as the reserve center and guard. Costa started at right guard for Crummey vs. Virginia, but will slide over the left guard to take over Thomas' spot. Friedgen considered the Terps to have seven starters along the o-line due to the skill and versatility of this group. Injuries to Crummey and Thomas have reduced that number to five.
• Crummey has started a team-high 33 games, while Williams' 20 consecutive starts lead the offense. Williams is the only offensive returnee to start all 13 games in 2006.
• Sophomore Josh Portis, who was second on the depth chart at quarterback, was ruled ineligible for the year, just prior to the season opener. Sophomore Chris Turner, who was second on the depth chart with Portis for much of preseason camp, has moved to No. 1 on the depth chart due to Steffy's injury.
Defensive Notes...
• The Terps rank 10th in the ACC and 51st in the nation in total defense (358.57 yards per game).
• Erin Henderson, the Terps' active career leader in tackles with 187, returned to the lineup after missing the Georgia Tech game with an injury and picked up right where he left off, totaling a career-high 18 tackles against Virginia. The junior has led Maryland in stops in all six games he has played in this season. It was his 12th career game with double-digit tackles, and his fifth straight.
• Henderson leads the ACC and is tied for third nationally in tackles per game (12.17).
• On Thursday October 18, Henderon was selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best collegiate linebacker, as announced by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (DACO).
• In the upset of No. 10 Rutgers, Henderson had 11 total tackles. He led the team in stops in five of the Terps 13 games a season ago. Henderson is the returning starter at weakside linebacker, where he tallied 8.8 tackles per game last season, second most in the ACC.
• Maryland's pass defense has been solid thus far, allowing only 205.43 yards per game by opponents, the 42nd best figure in the nation.
• After totaling eight interceptions all of last season, the Maryland defense has recorded seven in seven games this season. The Terps picked off Wake Forest's Riley Skinner three times on Sept. 22. The last time Maryland had intercepted three passes in a game was Oct. 20, 2005, against Virginia Tech. Against Wake, Kevin Barnes, Isaiah Gardner and Erin Henderson all had picks.
• For Barnes, it was his third interception of the season. The corner, who is in his first season as a full-time starter, is tied for fourth in the ACC in interceptions per game (0.43) and is tied for 34th in the country in that category.
• When Barnes isn't picking off quarterbacks, he's swatting the ball away from receivers. The junior is third in the conference in passes defended with 1.29 per game, a number that is tied for 25th nationally. He leads all Terps with seven pass breakups.
• The Terps are currently tied for fourth in the ACC and tied for 32nd in the NCAA with a turnover margin of .57. Maryland has forced 14 turnovers on the season. The Terrapins recovered two fumbles and picked off a pass in the win over Rutgers and forced another fumble against Georgia Tech.
• Maryland posted three sacks in Saturday's loss to Virginia, the most the Terps have had since the season opener. Maryland sacked Villanova quarterback Antwon Young four times in that game, the most by Maryland since posting the same number vs. NC State last season (Oct. 21).
• Senior Dre Moore had a hand in each of those defensive efforts, netting two sacks in both of those games. He is tied for 60th in the NCAA in sacks per game (.57), and leads all Terps with four on the season for a combined loss of 24 yards.
• Defensive linemen Mack Frost and Jeremy Navarre each had key fourth quarter sacks of Rutgers QB Mike Teel in the upset win. They were the first two sacks allowed by Rutgers on the year.
• Navarre's came on a fourth down as Rutgers, then trailing by three, was attempting to tie or take the lead. Navarre's hit forced a fumble, and Maryland took over on downs, setting up Lance Ball's second touchdown of the day on the very next play. For Frost it was his first of the season.
• In their first two games of the year, the Terps held back-to-back opponents below 200 yards of total offense for the first time since 2003. In that year, Maryland held The Citadel to 137 yards of total offense in a 61-0 win, and then limited West Virginia to 156 in a 34-7 win the following week.
• Prior to West Virginia (Sept. 13), the Terps had not allowed the opposing team to rush for 100 yards in three straight games (Purdue, 21 yards, Villanova, 12 yds, FIU, 82 yds.).
• Maryland held Rutgers to 82 yards on 23 carries on Sept. 29, marking the third time this season the Terps did not allow 100 yards rushing. Rutgers entered the game averaging 228.3 yards per game on the ground.
