The Maryland Terrapins will have a dramatically different look in 2009.

Head coach Ralph Friedgen will maintain the same philosophy - a balanced offensive attack and hard-nosed defense - that has taken his squads to six bowl games in the last eight years.

But the Terps will have to replace a number of productive players from a team which went 8-5, including four wins over ranked teams and a victory in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.

Friedgen said goodbye to his largest senior class (30) - a group that made the postseason in each of the last three seasons - with a win over Nevada in last year's bowl game. Now the Terps will have to find replacements for that productive group as 23 of those players started at least one game last year and 13 were either selected in the 2009 NFL Draft or signed free-agent contracts.

But the cupboard is not bare.

Maryland returns 38 letterwinners, including 10 starters (six on offense and four on defense) and a host of talented, young players. Eight players received preseason recognition this summer and only three of them are seniors.

The Terps will also welcome their highest-rated recruiting class in four years. Despite the youthful nature of a team with just 14 seniors, Friedgen, the eighth-winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, liked what he saw in the spring.

"This is a very young football team," Friedgen said. "Fifty-eight of our 85 scholarship players have three or four years of eligibility left. But I think we have talent and character, that is our strength. I felt we had an excellent spring. Our kids gave great effort all the way through spring and I'm excited about the season."

The offense has a chance to be one of the more exciting units in the ACC.

Senior quarterback Chris Turner enters his third year as a starter, junior running back Da'Rel Scott is coming off an all-conference season, and sophomore Torrey Smith, who had a breakout 2008 campaign, is one of a number of talented, young wideouts.

Scott, a 2008 first team All-ACC choice, rushed for 1,133 yards, the seventh-highest single-season total in school history, while Smith set the ACC single-season record for kickoff return yards (1,089) and had 24 catches for 336 yards.

The Terps will need to rebuild an offensive line which lost five of its top seven contributors from last season.

Senior Phil Costa, a preseason All-ACC selection, and junior Bruce Campbell, one of the top young tackles in the country, will anchor the line. Maryland also enters its second season under the system of assistant head coach/offensive coordinator James Franklin, and hopes to be even more efficient this fall.

"Offensively, they're continuing to learn the scheme and terminology, but hopefully there will be a carryover from last year," Friedgen said. "There's always a learning curve, but we should be able to take it to the next level this season."

The defense has just four starters back from last season, but coordinator Don Brown came on board after the 2008 campaign and has implemented an attacking 4-3 scheme which debuted with spring practice.

"Defensively, I thought our spring was much more productive than what I anticipated," Friedgen said. "I think Don Brown brought in a really good scheme. I think our kids really enjoy playing for him."

Brown will look to veterans in the secondary and linebacking corps for leadership and production.

Junior Alex Wujciak ranked second in the ACC in tackles (133) last season from his middle linebacker spot.

Junior LB Adrian Moten has started just one game in his career, but he's made a number of plays the last two years. His seven career sacks and three caused fumbles are tops on the team.

Seniors Anthony Wiseman, Nolan Carroll, Terrell Skinner and Jamari McCollough each played significant roles last season and give Brown leadership in the secondary.

Another senior, Travis Ivey, is the lone starter back along the line, but he missed time with a foot injury last season. He will be counted on to have a productive final year.

Special teams, a strength during Friedgen's tenure in College Park, will be in transition.

On the plus side, the Terps return an All-ACC punter in Travis Baltz and a record-setting kickoff returner in Smith, but they will need to find a new place-kicker and punt returner with the departure of Obi Egekeze and Danny Oquendo.

Egekeze was a two-year starter at place-kicker and Oquendo handled punts the last three seasons.

Friedgen has a few keys to success this season.

"First, we are going to have to be able to run the football," Friedgen said. "I think we will be able to throw, but if we can run it and get the balance we want, then I think we have a chance to be pretty good offensively. Defensively, obviously, you always want to be able to stop the run. The other key I think is how we hold up on the one-on-one situations in the secondary, because we are going to be much more aggressive than we have been in the past. We are going to challenge receivers, we are going to challenge throws, and we are going to be out in one-on-one a lot so our corners have to be able to hold up better."

