Aug. 3, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The following is the final installment in a four-part series previewing the 2007 University of Maryland football team.
The Terrapins open fall practice on Monday in preparation for their season opener on Saturday, Sept. 1 (6 p.m.) against Villanova at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Today's portion of the outlook previews the secondary and special teams.
Outlook Schedule on umterps.com:
Overall Overview/Quarterbacks/Running Backs Thursday, July 26
Wide Receivers/Offensive Line/Tight Ends Monday, July 30
Defensive Line/Linebackers Wednesday, Aug. 1
Secondary/Specialists Friday, Aug. 3
Secondary
One of the Terps' top defenders over the last two seasons is no longer in the secondary. Cornerback Josh Wilson was not only a productive football player, but a leader in the locker room and off the field after earning honorable mention All-America honors and the James Tatum Award as the top football-playing student-athlete in the ACC in 2006.
However, his counterpart - senior Isaiah Gardner - returns and should assume more of a leadership role in the secondary this season. Gardner started all 13 games at cornerback last season, finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 63. He is expected to assume his starting role again, despite missing spring practice after off-season shoulder surgery.
Junior Kevin Barnes emerged in the spring and sits atop the depth chart at the other cornerback slot entering the fall. He played in all 13 games last season.
"Kevin Barnes had an excellent spring," Friedgen said. "I thought he came into his own. He's a solid cover corner."
Sophomore Anthony Wiseman and junior Richard Taylor are No. 2 at each cornerback slot. Wiseman was hurt most of last season, while Taylor played in all 13 games last season, seeing time on special teams and in the secondary.
Sophomore Nolan Carroll made the move from wide receiver to cornerback in the spring and should be in the mix for playing time in the fall.
"Wiseman and Carroll are both developing, but have shown potential," Friedgen said.
Senior Colin Nelson, redshirt freshman Brandon Jackson-Mills, junior Drew Robinson and sophomore Adam Kareem add depth at cornerback and could see time on special teams.
"There's a lot of guys who have a chance to help us at cornerback," Friedgen said.
The Terps also need a replacement for steady strong safety Marcus Wimbush, who led the secondary in tackles last season with 68.
Senior Christian Varner will move from his free safety spot to take Wimbush's place, while junior J.J. Justice assumes Varner's role.
Varner had a solid junior season and made an easy transition to strong safety in the spring.
Justice played in all 13 games last season and started one game at strong safety. Sophomore Terrell Skinner is the backup free safety after seeing action in eight games last season.
"Skinner is at the developmental stage, but he's a big, strong, fast player," Friedgen said.
Skinner should continue to push Justice in the fall.
Junior Jeff Allen should give the safety unit even more depth. He played in every game last season and looks poised to vie for extensive time this season.
"Jeff had a very good winter and we're looking for good things from him this year," Friedgen said. "He's a steady player."
Sophomore Jamari McCollough, a reserve strong safety, was recovering from a knee injury in the spring and saw limited action, but should be at full speed in the fall.
Jared Baum, Taji Thornton and Femi Akinwande add depth at safety.
The lone coaching staff adjustment for the Terps in the off-season affected the secondary as Kevin Lempa was hired to oversee this group. Tim Banks left to become the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan.
Lempa will look to groom some newcomers in the fall as Michael Carter, a transfer from Erie Community College, and freshmen Dominique Herald and Trenton Hughes will be added to the defensive backfield mix.
In addition, Antwine Perez, a heralded recruit two years ago, transferred from USC in January. He'll sit out this season and have three years of eligibility beginning in 2008.
Special Teams
Special teams is one of the biggest question marks for the Terps heading into the fall.
Adam Podlesh was an All-ACC punter and two-time semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. His consistency may have been his best attribute, as he became the first player in school history to earn all-league honors four times, including second-team last season.
While Podlesh is taking his game to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, Dan Ennis was quietly one of the top place-kickers in the conference the last two seasons.
Ennis connected on 20 of 25 field goals last year, including the game-winner in a pulsating 13-12 road victory over No. 19 Clemson. Ennis tied for ninth nationally in field goals per game (1.54).
Junior Chris Roberts and true freshman Travis Baltz, who entered school in the spring, will continue to battle for the punting job. Baltz enters the fall No. 1 on the depth chart, but Roberts comes in No. 2.
Baltz, a freshman from Whitehouse, Ohio, is also in the mix at place-kicker.
"Travis is a good-looking kid with long legs which should give him some leverage punting," Friedgen said. "He's still in the developmental stage and it was good for him to get in early this spring and get exposed to the level of competition."
After serving as one of the kickoff specialists the last two seasons, junior Obi Egekeze is slightly ahead in the battle to replace Ennis as the place-kicker. He has never attempted a kick in a game.
Egekeze sits atop the depth chart, but Baltz is not far behind.
"We should have good competition at both kicking spots in the fall," Friedgen said.
Junior Danny Oquendo is back as the No. 1 punt returner. He ranked eighth in the ACC in returns last season, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt.
With the departure of Josh Wilson, who ranked 11th in the nation with 27.3 yard average, the Terps are in search of a kickoff return specialist.
Redshirt freshman Da'Rel Scott enters the fall No. 1 on the depth chart, but a number of individuals will get a shot, including Terrell Skinner and Anthony Wiseman.
No one in that group has returned kickoffs, though Oquendo and Nolan Carroll each have limited experience in that capacity.