• One area of strength for the Terrapins in preseason camp was the defensive line, where the Terps returned Moore and fellow senior Carlos Feliciano, as well as juniors Frost and Navarre. Frost consistently drew praise from Friedgen for his work in preseason practice, while the head coach has stated that Moore is playing the best football of his career.
• Six Terrapin defenders have started more than 15 career games for Maryland and three (Navarre, Trey Covington and Christian Varner) have started more than 25. Covington has started 28 of the last 29 games at LEO, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end position, while Varner has started 30 of the last 31 at safety, including a team-high 29 straight. In addition, Navarre has started 29 of the last 31 contests.
• In the season opener versus Villanova, Dave Philistin got the starting nod at middle linebacker, marking the third consecutive season the Terps have opened the year with a different Mike from the year before. Wesley Jefferson, who manned the middle for the Terps a year ago after replacing D'Qwell Jackson in 2006, graduated early to pursue a career as a state trooper. Jefferson was second on the team in tackles in 2006. Chase Bullock entered the fall No. 1 on the depth chart and remained there until an injury forced him out of the lineup.
• Phillistin has more than filled the void left by Jefferson. He is second on the team in tackles (66) and has also broken up four passes on the season, tops among linebackers.
• Philistin currently ranks sixth in the ACC and tied for 45th in the nation in tackles per game (9.43).
• Against Georgia Tech he led the team in tackles with a career-high 21. It marked the second straight game that he had set a new career record, after he totaled 11 against Rutgers. Philistin's 21 stops were the most for a Terrapin since Eric Barton tallied 22 in 1998 against North Carolina. Philistin was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against the Jackets.
• Maryland has had at least one defensive player drafted into the NFL in each of the last 11 seasons and 17 defensive players overall in that time span, including cornerback Josh Wilson last season. Of the Terps defenders selected, 11 have gone in the first three rounds, including first round picks Chad Scott (1997) and Shawne Merriman (2005).
• Varner and Gardner are the only two defensive returnees to start all 13 games last season. Jefferson was the only other defender to start each contest in 2006.
• The Terps suffered a major loss in the preseason when LB Alex Wujciak injured a knee during a practice. He had ACL surgery at the end of August and should return next season. The redshirt freshman was expected to play LEO and possibly at Mike.
Special Teams Notes...
• In punter Adam Podlesh and kicker Dan Ennis, the Terps never had to worry about their special teams last season. Podlesh was a four-time All-ACC punter and two-time semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, while Ennis connected on 20 of 25 field goals last season and tied for ninth nationally in field goals per game (1.54).
• The Terrapins tapped place-kicker Obi Egekeze and punter Travis Baltz at the start of the season to replace their sensational specialists from 2006, and the early returns are solid. Egekeze was near perfect this season until the Rutgers game (Sept. 29) when he went 2-for-5. Through seven games Egekeze is a perfect 22-for-22 on PATs, and 6 of 9 on field goal attempts. Two of those misses have come from beyond 50 yards (52 vs/ FIU; 51 vs. Rutgers). He ranks ninth in the ACC in kick scoring (5.7).
• Baltz, a true freshman, has been solid thus far in his brief Maryland career. After averaging 43.0 yards on two punts against Villanova, Baltz averaged 37.9 yards on nine punts against FIU, but pinned the Golden Panthers' inside their 20-yard-line on five of his nine kicks. The five punts inside the 20 were the most by a Maryland punter since Brooks Barnard had six in Ralph Friedgen's first game as head coach, a 23-7 win over North Carolina in 2001. Baltz's nine punts were the most by a Maryland punter since Adam Podlesh booted the ball 11 times in a 13-3 loss to NC State in 2004.
• When Maryland takes on Clemson's Jimmy Maners this Saturday, it will mark the thrid consecutive week that Maryland will face a punter ranked in the top-10 nationally in punting average. In the Terps previous two games, Baltz has out-punted Virginia's Ryan Weigand and Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks who currently rank third and seventh in the NCAA in yards per punt. Baltz has averaged 46.9 yards on 11 punts with three downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Baltz has had his best outings vs. ACC competition. Against Wake Forest, Baltz punted six times for 268 yards, a 44.7 average. He recorded one punt for a then career long of 54 yards, and put two balls inside the 20-yard line. In the win over Georgia Tech, Baltz averaged a career-high 49.6 yards per punt (five attempts), including a career long of 65 yards. It was the 10th best single game average in Maryland history. In the loss to Virginia, Baltz averaged 44.7 yards on six punts, and put two balls inside the 10. He ranks seventh in the ACC in punting (41.5 ypp), including a ACC-best 46.1 in league games.