Spring was the first opportunity for the coaching staff to begin grooming the 2009 Terrapin squad. The last stage of the preparation gets under way on Aug. 10 at the first preseason practice.

"I think our players are excited for the season," Friedgen said. "They have been working harder this summer than I've seen them work and they have pretty good leadership in this football team. I also think the chemistry is pretty good."

Team Notes:
• Ralph Friedgen enters the season as the eighth-winningest coach (by percentage) in ACC history. He has a record of 64-36 (.640) in eight seasons.

• James Franklin was named the eventual successor to head coach Ralph Friedgen in February. Franklin, 37, has spent the better part of this decade on the Maryland staff. He served as the wide receivers coach from 2000 to 2004, which spanned Friedgen's first four seasons. During that time, Franklin established himself as one of the nation's top recruiters. Rivals.com ranked Franklin as one of the nation's top 25 recruiters for two of those first four years and tapped him again this past season.

• Don Brown (defensive coordinator/cornerbacks) and Charles Bankins (special teams/tight ends) are the newest members of the coaching staff. Brown, who replaced three-year coordinator Chris Cosh, came on board in January. He served as head coach of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst the last five years which included a trip to the 2006 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title game. During his tenure, UMass maintained one of the top defensive units in the nation. The Minutemen finished among the top 20 in total defense in three of his five seasons (third in 2005; 20th in 2006; 14th in 2007). Bankins, who was hired in February to replace Danny Pearman, has experience coaching offense and special teams at the collegiate and professional levels, most recently serving as an assistant at the University of Richmond, which captured the 2008 FCS title.

• Maryland was among the best in the nation last season playing ranked opponents. The Terps went 4-1 vs. ranked foes (AP poll) with wins vs. No. 23 Cal, No. 20 Clemson, No. 21 Wake Forest and No. 17 UNC. The Terps were one of only five teams in the nation (also Florida, Oklahoma, USC and Texas) to beat at least four Top 25 teams. The other four all finished in the top five of the final polls.

• The Terps landed a top-ranked recruiting class in February when they signed 24 student-athletes to national letters-of-intent. The class, ranked No. 26 nationally by Rivals.com (highest since 2005) and 27th by Scout.com, was highlighted by four All-Americans and 21 student-athletes ranked among the top 100 nationally at their respective position.

• The Terps will face eight teams (Cal, Rutgers, Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College) in 2009 which played in bowl games last season and another (James Madison) which reached the FCS playoffs.

• The Terps' 10 returning starters (six offense/four 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.

• Chris Turner is on track to become the first three-year starting quarterback at Maryland since Brian Cummings (1995-97).

• Members of the 2009 Terrapin Council, the team's leadership group, include seniors Phil Costa, Chris Turner, Cory Jackson and Nolan Carroll, juniors Adrian Moten, Da'Rel Scott, and Alex Wujciak, sophomores Torrey Smith and Davin Meggett, and freshman Kevin Dorsey.

• Maryland has not had a punt blocked in the last 111 games (third game of the 1999 season), the longest streak in the nation.

• 39 former Terps are on NFL rosters entering the 2009 preseason (see page 172). Maryland had five players taken in the 2009 NFL Draft, the most since 2004 when the Terrapins also had five players chosen. Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken No. 7 overall by Oakland. He was the highest drafted Terp since Vernon Davis in 2006 (sixth). The Terps have had 18 players drafted in the last six seasons, including three among the top 12 overall.

Quarterback

Maryland will rely on a veteran quarterback to run its offense in 2009.

Chris Turner is in his third year as the starter, but just his first with the job heading into the season.

"If I had to choose between a veteran offensive line and an inexperienced quarterback, or an inexperienced line with a veteran quarterback, I think I'd go with the veteran quarterback," Friedgen said.

Turner has a chance to end his career as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in school history.

