Maryland Plays Host to MTSU Saturday
9/14/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Saturday, Sept. 19
Maryland (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
vs.
Middle Tennessee State (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: College Park, Md.
Stadium: Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium (54,000). Click here for parking information.
TV: ESPN360 - Frank Giardina (play-by-play) and Jeremy Bloom (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 2 p.m. ET The game can also be heard on XM Satellite Radio Channel 192 and Sirius Channel 218. Click here to Listen Live on-line through Terps TV. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network (13 affiliates): WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); WJZ-AM 1300 - 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.
Tickets: Tickets for home games are available through the Maryland Athletics Ticket Office. Fans my call 1-800-IM-A-TERP or click here.
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, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Ralph Friedgen, continues its four-game homestand Saturday when Middle Tennessee State visits the newly-refurbished Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. The Terps won their home opener Saturday in dramatic fashion, downing James Madison, 38-35, in overtime. MTSU is coming off an impressive 31-14 home win over Memphis. The Blue Raiders knocked off the Terps, 24-14, last season in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• After posting just 13 points in the season opener, the Maryland offense rebounded with five scoring drives vs. James Madison. Senior QB Chris Turner threw for 236 yards, junior RB Da'Rel Scott rushed for 68 yards and one TD, and wide receivers Adrian Cannon and Torrey Smith combined for three touchdowns in the win. Turner directed a precision air attack, completing 25 of 38 passes to eight different receivers. Smith caught eight of those passes and Cannon had five receptions and ranks tied for second in the ACC in catches (5.0 pg). Senior Phil Costa, who has started 20 career games, was the lone experienced offensive lineman in last week's game with junior LT Bruce Campbell out of action with a foot injury. True freshman Bennett Fulper (left guard) and redshirt freshman R.J. Dill (right tackle) started for the first time. Senior Cory Jackson, who has been the starting fullback since midway through his freshman season, opens holes for Scott and Davin Meggett and Morgan Green. Scott, Meggett and Green combined to rush for 140 yards (5.3 ypc) vs. Cal. The wide-receiving corps is extremely deep, with the possibility of nine wideouts seeing time this season. Cannon has a team-high 10 receptions and sophomore Ronnie Tyler has averaged a team-best 14.4 yards per reception.
• Linebackers Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten have been the top playmakers on a defense which has just four starters back from last season. Wujciak, a second-team All-ACC selection last season, has a team-high 17 tackles and Moten has 15, including a career-high 13 vs. James Madison. First-year defensive coordinator Don Brown has a veteran secondary, though one which was dealt a blow last weekend. Seniors Anthony Wiseman, Nolan Carroll, Terrell Skinner and Jamari McCollough each played significant roles last season Skinner is the second-leading returning tackler, having registered 63 stops last season and McCollough had a team-high four picks in 2008. Carroll emerged as the team's No. 1 cornerback, but his season came to an end vs. JMU due to a broken tibia. Sophomore Kenny Tate was one of the the most impressive defenders in the preseason and has tallied eight tackles on the season. 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 is the team's fifth-leading tackler (10).
• 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 is on track to set the Maryland career mark this year. He returned his second career kickoff for a touchdown vs. James Madison and is averaging 230.5 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks third in the nation. 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. True freshman Nick Ferrara won the place-kicking job over redshirt freshman Mike Barbour just before the season opener. Ferrara delivered a pair of field goals vs. Cal (9/5) and the game-winner in overtime vs. JMU, hitting from 26 yards out. Sophomore Tony Logan was expected to be the No. 1 punt returner, taking over for three-year starter Danny Oquendo, but he has not played in the first two games. Tate and Wiseman have been the punt returners this season.
Quick Hitters...
• Dating back to the end of the 2007 season, the Terps have won eight of their last nine home games. With the win over James Madison, Maryland has won 11 of their last 12 home openers, including eight of nine during Ralph Friedgen's tenure.
