Terps Play at Wake Forest Saturday
10/5/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Oct. 10
Maryland (2-3, 1-0 ACC)
at
Wake Forest (3-2, 1-1 ACC)
Kickoff: 6:30 ET
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Stadium: BB&T Field (31,500)
TV: ESPN360 - Jeff Dantzler (play-by-play) and Jim Donnan (color) will call the action in the webcast. Comcast SportsNet will air a replay in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore market at 7:30 p.m. Sunday..
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (sidelines) have the call. Pregame with Gary Stein and Scott McBrien begins at 5 p.m. ET The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 244 and Sirius Channel 220. Click here to Listen Live on-line through Terps TV. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (13 affiliates): WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); WJFK-FM 106.7 - Washington D.C.; WCEM-AM 1240 - Cambridge; WBEY-FM 97.9 - Crisfield; WGOP-AM 540 - Crisfield; WFMD-AM 930 - Frederick; WARK-AM 1490 - Hagerstown; WPTX-AM 1690 - Lexington Park; WVMD-FM 99.5 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WQMR-FM 101.1 - Ocean City; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury. Click here to view a PDF of the Terrapin Sports Radio Network coverage map.
Terps on the Air...
Maryland's football broadcasting lineup for 2009-10 includes the Ralph Friedgen Radio Show and the Ralph Friedgen Television Show. The Ralph Friedgen Radio Show airs from 8-9 p.m. each Wednesday during the season on the Terrapin Sports Radio Network which has 13 affiliates this season. The Ralph Friedgen Television Show, which is presented by Outback Steakhouse, airs weekly at 11:30 a.m. Saturday on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. The fast-paced, 30-minute show, goes behind the scenes with Friedgen and the Maryland football team. Replays of the show are scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday on Comcast SportsNet, just prior to the rebroadcast of the Terps most recent football game. Comcast SportsNet will carry the official rebroadcasts of all 12 University of Maryland football matchups.
First-and-10...
• The University of Maryland snapped its two-game skid with a thrilling, hard-fought 24-21 win over Clemson Saturday. The Terrapins, off to a 1-0 start in ACC play, now hit the road for the first time since their season opener, playing Wake Forest, which has begun league play at 1-1.
• Offensively, Maryland has been led by quarterback Chris Turner, wide receiver Torrey Smith and running back Da'Rel Scott, though the Terps will have to replace two starters this week. Scott, whose 5.63 yards per carry average ranks second in school history, is expected to be out of action for at least a month (broken wrist) and LT Bruce Campbell (knee) is expected to be on the shelf this week. Turner, who ranks among the top signal-callers in school history, is averaging 237.2 passing yards per game (fifth in the ACC) and completing 62.3 percent of his passes (third in the league). He is coming off his most efficient game of the year, completing 19 of 26 passes (73 percent) for 215 yards vs. the Tigers. Smith has emerged as one of the top all-around threats in the nation. He's averaging 89.8 receiving yards per game (28th nationally) and 230.6 all-purpose ypg (second in the country). The sophomore has posted over 100 receiving yards in two of the last three games and his yards-per-catch average (21.4) ranks third in the nation among wideouts with at least 20 receptions. With Campbell out, senior center Phil Costa, who has started 23 career games, will be leaned on even more heavily as the rest of the linemen have a total of 17 career starts.
• The Terps have put together two solid defensive performances, surrendering a season-best 249 yards of total offense to Rutgers (9/26) and 274 to Clemson (10/3). LBs Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten have been the top playmakers on a defense which has just four starters back from last year. Wujciak, a second-team All-ACC selection last season, has a team-high 52 tackles, including a career-best 17 stops vs. Rutgers. Moten has 38 tackles (second on the team), including a career-high 13 stops vs. James Madison (9/12). He is also the top sack producer (3.0). Demetrius Hartsfield has also come on, posting a career-high 10 stops vs. Clemson and earning ACC Freshman of the Week honors. First-year coordinator Don Brown has a veteran secondary to lean on, though there have been injuries in there. Senior Nolan Carroll, the team's No. 1 cornerback, was lost for the season vs. JMU with a broken tibia. Senior SS Jamari McCollough missed two games with a foot injury and played sparingly the last two weeks. Senior CB Anthony Wiseman has been the top playmaker in the secondary, posting 24 tackles and a league-best five pass breakups. Seniors Travis Ivey, Jared Harrell and Deege Galt are veterans on the defensive line. Ivey gives the line size and athleticism on the interior, while Galt has 1.5 sacks (third on the team). The Terps racked up season highs in turnovers forced (3), tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (4.0) vs. MTSU. They have 10 sacks over the last three games and rank tied for third in the ACC in that category (2.4 per game).
