Aug. 3, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Summer vacation is over, and the Maryland Terrapins are ready to get back to work as preseason football camp opens this weekend.

The preseason's first practice is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, and more than three weeks of intense workouts will follow, leading up the opening game versus Villanova on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Winning campaigns in the fall begin under the sweltering summer sun, and the Terps know that if they are to equal or improve upon last year's 9-4 season, they must push themselves now.

One of the first items on the list of priorities will be solidifying the depth chart at quarterback. Junior Jordan Steffy, last year's backup, enters camp as the No. 1 signal-caller, but sophomores Josh Portis and Chris Turner are close behind, however, and each will get a chance in the coming weeks.

Whoever takes the reigns of the offense will have plenty of weapons to work with, as six starters return, including a number at the skill positions.

Seniors Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, last season's highly successful rushing duo, return to man the backfield, and both starting wideouts - Darrius Heyward-Bey and Isaiah Williams - headline a unit that earned the top preseason positional ranking in the ACC from The Sporting News.

Another intense position battle is likely to come at linebacker, where at least four players will compete to fill the two vacant starting spots next to weakside linebacker and preseason All-America Erin Henderson, one of six starters back on defense.

Junior Chase Bullock and second-year man Alex Wujciak were locked in an intense battle for the middle linebacker spot in the spring, and that fight should carry over into the summer. On the strong side, junior Moise Fokou and redshirt freshman Adrian Moten will compete for the top spot.

Battles will also continue in the defensive backfield where a number of cornerbacks, including returning starter Isaiah Gardner, Anthony Wiseman, Kevin Barnes, Richard Taylor and Nolan Carroll, will vie for time.

Head coach Ralph Friedgen and the coaching staff will need to replace a pair of all-league special teams performers as punter Adam Popdlesh and place-kicker Dan Ennis have departed.

Junior Obi Egekeze and freshman Travis Baltz are scheduled to battle for place-kicking chores, while Baltz and Chris Roberts will contend for the punting job.

Freshmen report to camp Saturday to begin orientation, while the veterans are scheduled to follow the next day.

The team will work out in full pads for the first time on Friday August 11 and hold its first day of two practice sessions on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Media Day: The Terps will hold their annual Media Day on Monday at the Gossett Team House. Head coach Ralph Friedgen will hold a press conference from noon to 12:30 p.m. Players will be available for photographs on the stadium field from noon-1 p.m., though for a limited period of time, and for interviews from 1-2 p.m. in the locker room. Media day is not open to the public, but fans can view Friedgen's press conference live by clicking here.

Preseason Practice: Practices and scrimmages are closed to the public. The first five periods (approximately 30 minutes) of practice are open to the media. Exceptions are scrimmages which are closed to the media.

Aaron's Football Saturday's in the South: Aaron's Football Saturdays in the South, Lincoln Financial Sports' popular summer mini-series, has a Maryland flavor in a pair of its segments. Episode No. 2 features long-time Terrapin announcer Johnny Holliday, while Randy White, a former Terp All-American and NFL All-Pro, is a subject of episode No. 4. The second in the six-part series airs locally at noon Sunday on WJLA-TV (ABC 7). Episode No. 4 is slated to air at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, also on WJLA.

Maryland Preseason Rankings/Honors:

Team

National Rankings:
29th...College Football News
47th...The Sporting News
50th...Athlon
56th...Lindy's

ACC Predictions:
1st/Atlantic...College Football News
4th/Atlantic...Athlon
4th/Atlantic...Blue Ribbon Yearbook
5th/Atlantic...Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA)
5th/Atlantic...The Sporting News
6th/Atlantic...Lindy's

Unit Rankings:
1st-ranked WR's in the ACC...The Sporting News
5th-ranked OL in NCAA...The Sporting News

Individual

Andrew Crummey, #63, Offensive Guard
2nd Team All-America...The Sporting News
Preseason All-ACC...Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA)
1st Team All-ACC...Athlon
1st Team All-ACC...Blue Ribbon Yearbook
1st Team All-ACC...Lindy's
1st Team All-ACC...The Sporting News
1st Team All-ACC...Street & Smith's
3rd-ranked OG in NCAA...The Sporting News
6th-ranked OG in NCAA...Lindy's
4th-ranked senior guard in nation...Mel Kiper/ESPN.com

Erin Henderson, #1, Linebacker
Preseason Watch List...Bronco Nagurski Trophy
1st Team All-American...Playboy
1st Team All-ACC...Athlon
1st Team All-ACC...Lindy's
1st Team All-ACC...The Sporting News
2nd-ranked OLB in NCAA...The Sporting News
4th-ranked OLB in NCAA...Lindy's

Darrius Heyward-Bey, #8, Wide Receiver
Preseason All-ACC...Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA)
1st Team All-ACC...Athlon
1st Team All-ACC...Lindy's
1st Team All-ACC...The Sporting News

Joey Haynos, #80, Tight End
Preseason Watch List...John Mackey Award
2nd Team All-ACC...Athlon
2nd Team All-ACC...Lindy's

Dre Moore, #92, Defensive Lineman
Top 10 Seniors to Watch in 2007...ESPN.com

Danny Oquendo, #17, Wide Receiver
Surest Hands in ACC...The Sporting News