• Maryland and Middle Tennessee State have faced each other just three times, with the Terps winning twice (45-27 in 2000; 24-10 in 2006) and MTSU coming out on top 24-14 last season in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Terps are 2-0 in College Park vs. MTSU.
• Maryland is 4-1 all-time vs. teams currently playing in the Sun Belt Conference. In addition to going 2-1 vs. MTSU, the Terps defeated Florida International twice (14-10 in 2006; 26-10 in 2007).
• Friedgen is among the winningest coaches in Atlantic Coast Conference history. He ranks eighth all-time in winning percentage (see chart on page 6) with a record of 65-37 (.637). Maryland has made six postseason appearances in Friedgen's eight seasons, including a school-record four bowl wins.
• Maryland is 23-8 in non-conference games under Friedgen, including a 19-2 mark at home.
• The Terps' 10 returning starters 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 since Brian Cummings (1995-97). The senior ranks fourth on Maryland's career completion percentage list (59.9), sixth in career passing yards chart (4,877), sixth in total offense (4,700), fourth in completions (409), third in career pass attempts (683) and tied for 10th in TD passes (21). Turner needs 133 yards to pass Neil O'Donnell (1987-89/4,989) for fifth place in career passing yards and 223 to become just the fifth QB in school history to reach 5,000 yards.
• Junior Da'Rel Scott moved from 21st to 20th on the Maryland career rushing chart by posting 68 yards on the ground vs. JMU (9/12). Scott, who has 1,426 career rushing yards, needs 63 more to pass Buddy Rodgers (1994-97) for 19th place. Scott needs another 574 rushing yards this season to become the 10th back in school history to reach 2,000 yards.
• 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 232 all-purpose yards (187 kickoff/29 receiving/16 rush) vs. Cal (9/5), the second-highest total of his career. He moved from fifth to third on the Maryland career kickoff return yards list. He followed that up with 229 all-purpose yards (127 kickoff/80 receiving/22 rush) vs. James Madison (9/12). Smith, who set the ACC single-season kickoff return yards record (1,089) last season, needs 118 yards to eclipse Keeta Covington (1983-86/1,520) for the Terps career mark.
Overtime Was Their Time...
The Terrapins improved to 4-3 all-time in overtime games, including 2-0 at home, with Saturday's 38-35 win over James Madison. The Terps' last overtime game occurred on 09/22/07 in a 31-24 loss at Wake Forest. The Terps' last OT win came 11/12/05 at North Carolina, 33-30. Maryland's last OT game at home was on 11/4/2000 in a 35-28 victory over NC State. Two of the Terps' overtime wins ended with a first-year kicker hitting a field goal. True freshman Nick Ferrara hit a 26-yarder vs. JMU and redshirt freshman Nick Novak, the school's all-time leading scorer, nailed a 26-yarder at Georgia Tech in 2001.
First-Time Starters...
• Eight Terps had 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. On the defensive side, 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, opening the game at right tackle.
Terps Lose No. 1 Corner for Second-Straight Year...
The collegiate career of Nolan Carroll came to an end during the James Madison game (9/12). The senior cornerback broke his right tibia during the fourth quarter of the game and is out for the season. Carroll was the Terps' No. 1 cornerback and one of four team captains. He ends his Maryland career with 61 tackles and nine pass breakups. The Terps also lost their No. 1 cornerback midway through last season when Kevin Barnes was injured vs. Wake Forest (10/18).
Spreading the Wealth...
After only three wide receivers made a catch in the season opener against California, five wideouts recorded at least one reception against JMU. Torrey Smith led the pack with eight receptions, which matched his career high; Adrian Cannon had five, which tied his career high; Quintin McCree had the first four of his career, Ronnie Tyler had three; and LaQuan Williams had one.
Not Lacking for Talent...