• The special teams unit, under the direction of first-year coordinator Charles Bankins, features a pair of preseason All-Americans in Smith and junior punter Travis Baltz. Smith set the ACC single-season record for kickoff return yards (1,089) last season and has confirmed his preseason All-America selection. He returned his second career kickoff for a touchdown vs. James Madison and set the Maryland career kickoff return yards mark vs. Rutgers. Baltz was a first-team All-ACC choice in 2008 after leading the league in punting average (41.1 ypp). He was a preseason consensus first team All-ACC pick and is one of just nine punters on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award. However, he suffered an ankle injury vs. Rutgers and is out of action. True freshman Nick Ferrara has been a bright spot. He's 7-for-9 on field-goal attempts, has handled the kickoff chores and served as the punter vs. Clemson (10/3), averaging 43.2 yards per attempt. He was named the ACC co-Specialist of the Week for his performance. Sophomore Tony Logan was expected to be the No. 1 punt returner, taking over for three-year starter Danny Oquendo, but he missed the first two games with an injury before seeing time vs. MTSU. Logan took over the punt-return duties vs. Clemson.
Quick Hitters...
• Maryland is 201-166-4 (.547) all-time in ACC contests, including a 38-27 (.584) mark under Ralph Friedgen.
• The Terps won their second straight conference opener with the victory over Clemson. Maryland is now 30-25-1 all-time in conference home openers, including 6-3 under Friedgen, having won their last four.
• Friedgen is among the winningest coaches in Atlantic Coast Conference history. He ranks 10th all-time in winning percentage (see chart on page 6) with a record of 66-39 (.628). Maryland has made six postseason appearances in Friedgen's eight seasons, including a school-record four bowl wins. The Terps appeared in one bowl game in the previous 15 seasons.
• The Terps' 10 returning starters (six on offense/four on defense) are the second-fewest in the Friedgen era. Heading into the 2004 season, Maryland had nine starters (five offense/four defense) back from the previous campaign.
• The Terps are coming off their best back-to-back defensive efforts in over two years. They allowed an average of 261.5 yards of total offense to Rutgers and Clemson which is the fewest since surrendering 187 yards to Villanova (09/01/07) and 161 to Florida International (09/08/07).
• Maryland's rush defense is ranked 100th nationally (177.8 ypg), but over the last three games, the Terps have surrendered just 125 yards per game on the ground and yielded only 3.26 ypc.
• The Terps rank 73rd nationally in pass efficiency defense, but have jumped 37 spots over the last two weeks. Maryland held the Rutgers QBs to an efficiency rating of 57.91 and kept the Clemson signal-callers to a mark of 90.53.
• Maryland ranks 23rd nationally in opponent third-down conversions (32.0 percent), but has been even more impressive of late. Over the last three games, the opposition has converted just 26.2 percent (16 of 61) of its third-down opportunities. Clemson was 4 of 16 on third down last week and just 1 of 8 in the second half.
• Sophomore Torrey Smith averaged a school record 21.3 yards each time he touched the ball last season (1,425 yards/67 attempts) and has picked up where he left off. Smith posted a career-high 287 all-purpose yards (165 receiving/109 kickoff/13 rush) vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/19) and ranks second in the nation in that category (244.8). He set the ACC single-season kickoff return yards record (1,089) last season and set the Maryland career mark two weeks ago (see chart on pg. 6) when he passed Keeta Covington (1983-86/1,520). Smith has 1,732 kickoff return yards which also ranks 15th on the ACC career list.