The senior enters 2009 ranked seventh on the Maryland career passing yards list (4,474), fourth on the career completion percentage chart (59.7) and 11th in passing efficiency (125.76).

He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 2,516 yards last year, the fifth-highest single-season total in school history. He also threw 13 touchdown passes to go with 11 interceptions.

The Simi Valley, Calif., native has generally been at his best against the top competition. He led the Terps to a 4-1 mark against Top 25 teams last season and has been on the winning side six of the seven times he has been on the field against a ranked opponent (AP poll).

He also directed three fourth quarter game-winning drives last season.

Franklin likes his progression in his west-coast based offense and would like to see him improve his consistency this season.

Turner made a number of the more difficult plays, but Franklin would like him to improve on the percentage of plays "he's supposed to make."

"He really made some tough plays last season, he really showed some resilience," Franklin. "He's a tough guy."

Turner is coming off a solid spring.

"He is practicing so much better and preparing so much better," Franklin said. "He is bigger, stronger and faster than he has ever been."

Turner's backup heading into the preseason is sophomore Jamarr Robinson who took extensive snaps in the spring as the only other true quarterback on the roster.

"I do not think he could have had a stronger spring," Franklin said. "It obviously wasn't perfect from beginning to end, but he started out strong, faded a little towards the middle and then came on strong at the end."

Robinson, who yet to take a snap under center in the regular season, gives the Terps a different dimension.

"He's not as tall as Turner, but he has got really good athleticism, quickness, speed and has a very strong arm."

A pair of true freshmen round out the depth chart.

C.J. Brown and Danny O'Brien were both highly recruited signal-callers.

Brown is dual-threat quarterback who was one of the top players in the state of Pennsylvania as a senior.

O'Brien was more of a pro-style quarterback during his prep days in North Carolina.

Initially the two will battle for the No. 3 job, but could push Robinson for the back-up role depending on their progression.

Running Back

Maryland possesses one of the deepest backfields in the country this season.

The Terps have just one senior, but tons of experience at running back as their top three tailbacks and fullbacks return.

They also recruited the 12th-best running back class.

At this time last season, the Terps were looking to replace two of the top running backs in school history in Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball. But after the emergence of Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett last season, as well as the solid play of Morgan Green down the stretch, has Maryland boasting one of the most talented backfields in the ACC.

"It's definitely one of our deepest positions," Friedgen said.

Scott is coming off one of the best seasons for a Maryland back in recent memory. He earned first team All-ACC honors after rushing for 1,133 rushing yards, the eighth-highest single-season total in school history. He also scored eight touchdowns and earned MVP honors of the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl by rushing for 174 yards.

"Da'Rel is an All-ACC, All-America type candidate," Franklin said. "Da'Rel is really growing up and becoming more of a complete back. Although he ran the ball well last year, I don't think he has scratched the surface in terms of his ability to block and catch the ball. I am really excited about him this year."

Green, one of the strongest players on the team, came on at the end of last season, rushing for a career-high 72 yards in the bowl game. He has struggled with injuries the last two seasons, but has the talent of a No. 1 back.

"Morgan really showed some flashes in the spring of what we'd love him to be," Franklin said. "We'd like him to be able to come in and be the power back."

Meggett was a pleasant surprise last season. As a true freshman, he secured the No. 2 tailback role in the preseason when Green was hampered with an injury.

"Davin is a high character kid who is somewhat of a combination of Da'Rel and Morgan," Franklin said. "He got a ton of experience last year with the injury to Morgan."

The product of Clinton, Md., rushed for 457 yards, the most by a true freshman since Lamont Jordan posted 689 in 1997.

"We've got a legitimate five-deep at tailback which creates good competition," Franklin said. "That's what we want."

Redshirt freshman Gary Douglas, who shined on the scout team last year, will be added to the tailback mix this season.

"He might be the most natural running back of them all," Franklin said.

Junior Dan Bonato, one of the steadiest players on the team, is behind four talented guys.