At first glance, the Maryland coaching staff looks to have a daunting task this season as 30 seniors are gone from last year's team, including 23 players who started at least one game in their careers. The Terrapins do return a number of talented individuals with 38 letterwinners, including 10 starters (six offense/four defense) and two special teams standouts, back from last year's squad which advanced to the team's sixth bowl game (Humanitarian Bowl) in the last eight years. Fortunately, the Terps have a standout at quarterback in two-year starter Chris Turner, a gifted group of skill position players and some veterans on defense. The Terps also signed a recruiting class ranked as high as No. 26 in the country. A handful of those true freshmen have already seen time with LB Darin Drakeford, PK Nick Ferrara, OL Bennett Fulper and DL Zachariah Kerr playing vs. California (9/5). There were also 10 redshirt freshmen getting on the field for the first time 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. TE Matt Furstenburg, a redshirt freshman, also played against the Golden Bears, though he saw time last season before earning a medical redshirt. True freshman DL Isaiah Ross made his first appearance vs. James Madison (9/12).
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 last weekend's win over James Madison. 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.
Offense Returns Plenty of Skill...
Despite losing a first-round NFL draft choice in Darrius Heyward-Bey and returning just six starters on offense, Maryland has many of its skilled players back in the fold:
• Junior RB Da'Rel Scott is coming off a year in which he was named first-team All-ACC and MVP of the Humanitarian Bowl. He capped his sophomore campaign by rushing for a Maryland bowl-record 174 yards (all in the second half) on 14 carries (12.4 ypc) vs. Nevada. With that performance, Scott became the seventh player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Chris Downs in 2002. Scott finished the season with 1,133 rushing yards - the seventh-highest single-season total all-time at Maryland - and a team-best eight touchdowns. He rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries in the season opener vs. Cal (9/5).
• Sophomore Torrey Smith emerged as a receiving threat midway through last season. On top of setting the ACC single-season record for kickoff return yards (1,089), Smith finished the year with 24 receptions for 336 yards. Both of those totals were tops among returning players entering the season.
• Junior Adrian Cannon appears to have emerged as a prime receving threat. Cannon demonstrated his explosiveness in last year's bowl game, scoring on a 59-yard strike from Chris Turner on the third play of the game. Cannon also made a number of big plays in the preseason scrimmages and has a team-best 10 catches, including a 27-yard TD reception which helped send the JMU game to overtime.
• Sophomore Ronnie Tyler made a number of acrobatic catches last season and had a solid bowl game posting five receptions for 55 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown catch. Tyler may slide into the slot receiver spot occupied by Danny Oquendo the last three seasons, though redshirt freshman Kerry Boykins and junior LaQuan Williams are also expected to see time there. After a solid 2007 season, Williams was hampered by a foot injury last season.
• Davin Meggett had a memorable true freshman season. Meggett was second on the team in rushing (457 yards) and rushing touchdowns (four). He helped spark wins vs. NC State and North Carolina. Meggett had a key 31-yard reception on third down to set up the game-winning field goal vs. NC State, and tallied a career-high 86 yards on 13 carries in the win over UNC. He was pushing Scott in the preseason for the No. 1 tailback spot and had nine rushes for 36 yards in the season opener vs. Cal (9/5).
• Sophomore wide receivers Tony Logan and Quintin McCree and redshirt freshman Kevin Dorsey all showed flashes in the spring and preseason. McCree has received the most time among the trio this season.
Youth On the O-Line...