• Smith is the only player in the NCAA FBS to post at least 225 all-purpose yards in four games this season. In fact, only three other players - C.J. Spiller (Clemson), James Rodgers (Oregon State) and Damaris Johnson (Tulsa) have done it three times.
• Smith has posted over 100 receiving yards in two of the last three games and has three in his career. He had a career-high 165 receiving yards vs. MTSU (9/19), which were the most by a Maryland player since Darrius Heyward-Bey had 175 vs. Miami (11/11/06). He also became the first Terp to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Vernon Davis in 2005. Jermaine Lewis (four straight in 1994) is the only player in school history to have more than two straight 100-yard receiving games.
• Chris Turner, in his third season as the starter, ranks among the top signal-callers in school history. The senior ranks fourth on Maryland's career completion percentage list (60.2), third in career passing yards chart (5,660), fourth in total offense (5,453), third in completions (468), third in career pass attempts (777) and tied for fifth in TD passes (26).
• Junior linebacker Alex Wujciak entered the season ranked fifth nationally among returning tacklers. He has kept up the same pace this season, averaging 10.4 stops per game (tied for 18th nationally). In fact, Wujciak ranks first nationally (10.3) on the active career tackles per game list. Travis Lewis of Oklahoma (10.2) is second.
Maryland-Wake Forest Series History...
• Maryland owns a 41-15-1 advantage all-time against Wake Forest. The Terps' .728 winning percentage against the Demon Deacons is the Terrapins' best mark against any ACC school.
• In games played in Winston-Salem, Maryland leads the series 20-7-1.
• The Terps have won eight of the last 10 in the series, though last season's 23-0 shutout of WFU snapped a two-game winning streak for the Demon Deacons. During Maryland's last trip to Winston-Salem, the Demon Deacons defeated the Terps 31-24 in overtime, rallying from a 24-3 deficit.
• The Terps are 17-4 vs. teams from the state of North Carolina under Ralph Friedgen, including a 6-2 mark vs. Wake Forest.
Punt, Kick and Kickoff...
After All-ACC punter Travis Baltz left the Rutgers game (9/26) with a sprained ankle, freshman Nick Ferrara handled kickoff, place-kicking and punting duties. He hit two field goals (38, 34 yards) and averaged 33.7 yards on three punts, putting one inside the 20-yard line. Ferrara has been handling place-kicking and kickoff duties since the beginning of the season, but punted in high school and served as the backup during the first two games of the season. In the Rutgers game, he became the first Terp since Vedad Siljkovic (vs. West Virginia, 09/16/00) to punt and attempt a field goal in the same game. Ferrara handled all three jobs vs. Clemson (10/3) and distinguished himself quite well. He had a career-long 43-yard field goal and punted eight times for a 43.2-yard average. His first punt went 61 yards which was the longest by a Terp since Travis Baltz nailed a 65-yarder vs. Georgia Tech in 2007. Ferrara also landed three punts inside the 20-yard line.
All-Purpose Performer...
After setting the ACC record for kickoff return yardage in a season (1,089) last year, Torrey Smith has emerged as one of the most explosive playmakers in the country. Smith is averaging 230.6 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks second in the nation (FBS).
• Smith's explosive ability as a kick returner helped make him a consensus preseason All-ACC selection. Against James Madison (9/12), Smith proved the voters right by returning a kick 81 yards for a TD in the first quarter, the second kick return for a TD in his career (12/30/08 vs. Nevada), and totaled 127 yards on kick returns for the evening. With his first kick return against Rutgers (9/26), Smith set the all-time career kickoff return yards mark, and now has a total of 1,732.
• Smith is the Terps' leading receiver with 21 receptions for 449 yards and three touchdowns on the season. Against MTSU (9/19), he had a career-high 165 yards receiving on five receptions, including a 64-yard TD catch. He has also rushed the ball five times for 51 yards. Smith ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards per game (89.8).