"Dan does everything right," Franklin said. "He is Mr. Productive, and is faster and quicker than people give him credit for. You can't have enough guys like Dan on your team."

The veteran of the backfield is senior Cory Jackson, who has been the starting fullback since the end of his true freshman season. He's one of the toughest players on the team and has been a team leader the last three years.

Jackson sat out the spring while rehabbing from off-season knee surgery, but should be ready to go in the preseason.

"Cory is a legitimate All-ACC candidate at fullback," Franklin said. "But there is a battle after him."

Junior Haroon Brown, sophomore Taylor Watson and Louis Berman will battle for the No. 2 role.

Brown has played in 17 games in his career, while Watson saw action in five last season.

Berman moved from linebacker to fullback late in the spring, but impressed the coaching staff in his short time there.

The Terps will have some backs waiting in the wings.

True freshmen D.J. Adams and Caleb Porzel come in as two highly-regarded tailbacks. Both are four-star recruits and ranked among the top 20 backs in the country.

Redshirt freshman Andrew Braxton and sophomore Paul Lariviere give the Terps depth in the backfield.

Wide Receiver

Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was drafted by Oakland, ended his college career one year early, but finished second in school history in all-time receiving yards (2,089) and third in receptions (138).

The Terps have a deep nucleus returning despite the loss of Heyward-Bey, as well as Danny Oquendo and Isaiah Williams, who both started during their careers. Oquendo was a dependable third-down receiver the last three years.

The future looks bright with no seniors and just three juniors among the team's top nine wide receivers.

Sophomore Torrey Smith is the lone returning starter, but sophomore Ronnie Tyler, junior Emani Lee Odai and junior Adrian Cannon were significant contributors last season.

Youngsters Quintin McCree, Tony Logan, Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins all showed promise in the spring.

In addition, veteran LaQuan Williams, who sat out most of last season with a foot injury (and missed the spring), gives the Terps a veteran presence. He had a breakout 2007 campaign, but played just three games last season.

"I think this is one of the positions where we have really good depth," Franklin said. "We've got three-deep and hopefully those guys take that as a positive and an advantage for us, and go out and push each other to be the best."

Smith burst onto the scene last season when he took over as the starter at X receiver for the final six games.

He spent all season as the kick returner, setting the ACC single season record for yards (1,089) and posted 16 of his 24 catches over the last six games.

He also averaged a school-record 21.3 yards each time he touched the ball last season.

Smith's 14.0 yards per catch ranked second in the ACC among freshmen with at least 20 receptions.

The Terps are hoping for even bigger things from Smith this season as he emerges as one of the team leaders.

"Torrey is a great player and an unbelievable person" Franklin said. "We just love to have him in our program and I think he's got a chance to have a really good sophomore year."

Smith will battle with Cannon at the X receiver slot. Cannon played in all 13 games last season and helped the Terps in the bowl win over Nevada, hauling in a 59-yard TD pass from Chris Turner. He also had two TD catches in the Red-White Spring game. "Adrian is on a mission right now,' Franklin said. "He is working extremely hard. He finished up the spring with a lot of confidence. Actually, he really ended last season with a lot of confidence. He is working really hard right now."

Lee-Odai is also in the mix at X receiver. One of the fastest players on the team, Lee-Odai has played in 21 games over the last two seasons and will be counted on for increased production in the fall.

Tyler is penciled in at the F (or slot) receiver position, manned by Oquendo the last three seasons, though he'll have to fight off Boykins and Williams.

Tyler ranked sixth on the team in receptions (20) last season, making a number of acrobatic catches especially on third down.

Boykins, a redshirt freshman, was impressive on the scout team last fall. "Kerry is someone we are really excited about," Franklin said. "He's another guy who had a really good spring."

Williams missed the spring so he'll need a good fall camp to help his case for playing time.

"LaQuan Williams didn't play last year because of injuries, but he's a guy who has played and had a lot of success," Franklin said. "So I could see any of those three guys starting in the slot."