After losing five of his top seven performers from a year ago, offensive line coach Tom Brattan had a busy off-season. Gone are three-year starting center Edwin Williams, two-year starting left guard Jaimie Thomas and two-year starting tackle Scott Burley. Jack Griffin and Dane Randolph also completed their eligibility. In all, those five players combined to start 115 games. LT Bruce Campbell and C Phil Costa return as 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 has taken over as the starting center this year and is the leader of this group. The other three spots were up for grabs entering the preseason. Lamar Young and Andrew Gonnella assumed the No. 1 spots at left and right guard, respectively, for the season opener, with junior Paul Pinegar sliding into the right tackle role. However, a number of other linemen played vs. Cal (9/5). R.J. Dill saw time at right tackle, while true freshman Bennett Fulper, redshirt freshman Justin Lewis and sophomore Maurice Hampton played at the two guard spots. The Terps started two freshmen vs. James Madison (9/12) with Fulper starting at left guard and Dill at right tackle, and Pinegar shifting to left tackle due to an injury to Campbell. In all, eight offensive linemen saw action vs. JMU. Sophomroe Tyler Bowen saw his first-career action, getting on the field for 13 plays vs. JMU.
Breakout Campaign...
In 12 games last season, running back Da'Rel Scott rushed for 1,133 yards on his way to becoming a first team All-ACC selection. His rushing total ranks seventh on the Maryland single-season rushing chart and he became the first Terrapin back to earn a spot on the conference's first team since Chris Downs in 2002.
• In the 2008 Roady's Humanitarian Bowl versus Nevada, Scott rushed for a Maryland post-season record 174 yards, including a 49-yard TD run, despite playing only two quarters.
• Scott finished the 2008 season ranked second in the ACC and 30th in the nation (FBS) in rushing with 94.4 ypg. He also ranked fifth in the ACC and 75th nationally in all-purpose yards with 108.7 per game. He led the team with eight touchdowns.
• Scott's five 100-yard rushing games last season tied him with Bruce Perry (2001) for the most in a single season by a sophomore in Maryland history.
• Scott had 11 carries of at least 24 yards in the 2008 season and another in the season opener vs. Cal (9/5), scoring on a 39-yard run.
• After two games this season, Scott is averaging 79 rushing yards per game, which ranks sixth in the ACC and 55th in the nation (FBS).
Mighty Meggett...
RB Davin Meggett was a pleasant surprise last season and he will again be vying for extended time at tailback. The product of Clinton, Md., rushed for 457 yards, the most by a Maryland true freshman since Lamont Jordan posted 689 in 1997. In addition, his four rushing touchdowns were the most by a true freshman since Josh Allen scored eight in 2002. As a true freshman, Meggett secured the No. 2 tailback role in the preseason when Morgan Green was hampered with an injury. He had another impressive preseason camp and provides a good 1-2 punch combined with Da'Rel Scott.
Misc. Offensive Notes...
• 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. QB Chris 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.
• 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 Chris Turner passes for 18 yards.
• TE Tommy Galt (three for 29 yards) and WR Adrian Cannon (five for 30 yards) each posted a career high in receptions vs. Cal (9/5). Canonon matched that makr vs. JMU.
Senior 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 return six players, including four seniors, who saw plenty of action last season. CB Anthony Wiseman and FS Terrell Skinner are returning starters, but Nolan Carroll, Kenny Tate, Jamari McCollough and Antwine Perez each played a number of snaps in 2008. Carroll, Skinner and Wiseman have combined to played in 99 career games, while McCollough, Perez and Tate played in all 13 games last season. Howver, Caroll was lost for the season (broken tibia) in the James Madison game (9/12) and McCollough missed that game. Tate was one of the standouts of preseason camp, making plays daily in either practices or scrimmages. Cameron Chism, Trenton Hughes and Richard Taylor are the top backups at cornerback. Chism and Hughes played last season, though sparingly. Taylor is a sixth-year senior who has 24 games of playing experience. He gained a year of eligibility after suffering through two injury-plagued seasons.
Youth Served at Linebacker...
