Aug. 31, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland opens its 115th season of collegiate football Saturday when it plays host to Villanova at 6 p.m. from Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

The Terrapins return 12 starters (six on offense and defense) from last season's team, which went 9-4, including a 24-7 victory over Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl. It marked the third straight bowl win for the Terps, a first in school history. Head coach Ralph Friedgen has directed the Terps to four bowl games in his six seasons.

Senior running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, as well as wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and tight end Joey Haynos, are expected to lead a potent Maryland offense.

Ball and Lattimore combined to rush for nearly 1,600 yards in 2006, while Heyward-Bey was a freshman All-American and Haynos an All-ACC choice. Senior guard Andrew Crummey, a preseason All-American, headlines the offensive line. Junior quarterback Jordan Steffy replaces Sam Hollenbach, a two-year starter.

The defense is highlighted by returning starters Dre Moore, Jeremy Navarre, Erin Henderson and Christian Varner. Moore and Navarre each tallied 3 1/2 sacks along the defensive line in 2006, while Henderson is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Henderson ranked second in the ACC and 31st nationally in tackles (8.8 per game). He is a preseason All-American and on the watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, as well as the Bednarik and Butkus Awards. Varner is one of two returning starters (also cornerback Isaiah Gardner) in the secondary.

The Terps' special teams is going through an overhaul this season as a pair of All-ACC kickers have departed. Place-kicker Dan Ennis made 20 of 25 attempts last season, while Adam Podlesh became the only player in school history to earn All-ACC honors four straight seasons. Junior Obi Egekeze has been tapped as the place-kicker. True freshman Travis Baltz, who entered school last spring, is slated to take over from Podlesh.

The Maryland-Villanova game will shown via a webcast on ESPN 360 and broadcast on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network. Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call on radio. The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 191.

Terps Pregame kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with Gary Stein and former Maryland signal-caller Scott McBrien.

The game will be televised on a tape-delay basis by Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic at 7 p.m. Tuesday.