Logan, McCree and Dorsey head into the preseason in a battle at Z receiver.

Logan gives the Terps a shifty presence in that spot.

"Tony has got really good change of direction," Franklin said. "He's got play-making ability."

McCree saw limited time last season, but had an impressive spring. He capped it off by posting four receptions for 163 yards and three TDs in the Red-White Spring game. Dorsey, a redshirt freshman, was highly-recruited out of high school, but sat out last season due to foot surgery.

The staff is looking for big things from Dorsey.

"Kevin Dorsey is like Torrey Smith in a lot of ways," Franklin said. "He's a great kid, great person, really good football player. I think he is healthy for the first time in probably three years."

Webb Dulin is in his third year in the program and gives the Terps a veteran presence at receiver. Eric Powell, Joey McQueeney and Kevin Brown will all provide depth at the wide-receiver position this fall.

Offensive Line/Tight End

Graduation hit the offensive line harder than any other unit on the team.

The Terps lost five of their top seven performers up front from a year ago, including three All-ACC performers.

Gone are three-year starting center Edwin Williams, two-year starting left guard Jaimie Thomas and two-year starting tackle Scott Burley. All three made the 2008 All-ACC squad.

Jack Griffin and Dane Randolph also started a number of games.

In all, those five players combined to start 115 games and help the team reach three bowl games in the last four years.

Bruce Campbell and Phil Costa are the lone returning starters. Campbell started the last six games at left tackle last season, while Costa has played at left and right guard in his career. Costa, who started 12 games at right guard in 2008, will take over as the starting center this year.

Costa, a preseason All-ACC choice, quickly made the transition to the full-time role.

"Phil easily had the best spring among the offensive linemen," Friedgen said. "I thought we had a pretty good player in Edwin Williams last year, and I think Phil really kind of played better than Edwin did. Plus, I think the leadership that he's providing has been as good as we've had in a long time."

At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, Campbell is a gifted athlete who runs like a tight end and is among the strongest players in school history.

"I think Bruce Campbell is in the top five percent in the country, including the NFL, in terms of body type and athleticism," Franklin said. "He's got some experience now so we are expecting really big things from Bruce this year."

Junior Paul Pinegar is the only other lineman to see any significant time in his career. Pinegar has played in 12 games at tackle over the last two years. He enters the fall No. 1 on the depth chart at right tackle, but will have to battle for that spot.

Redshirt freshman Justin Lewis will open the fall atop the depth chart at right guard.

Sophomores Andrew Gonnella and Lamar Young look to be in a battle for the starting left guard role.

"Gonnella has probably improved as much as anyone on our team," Friedgen said. "He has a tremendous work ethic and passion for the game."

Young saw brief action in three games last season and Friedgen calls him "one of the better athletes for a guy his size I've been around."

Justin Gilbert, a promising redshirt freshman, will back up Campbell at left tackle.

Pinegar will battle with redshirt freshman R.J. Dill and sophomore Tyler Bowen at right tackle.

Bowen has battled foot injuries the last two seasons, but saw some action in the spring. He's shown promise during practice over the last two years.

"There will be competition between those three guys," Franklin said.

Sophomore Maurice Hampton is also a reserve at guard, but he has yet to play.

Junior Danny Edwards will back up Costa at center. Edwards is in his fourth year in the program and played in two games as a reserve last season.

True freshman Bennett Fulper is penciled in behind Edwards.

Another first-year player who could figure into the two-deep is Pete White, one of the more highly regarded recruits in this class.

White, who was the fifth-ranked guard in the country last season, will begin the year at right guard.

"Pete White has a legitimate chance to contribute as a true freshman," Franklin said. "He needs to lose some weight, but I think he has got a chance."

Other veterans who are expected to push for time on the O-line include Stephen St. John, Kyle Sappington, Matt Harraka, John Dillon and Josh Cary.

The tight-end position will see a transition with three-year starter Dan Gronkowski departed and a new coach in place.