• Against MTSU, Smith set a career-high with 287 all-purpose yards (165 receiving, 109 KOR, 13 rushing). He also totaled 229 total yards against James Madison and 232 against California.
• Smith also serves as a reserve "gunner" on the punt coverage team.
Defense Stepping Up...
The defense has made big strides in the past three games.
• Against MTSU (9/19), they totaled 10.0 tackles-for-loss for 51 yards and 4.0 sacks for 45 yards, both season highs. After posting just two sacks in the first two games, the Terps have come up with 10 in the last three contests and ranked tied for third in the ACC in that category (2.4 pg).
• The defense also came up with its first takeaways of the year against MTSU, as Travis Ivey recovered a fumble and Cameron Chism intercepted two passes. The Terps also forced two turnovers vs. Clemson (10/3) and were even on the day in that category after entering the game -10 in turnover margin on the season.
• Against Rutgers, Maryland allowed just 249 yards of total offense, the lowest since the Terps shutout Wake Forest 26-0 on 10/18/08 and allowed 219 yards. The Terps also kept Clemson in check, holding the Tigers 274 yards of total offense.
• The defense gave up just 95 yards of total offense in the first half against Rutgers and only 42 passing yards in the game.
• Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten have been the leaders of the defense. Wujciak is averaging 10.4 tackles per game, which ranks first in the ACC and tied for 18th in the nation, while Moten's 5.0 tackles-for-loss leads the team.
Wake Forest At-A-Glance...
• QB Riley Skinner is the leader of the Wake Forest offense, ranking first in the ACC and 19th in the nation in passing efficiency (154.4). He also ranks second in the ACC in both TD passes (11) and passing yards per game (266.8).
• In Wake Forest's win over N.C. State on 10/3, Skinner went 31-of-45 for a career-high 361 yards and three touchdowns. Skinner now has 45 TD passes in his career, a Wake Forest record.
• The Demon Deacons have been among the most efficient teams in the nation on third down. They are converting on 48.7 percent of third downs, which ranks second in the ACC and 17th in the nation. The Terps are among the best in the country in that category defensively, allowing opponents to convert just 32 percent of the time.
• Marshall Williams, Chris Givens and Devon Brown make up a talented receiving corps for Wake Forest. Williams ranks third in the ACC and 42nd in the nation in receiving yards per game (80.2), and has 18 catches for 252 yards and three TD's in his last two games. Givens made a career-best eight catches for a career-high 113 yards and one touchdown against N.C. State. Brown, meanwhile, is second on the team with an average of 55.0 receiving yards per game.
• Cornerback Kenny Okoro leads the team with two interceptions on the season, while cornerback Brandon Ghee leads the team in tackles with 30.
• Wake Forest had just three takeaways going into the game against N.C. State, but forced three against the Wolfpack, coming up with two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Hartsfield's Heroics...
Hartsfield provided the most important play of the game in Maryland's 24-21 win over Clemson (10/3). With the Tigers inside Maryland's 30-yard line and under 1:00 to play, the redshirt freshman sacked QB Kyle Parker, forcing a fumble that Hartsfield recovered to preserve the victory. Hartsfield tallied a career-high 10 tackles on the day, including eight solo stops and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
• The redshirt freshman recorded key stops on each of Clemson's last three possessions, each time when the Tigers were within field-goal range. On third-and-12 from Maryland's 31, Hartsfield stopped C.J. Spiller for a 1-yard gain, and kicker Richard Jackson missed a potential game-tying 47-yard field goal on the next play. On the Tigers' next drive, Hartsfield again stopped Spiller for a 1-yard gain, this time on first down, and after two incomplete passes by Parker, Jackson missed a 48-yard field goal try.
• Hartsfield ranks third on the team and 11th in the ACC in tackles per game (7.0), and is second on the team in tackles-for-loss with 3.5.
Freshmen Seeing Time...