• Kickoff specialist Chris Roberts has also helped pick up the special teams unit. He's averaged over 60 yards per kickoff, with opponents' average starting point of drives the 27-yard line. He had his first touchback vs. Rutgers (Sept. 29). The Scarlet Knights averaged less than 18 yards per kickoff return.
• Roberts' strong play combined with strong tackling has the Terps ranked sixth in the nation in kickoff return yardage defense (17.71 ypr).
• Egekeze and Baltz hope to live up to the Terps' lofty standards. Maryland has a strong history of special teams play in the Friedgen era. Podlesh, as well as Barnard and former kicker Nick Novak, moved on to the NFL. Although Egekeze served as a kickoff specialist last season, neither he nor Baltz had attempted a kick in a game prior to the 2007 opener.
• When Baltz entered the Villanova game (Sept. 1) in the second quarter, he became the first true freshman to start an opening-day game for the Terps since defensive end Jeremy Navarre in 2005, and only the second of the Ralph Friedgen era.
• The Terps have some big shoes to fill at kick returner as Josh Wilson has taken his game to the NFL. Wilson ranked third in the ACC (11th nationally) last season in kick returns (27.3 ypr) en route to setting a single-season school record for return yards (847). Backup running back Da'Rel Scott got a shot at returning kicks against Wake Forest (Sept. 22) and responded with 101 yards on four returns, including a long return of 39 yards. He has 196 yards on 10 returns for the year. Reserve safety Terrell Skinner, who moved from wide receiver in the spring, opened the season as the primary kick returner, and has averaged 18.5 yards on six returns.
• Maryland is fortunate to have the sure-handed Danny Oquendo back to handle punt return duties. Last season, Oquendo ranked eightth in the ACC and 53rd nationally in return average (8.4). Through seven games this season, Oquendo has averaged 9.2 yards on 10 returns. Christian Varner has served as Oquendo's backup, returning three punts for 20 yards.
By The Numbers
0...Career collegiate starts by the Terps' three quarterbacks entering the season.
1...Dave Philistin ranks first in the ACC in tackles (13.0 pg) in league contests.
3...Dave Philistin's 21 tackles vs. Georgia Tech are the fifth-most in an NCAA Bowl Subdivision game this season. Bryce Hudman of SMU had 26 vs. Arkansas State (Sept. 15), Lamar Myles of Louisville posted 22 vs. Kentucky (Sept. 15), Austin Thomas of Indiana had 22 vs. Michigan State (Oct. 13) and Russell Allen of San Diego State tallied 22 vs. Utah (Oct. 13).
4...Keon Lattimore's four 100-yard games already rank tied for seventh on the Terps single-season chart. Charles Wysocki (1980) and Steve Atkins (1978) each had a Maryland record eight 100-yard games.
7...Number of 2006 bowl teams on this year's Maryland schedule.
8...Only eight players on the Maryland roster have compiled more than 21 tackles on the season. Philistin had 21 stops vs. Georgia Tech.
10...Erin Henderson is one of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, honoring the top linebacker in the nation.
25.5...Chris Turner's yards per completion (10 of 17, 255 yards) in the win over Georgia Tech.
29...Christian Varner has started a team-high 29 consecutive games.
46.1...Travis Baltz's punting average in ACC games, a mark which ranks first in the conference.
50...Ralph Friedgen posted 50 victories in his first six seasons, which has been eclipsed by just one other head coach in ACC history. Danny Ford of Clemson had 51 in his first six seasons.
79...Jordan Steffy completed 79 percent of his passes in his first career start, a mark which ranks No. 7 on the Terp's all-time single-game list.
138.16...Chris Turner's pass efficiency rating this season. That mark would rank No. 3 in the ACC and No. 30 in the nation, but Turner has not played in 75 percent of this year's games.