Gronkowski capped off his Terrapin career by earning honorable mention All-ACC honors last season. He had a career-high 29 receptions, which ranked third on the team.

Charles Bankins, a native of Maryland who was an assistant at Richmond the last two seasons, took over as tight ends and special teams coach in the spring.

Bankins will likely choose from senior Tommy Galt and Lansford Watson as the starter.

Galt and Watson each played in 13 games in 2008, with the latter posting 10 receptions for 115 yards.

"Tommy came on at the end of last season," Franklin said. "He's older and very hungry. He wants to end his career on a real solid note."

Watson offers more speed since he was a wide receiver in high school, but has grown to 260 pounds.

"He's inexperienced, but he can be a threat with the ball in his hands," Franklin said.

A pair of redshirt freshmen - Matt Furstenburg and Devonte Campbell - will battle for time at the F tight-end position, which is similar to the H-back role.

Furstenburg played in two games on special teams last season before being sidelined with an ankle injury.

Campbell was impressive in his redshirt season, showing good pass-catching ability.

"Devonte Campbell is a very good athlete who still is learning to be a tight end with his hand on the ground," Franklin said.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Schlothauer will add depth at tight end.

Dave Stinebaugh is the lone incoming freshman at tight end. He was the 2007 Baltimore County Player of the Year.

Defensive Line

With the departure of Jeremy Navarre, Mack Frost, Olugbemi Otulaja, Dean Muhtadi and Trey Covington, defensive tackle Travis Ivey and end Jared Harrell will become more featured performers.

Navarre, an All-ACC pick last season, and Covington combined to start 91 games over the last four years, while Otulaja and Muhtadi were mainstays on the line in 2008.

After an injury-plagued 2008, Ivey emerged as the leader of this group in the spring.

"Travis was having a very good spring until he got hurt and missed the final week," Friedgen said. "We're going to be counting on him this season."

Ivey injured his foot in the preseason last year. He missed the first three games of 2008, but it took him a while to get on track. He capped the year with a career-high five tackles in the win over Nevada in the Humanitarian Bowl.

A.J. Francis, who nearly played as a true freshman last season, gives the Terps another big body on the interior of the line. He's atop the depth chart at nose tackle.

Ian Davidson, Joe Vellano, Zachariah Kerr and Dion Armstrong will also push for time at either nose or defensive tackle.

Davidson has not played but is in his third year in the program, while Vellano redshirted as a true freshman last year with a shoulder injury.

Kerr joined the team in the spring. He was a highly-touted recruit who attended Fork Union Military Academy last fall. He has a low center of gravity and should be helpful in stopping the running game.

Armstrong, a sophomore, saw extensive action last season, but sat out the spring to concentrate on his academics.

Harrell, who played in all 13 games last season, is expected to start at anchor, the defensive end position over the tight end in Brown's scheme.

"Jared really stepped up in the spring," Brown said. "He could probably play both end positions for us. He gives us some versatility. He is an excellent technician, he's more physical and his movement skills are solid."

Harrell will be backed up by senior Deege Galt and redshirt freshman Carl Russell. True freshman Cody Blue could also see time there.

While the anchor spot features two seniors, the defensive end position is fairly young with sophomore Derek Drummond and freshmen Masengo Kabongo and De'Onte Arnett in a battle.

Drummond, who enters the fall No. 1 on the depth chart, played the old LEO position (defensive end/outside linebacker) last season.

"Drummond is a very good pass-rusher," Brown said. "He needs to improve in his run-stopping ability but he's making the transition from a stand-up to a three-down guy. We feel good about where he's going."

Kabongo and Arnett were both highly recruited players. Kabongo sat out last season as a redshirt and Arnett came on board in the spring as a true freshman.

Brown was pleased with Arnett's progress.

"De'Onte is another guy in the mix for playing time," Brown said. "He's up to about 270 pounds and is a guy that just showed consistent improvement throughout the spring. We think his upside is off the charts."