Seven true freshmen have already seen time for the Terps with a number of others on the cusp of hitting the field. LB Darin Drakeford, PK Nick Ferrara, OL Bennett Fulper and DL Zachariah Kerr all played vs. California (9/5). There were also 10 redshirt freshmen getting on the field for the first time in that game with WR Kerry Boykins, RB Gary Douglas, WR Kevin Dorsey, DL Masengo Kabongo, LB Demetrius Hartsfield, OL Justin Gilbert, OL R.J. Dill, OL Justin Lewis, DL A.J. Francis and DL Carl Russell seeing snaps vs. Cal. True freshman DL Isaiah Ross made his first appearance vs. James Madison (9/12) and true freshman linebacker Avery Murray saw time on special teams vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/19). In addition, true freshmen DBs Dexter McDougle and Eric Franklin have worked their way up the depth chart, as has DL Justin Anderson, though none of the three have played. LB Ryan Donohue had the redshirt pulled off Saturday vs. Clemson when he saw action on the kickoff coverage team. Maryland has not played as many as seven true freshmen since the 2005 season when seven also saw the field.
First-Time Starters...
• Eight Terps made their first career starts in the season opener against California (9/5). Lamar Young, Andrew Gonnella, and Paul Pinegar all got their first starts on the offensive line, while Tommy Galt and Matt Furstenburg started as dual tight ends. A.J. Francis and Deege Galt started on the D-line, while Demetrius Hartsfield started at linebacker.
• True freshman Bennett Fulper made his first career start against James Madison. Fulper, who started at left guard, is one of just two freshmen to start on the offensive line in the last four seasons. Bruce Campbell started one game in 2007 (vs. Clemson, 10/27). Prior to that, the last true freshman to start on the o-line was Jared Gaither in 2005 (vs. NC State, 11/26).
• Redshirt freshman R.J. Dill had his first career start vs. James Madison (9/12), opening the game at right tackle.
• Sophomore cornerback Cameron Chism made his first career start vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/19) and Maurice Hampton started for the first time (left guard) vs. Rutgers (9/26).
Cool Under Center...
Senior Chris Turner has been the Terps starter the last two seasons, though he made his first season-opening start vs. Cal (9/5). Turner has made the most of his opportunities the last two years, leading the Terps to a pair of bowl appearances and six wins in eight appearances (5-2 as starter) vs. ranked teams (AP poll). He also directed three fourth-quarter game-winning drives last season and one in overtime during a 38-35 win over James Madison (9/12). Turner seems to have even taken a step further this year as head coach Ralph Friedgen praised him throughout preseason camp for not only his improved play, but also his leadership. His teammates agreed as he is one of four elected team captains.
• Turner has started under center for wins over No. 20 Clemson, No. 23 Cal, No. 21 Wake Forest and No. 17 North Carolina in 2008, and No. 8 Boston College in 2007. He also played an integral role in another such game (win over No. 10 Rutgers in 2007) during Maryland's winning streak against ranked foes which was snapped at six with last season's loss to Boston College.
• Turner has been on target vs. ranked foes. In eight games vs. the Top 25, Turner has completed 160 of 255 passes (62.7 percent) for 1,803 yards with nine TDs and two interceptions.
Misc. Offensive Notes...
• WR LaQuan Williams recorded his first career touchdown when he caught a 24-yard TD pass from Chris Turner in the second quarter against Rutgers (9/26).
• A season-high 10 Terps caught passes vs. Rutgers, led by Adrian Cannon's career-high tying five catches. TE Matt Furstenburg and RB Gary Douglas also made their first career receptions.
• RB Davin Meggett ranks tied for fourth on the team with 10 receptions, one more than he had last season.
• Prior to the game against MTSU (9/19), the Terps longest passing play of the season was a 29-yarder from Chris Turner to Torrey Smith in the season opener at California (9/5). Against the Blue Raiders, Turner found Smith on plays of 64, 42 and 37 yards, marking the three longest passing plays of the season after three games. Turner and Smith also hooked up for 45 yards vs. Rutgers (9/26).
