Oct. 7, 2008

By Rose DiPaula, Athletics Media Relations Staff

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Throughout his five-year Maryland football career plagued by injury and highlighted by hard-fought accomplishments, senior offensive lineman Scott Burley has always had one goal in mind - to help his team.

This objective is often most clearly demonstrated on the football field by members of Burley's unit, the offensive line. Never known for its headlining achievements but always necessary for offensive success, linemen are generally recognized for their hard work and willingness to help their teammates for the good of the team. Burley, a Baltimore native, has been in the Terrapin program since 2004, but due to injury and a medical redshirt season, he is back for a fifth and final season in 2008.

His first chance to be in the spotlight came last year, as he represented a stabilizing force for the Terrapins offense amidst an offensive line decimated by injuries. Burley, himself, suffered through a high ankle sprain and a mid-foot injury over the course of the season, but he never considered not taking advantage of his chance to contribute.

"It was my first season starting, so I wasn't going to let stuff like that take me out. I did what I could to play on Saturdays and I did pretty good, I guess," Burley said. "I wasn't going to let anyone take me out. I wouldn't have taken myself out if I was injured. They would have had to take me out."

Burley's efforts resulted in appearances at left tackle in all 13 games last season, including 12 starts, and he helped former Maryland running backs Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball combine for 1,600 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2007.

"We were in a situation where he practiced just a very little bit during the week and he would gut it out and play at least three quarters of our game until he was in so much pain he couldn't play anymore," offensive line coach Tom Brattan said. "Here's a guy that's playing through pain and doing the things necessary for us to win, which was really remarkable. He really had a breakout season last year."

To call the 2007 season a breakout year for Burley might be an understatement. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound lineman missed all but one game of the 2006 campaign with injury, earning a medical redshirt. Last season he progressed from just hoping to recover enough in order to see the field to playing well enough to earn the distinction of being an All-ACC left tackle by the end of the season.

"Obviously, any time you coach somebody and you watch them grow from point A to point B, it's satisfying," Brattan said. "I think that's the nature of being a coach. It's intrinsic; they've got to want to do it and Scott really showed he wanted it."

But Burley never set out to be named all-conference. His goals were always more team-oriented, as they still are this season. Burley described his goals for 2008 as simply helping his team however necessary.

"This year, I'm trying to be one of the five guys that anchor our offensive line and hopefully get a 1,000 yard running back," Burley said. "We just want to be one of the most dominant rushing teams in the league right now."

In order to become a dominant rushing team, chemistry is needed along the offensive line. In that sense, the Terps might be in luck. This season's offensive line features six of the top seven players back from a year ago, including five seniors who occupy starting roles.

Burley has picked up where he left off with his performance thus far during the 2008 season. He has started the first six games at left tackle, helping the team average more than 165 rushing yards per game.

"Our chemistry is great," Burley said. "We're really like brothers out there on the field. That's a major positive."

Over the last year, Burley has positioned himself has a leader, not only for the offensive line, but also for the entire team. He is one of 10 players voted to the 2008 Terrapin Council, a leadership organization within the team.

"The guys on the team vote for guys to be on the council," Burley said. "I guess I got some major votes to be on there. It was good to be voted on the council because it tells you that the guys on the team have trust in you."

And Burley has proven that he is certainly one to be trusted.