Sophomores Chris Rhodes and Obum Akinyili are in their third year in the program and will push the first- and second-team players for time. Junior Josh Horton also adds depth on the line.

Linebacker

The Terps lost Dave Philistin, Moise Fokou, Chase Bullock and Rick Costa, a group which combined to play in 144 career games, including 54 starts.

They do have an all-league performer in junior Alex Wujciak and a playmaker in Adrian Moten, but no one who has played other than a few snaps beyond them.

"I was concerned with the number of linebackers we lost last year," Friedgen said. "We had to hold guys out for the spring and thought depth would be a problem, but we had a couple of freshmen come in (Darin Drakeford and Avery Murray) and play exceptionally well."

Wujciak, who was second team All-ACC choice last season after posting 133 tackles, missed the spring while recovering from surgery, but is expected to man the middle and make plays.

Moten, a junior, has played in 23 career games and has been very productive. His 74 career tackles are third among players on the current roster, while his 7.0 sacks lead the team.

Moten can play all three linebacker positions, but is penciled in as the starter at Sam.

Ben Pooler is the only other member of this unit to see time in a game and that was for only a handful of snaps. Pooler also sat out the spring while recovering from the knee injury he suffered during last season.

Pooler will head into the preseason as a reserve at Will linebacker.

Junior Drew Gloster is expected to back up Wujciak. Gloster sat out last season and moved from tight end to linebacker in December, but saw extensive time in the spring with injuries to Wujciak and Pooler.

"Drew has tremendous upside," Brown said. "He has great size, but his ability to run sideline to sideline is very impressive. He is a very versatile athlete, so we think that's been a good move for us."

Redshirt freshman Demetrius Hartsfield is expected to start at Will linebacker. He enrolled early last season and nearly played as a true freshman, but the staff was able to hold his redshirt.

"Demetrius is probably one of the most improved guys on our football team," Brown said. "He was number one at Will all spring long and he played like it. I think he is going to be a guy who is going to be tough to move out of there."

The lone senior in the linebacking corps is Hakeem Sule, who has been mostly a special teams performer in his career. He'll serve as Hartsfield's backup.

Drakeford and Murray both entered school last spring and were thrown into the mix right away. Drakeford is a reserve at Sam linebacker, behind Moten, while Murray is penciled in as a reserve at Mike, but could play the two outside positions.

Sophomore Herbert Law also had an opportunity in the spring and will serve as a reserve at Will LB.

Other linebackers who will fill roles include junior Stephen Hargett and sophomores Steffan Lazerow and Nick Peterson.

The Terps will also have two more true freshmen - Ryan Donohue and Bradley Johnson - join the squad in the August.

Secondary

"We've got more experience back there than what we've had in the past," Friedgen said.

Skinner, a preseason All-ACC selection, is a hard-hitting free safety who should be in the discussion for all-league honors at the end of the season. He is the second-leading returning tackler (63) on the team behind Wujciak.

Wiseman, another preseason All-ACC choice, is the other returning starter. He led the team and ranked fourth in the ACC in pass breakups (0.77 pg).

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, Nolan Carroll gives the Terps a physical presence at cornerback. He struggled with ankle woes last season, missing three games. Cameron Chism, Michael Carter, Trenton Hughes and Brandon Jackson-Mills will all be fighting for time at cornerback.

Chism saw time there, as well as on special teams, as a true freshman last season. Carter and Hughes, both entering their third season with the team, saw a limited number of snaps at cornerback.

"Trenton and Cameron really came on and played well for us in the spring," Friedgen said.

The Terps look to be extremely deep at safety.

"We've got four guys for safety," Brown said. "The key is going to be packaging those guys properly and making sure they all play. The nice thing is, we think we have enough versatility within our defensive package that we can utilize their strengths, and that is our goal."

Junior Antwine Perez, a transfer from USC, played quite a bit last season, seeing action at safety, outside linebacker and on special teams. He is a punishing tackler and will enter the spring behind Skinner at free safety.