• Of the 20 receptions WR Ronnie Tyler posted last season, 11 came on third down. Against James Madison, Tyler had three catches, one of which was on third down. His most crucial reception, however, came on fourth-and-4 with under 6:00 left in the game and the Terps down by seven. Turner found Tyler for a 20-yard gain and the first down, and Maryland scored on the next play to tie the game and send it to overtime. Then, against Clemson (10/3), he tied a career-high with five receptions, including a 4-yard TD catch. Tyler ranks thid on the team with 14 receptions on the season.
• Sophomore WR Quentin McCree posted his first career reception in the second quarter of the James Madison game (9/12). He went to haul in four Turner passes for 18 yards.
Revamped Secondary...
The Maryland secondary looked to be the strength of the defense entering the season, though recent injuries have taken a toll. The Terps lost starters Kevin Barnes and Jeff Allen from the 2008 squad, but they returned six players, including four seniors, who saw plenty of action last season. CB Anthony Wiseman and FS Terrell Skinner were returning starters, but Nolan Carroll, Kenny Tate, Jamari McCollough and Antwine Perez each played a number of snaps in 2008. Carroll, Skinner and Wiseman combined to play in 96 career games entering 2009, while McCollough, Perez and Tate played in all 13 games last season. However, Carroll was lost for the season (broken tibia) in the James Madison game (9/12) and McCollough missed the JMU and MTSU (9/19) games, and was on the field only briefly against Rutgers (9/26). McCollough returned as a starter against Clemson (10/3) and made his first interception of the season. Tate was one of the standouts of preseason camp. With a healthy McCollough back for the Clemson game, Tate was able to blitz several times, and recorded his first solo sack of the season, taking down QB Kyle Parker for a loss of 13 yards. Cameron Chism made his first career start against Middle Tennessee State (9/19) and came up big, making two interceptions and finishing the game with a team-high 12 tackles. Trenton Hughes and Richard Taylor are the top backups at cornerback. Hughes played sparingly last season, but was in on a career-high 31 plays vs. MTSU. Taylor is a sixth-year senior who has 25 games of playing experience. He gained a year of eligibility after suffering through two injury-plagued seasons and has played on special teams this season.
Misc. Defensive Notes...
• Terrell Skinner had a career-best seven solo stops vs. Clemson (10/3).
• Junior LB Alex Wujciak has posted double-digit stops in 11 of his last 15 games, including a career-high 17 against Rutgers (9/26).
• Maryland totaled just 6.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks in its first two games, but against MTSU, the defense totaled 10.0 TFLss for 53 yards, along with 4.0 sacks for 45 yards.
• Sophomore Kenny Tate earned his first career start vs. James Madison (9/12), opening the game at strong safety for an injured Jamari McCollough. Tate logged career highs in tackles (7) and solo stops (4)in the game.
• FS Antwine Perez registered a career-high eight tackles, including a career-best seven solo stops, vs. Cal (9/5).
• Last season the Terps averaged 3.8 pass breakups per game, and were led by cornerback Anthony Wiseman's 10 PBUs. Against Cal, Wiseman recorded a career-best three PBUs in the game as Maryland had five as a team.
Kicking Game...
With the departure of two-year starter Obi Egekeze, the place-kicking job was fairly wide open entering the preseason. True freshman Nick Ferrara edged out redshirt freshman Mike Barbour to win the starting place-kicking duties days before the season opener against California. Ferrara, who also handles kickoff duties, went 2-for-2 in his debut, hitting from 26 and 42 yards. Against James Madison, Ferrara stood tall in a pressure-packed moment, hitting the game-winning field goal in OT. Ferrara was put in simulated pressure situations throughout fall camp, and that experience was likely a factor in his calmness when stepping on the field to attempt his first game-winning kick. The two kickers went back and forth during the preseason, with Barbour nearly locking up the job early in the second scrimmage before missing his final three attempts in a 4-for-7 day. Ferrara followed that up by hitting all three attempts (45, 48, 48) in the final scrimmage of the preseason. However, Barbour came back and nailed both of his attempts. In fact, they were his two longest field goals of the preseason, both coming from 46 yards out. Barbour was good on 13 of his 20 attempts in the preseason, while Ferrara went 6-for-6. Barbour and Ferrara both hail from St. Anthony's High School in New York.