With the loss of Dave Philistin, Moise Fokou, Chase Bullock and Rick Costa, the Terps will have to replace a ton of experience at linebacker. That group combined to play in 144 games, including 54 starts. During spring practice, the Terps had just one linebacker - Adrian Moten - who has played in a game at that position. With Alex Wujciak and Ben Pooler missing the spring, the LB two-deep featured three freshmen (Demetrius Hartsfield, Darin Drakeford and Avery Murray), junior Drew Gloster, who moved from tight end, and special teams performer Hakeem Sule. Moten has played in 25 career games, most among the linebacking corps. Despite the youth, the linebackers may prove to be a strength of the defense. Drakeford and Murray are true freshmen who arrived in January and have found their way into the two-deep. Gloster looks like a capable backup for Wujciak, and Pooler and Sule could see action behind Hartsfield, who was one of most impressive defenders in the preseason.
Misc. Defensive Notes...
• 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 on the season by cornerback Anthony Wiseman's 10 PBUs. Against Cal, Wiseman reached nearly half that total, recording a career-best four PBUs in the game as Maryland had six as a team.
Mr. Versatility...
Torrey Smith has become one of the most dangerous all-purpose players in the nation. The sophomore, who last season set the ACC record for kickoff return yardage in a season (1,089), has the capability of making a variety of plays, mixing in the running game, passing game, and special teams.
• Smith's explosive ability as a kick returner helped make him a consensus preseason All-ACC selection. Against James Madison, 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. In week one against Cal, Smith racked up 187 yards on kickoff returns, including a long return of 48 yards.
• Smith, who emerged as a reliable receiver late last season for the Terps, has nine receptions on the season for a total of 109 yards. He has also rushed the ball four times for 38 yards in two games.
• Through two games, Smith is ranked third in the nation (FBS) in all-purpose yards with an average of 230.5 yards/game. He racked up 229 total yards against James Madison and 232 against California, the third-most and second-most in his career, respectively (245 vs. Boston College 11/29/08).
• Smith also serves as a "gunner" on the coverage 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 faced many high-pressure kicks 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.
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.
MTSU At-A-Glance...
• MTSU has the same number of seniors as Maryland (14), but return 17 players who have started at least one game, including 14 with 10 or more career starts.
• QB Dwight Dasher led the offense in Saturday's win over Memhis, accounting for 320 of the Blue Raiders 436 yards of offense, outgaining the Tiger offense by himself by 101 yards. Through two games, he has accounted for 585 of the team's 735 total yards (80 percent).
• Dasher is dangerous through the air and on the ground. Against Memphis he was 18-of-26 for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 89 yards.
• Middle Tennessee's defense held Memphis to just 14 points and 219 yards of total offense, while collecting 11 tackles for loss and two sacks. It was the fewest yards allowed by the MTSU defense since it surrendered only 138 to Arkansas State on 10/20/07.
• The Blue Raiders returned three key receivers from 2008 in seniors Patrick Honeycutt and Desmond Gee, and sophomore Malcolm Beyah. Honeycutt caught five passes for 71 yards against Memphis, while Gee has four catches on the season. Beyah has been slowed by an ankle injury but is a playmaker when healthy.
• Although LB was a question mark entering the season, Cam Robinson has proven to be a force. The senior has 12 tackles through two games, including four tackles-for-loss and once sack.
• Senior Desmond Gee is a dangerous all-purpose player. The two-time all-conference performer is the all-time leader for the Blue Raiders in kick returns and kickoff return yards, and has racked up 3,299 all-purpose yards in his career.
By The Numbers...
3...Number of punters (Brooks Barnard, Adam Podlesh and Travis Baltz) the Terps have employed in the last nine years.
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.
13...Number of true or redshirt freshmen who saw action for the first time vs. California (9/5).
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.
26...The Terps' offensive line entered the season with a combined 26 career starts (Phil Costa - 18; Bruce Campbell - 8).
27...The Terps currently have 27 former players active on NFL rosters, including six from last season's team (see chart on pg. 17).
58...Among the 85 scholarship players, 58 of them have at least three years of eligibility remaining.
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.
113...The Terps have not had a punt blocked since Nov. 13, 1999 (Florida State), a stretch of 113 games, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
209.5...Over the last four games, Torrey Smith has averaged 209.5 all-purpose yards.