Senior Jamari McCollough was the Terps' all-purpose defensive back last season. He has played each of the safety positions and cornerback.

McCollough had a team-best four picks last season and will look to take over for the departed Jeff Allen at strong safety.

Sophomore Kenny Tate is behind McCollough heading into the fall.

Tate, one of the top wide-receiver recruits from the 2008 class, will remain at safety. He moved there during the 2008 preseason and played in all 13 games last season.

"We gave him the option to move," Friedgen said. "We talked about it and Kenny felt like staying at safety was his best option right now."

Sophomore Austin Walker, who was a special teams contributor last season, is also a backup at free safety.

Veteran Richard Taylor hopes to give the Terps a boost at cornerback in the fall. Taylor, a sixth-year player, received clearance on a medical redshirt in the spring. Taylor has played in 23 career games as a reserve cornerback and special-teams performer. He sat out the spring while recovering from off-season knee surgery.

A number of Maryland's highly-rated recruiting class could figure into the mix in the secondary or special teams.

Travis Hawkins, Avery Graham, Dexter McDougle and Eric Franklin all come with solid resumes.

Youngsters Anthony Green, Eugene Skinner, Mike Salvatico and Thomas Wright give the Terps some needed depth at cornerback and safety.

Green distinguished himself in the spring, but not in the secondary.

The sophomore served as the No. 3 quarterback, due to the lack of numbers at that position. In one scrimmage he completed 4 of 5 passes and rushed for 77 yards. "He really did a heck of a job for us in the spring," Friedgen said.

Special Teams

Maryland has maintained a strong punting game in Friedgen's tenure. Junior Travis Baltz, a two-year starter, earned first team All-ACC honors after averaging a league-best 41.1 yards per punt. It marked the seventh time in the last eight seasons the Terps had an all-conference punter.

Ted Townsley is a very capable backup to Baltz, who is a preseason All-America choice. Townsley has not competed in a regular-season game, but has a strong leg and has performed well in scrimmages over the last two years.

Torrey Smith was not only a standout at wide receiver last season, but he also made history on special teams. A preseason All-America selection, Smith averaged 25.9 yards per return last year en route to breaking the ACC single-season kickoff return yards record (1,089).

He may get even better this season.

"I think one of Charles' strengths is his kickoff returns," Friedgen said. "We had a couple big returns in the spring, so we should be pretty good there again."

The Terps will have to replace three-year starting punt returner Danny Oquendo, place-kicker Obi Egekeze and long-snapper Andrew Schmitt.

Sophomore Tony Logan will get an opportunity as the punt returner.

"I think Tony Logan has the ability to go back there and make some plays," Friedgen said. "He did a great job at the bowl game replacing Oquendo."

Kenny Tate served as the backup to Oquendo last season. Either he or Anthony Wiseman are choices behind Logan.

The place-kicking job is fairly wide open with the departure of Egekeze, who booted 32 career field goals (tied for seventh in school history) and scored 164 points (10th in school history).

Redshirt freshman Mike Barbour or sophomore Nick Wallace are the most likely candidates among the returners. Barbour is No. 1 heading into preseason camp, but it's a slim lead.

"Heading into camp it's pretty close between Barbour and Wallace," Friedgen said. "We'll also take a long look at Nick Ferrara."

Among the returning place-kickers, who also include senior David May, Wallace is the only one of the three to kick in a college game. He connected on 11 of 13 field goals two years ago at Indiana (Pa.).

May has served as a reserve place-kicker and kickoff specialist the last three years. He could see time as the kickoff specialist this season.

Nick Ferrara, a true freshman, will join the team in August. He was impressive in many of the elite kicking camps last season.

Schmitt was one of the more underrated players on the team over the last four years. Maryland has not had a punt blocked in the last 111 games (the longest active streak in the nation).

Schmitt has a lot to do with that record. He was the long-snapper for the last 50 games.

Sophomore Tim Downs, Schmitt's backup last season, enters the fall atop the depth chart at both short (FG/PAT) and long-snapper (punts).