Booming Baltz...
As a sophomore last season, Travis Baltz averaged 41.1 yards per punt, which ranked first in the ACC and 43rd nationally (FBS). His hang time helped the Terps rank sixth in the country in punt return yardage defense (4.5. ypr). Baltz was one of just nine players named to the watch list for the 2009 Ray Guy Award, which honors the nation's top punter. He was a consensus preseason all-conference choice and a second-team preseason All-America choice.
• Baltz earned first-team All-ACC honors for the 2008 season, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons a Maryland punter has garnered all-conference honors.
• Baltz averaged just 35.5 yards on six punts in the season opener, but his hang time did not allow Syd'Quan Thompson, one of the top returners in country last season, to return a punt.
• Facing another dangerous returner in James Madison's preseason All-American (FCS) Scotty McGee, Baltz punted seven times for an average of 42.1 yards per punt. More importantly, he allowed McGee only two returns for a total of 18 yards. Of his seven kicks, two were fair caught, two were downed, and one went into the end zone for a touchback. Additionally, two of his punts were inside the 20-yard line.
• Baltz suffered a sprained ankle against Rutgers (9/26), causing him to miss the Clemson (10/3) game. He is expected to be out against Wake Forest (10/10)as well.
Misc. Special Teams Notes...
• In the season opener vs. Cal (9/5), Nick Ferrara became the first Maryland freshman since Nick Novak (20-yarder vs. Florida, 1/2/02) to hit a field goal. Ferrara was also the first true freshman since Brian Kopka (39-yard FG at Georgia Tech, 11/22/97) to nail a field-goal attempt.
• Maryland has blocked a kick in two of the last three games. DL Deege Galt blocked a field goal against James Madison (9/12) and A.J. Francis blocked a PAT vs. Middle Tennessee State (9/19).
• Richard Taylor, Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins each have a team-best four special teams tackles.
By The Numbers...
1...Torrey Smith was the first player in the NCAA (FBS) to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards, accomplishing the feat in his first kickoff return against Clemson. Smith has 1,153 all-purpose yards on the season.
2...Torrey Smith ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (230.6).
4...Number of seniors (Chris Turner, Phil Costa, Cory Jackson and Tommy Galt) on the offensive depth chart.
6...The Terps have had an All-ACC punter in six of the last seven seasons (Travis Baltz - 2008; Adam Podlesh - 2003-06; Brooks Barnard - 2002)
9...Number of 2008 postseason participants the Terps will face in the fall. Cal, James Madison, Rutgers, Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State and BC all played in the postseason.
10.4...Alex Wujciak is averaging 10.4 tackles per game, which ranks first in the ACC and tied for 18th in the NCAA (FBS).
14...Number of seniors on this year's squad. Last season Maryland had 30 seniors, which was the most during the Ralph Friedgen era.
14...The Terps have placed a league-best 14 representatives on the Academic All-ACC team over the last two years. Clemson ranks second with 10, while Boston College, Duke and Georgia Tech have eight apiece.
17...Junior linebacker Alex Wujciak tallied a career-high 17 tackles against Rutgers.
26...The Terps' offensive line entered the season with a combined 26 career starts (Phil Costa - 18; Bruce Campbell - 8).
28...The Terps currently have 28 former players on NFL rosters, including eight from last season's team (see chart on pg. 18).
58...Fifty-eight of Maryland's 85 scholarship players have at least three years of eligibility remaining.
89.8...Torrey Smith is averaging 89.8 receiving yards per game, which ranks second in the ACC.
110...Four of Maryland's offensive linemen who departed (Edwin Williams, Jaimie Thomas, Scott Burley and Dane Randolph) combined to start 110 games in their careers.
116...The Terps have not had a punt blocked since Nov. 13, 1999 (Florida State), a stretch of 116 games, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
