Quotes from Tuesday's News Conference
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Saturday, Nov. 26
Maryland (2-9, 1-6 ACC)
at
NC State (6-5, 3-4 ACC)
Kickoff: 12:29 p.m. EST
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Stadium: Carter-Finley Stadium (57,583)
Gameday Information
Fan Guide
Gameday Central | Game Day Updates on Twitter
Tickets...
Tickets are available for the game. Fans may call 1-800-IM-A-TERP from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or click here.
Broadcast Information
TV: The ACC Network - Tim Brant (play-by-play), Dave Archer (color) and Mike Hogewood (sidelines) will call the action in the regional broadcast. Locally, the game can be viewed on WJZ-TV (Channel 13) in Baltimore and WTTG-TV (FOX 5) in Washington, D.C. Click here for a complete list of affiliates. The game can also be viewed over the internet on ESPN3 or outside the region through ESPN Gameplan.
Radio: Terrapin Sports Radio Network - Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Jonathan Claiborne (color) and Tim Strachan (color) have the call. The Toyota Tailgate Show with Gary Stein begins at 11:30 a.m. Stein will also serve as host on the postgame show. Click here to listen on-line through Terps TV Premium. The Terrapin Sports Radio Network: WJZ-FM 105.7 - Baltimore (Flagship); ESPN980-AM - Washington D.C.; WWXX-FM 94.3 - Buckland, Va.; 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-AM 1230 - Midland; WMSG-AM 1050 - Oakland; WWXT-FM 92.7 - Prince Frederick, Md.; WTGM-AM 960 - Salisbury. Sirius (134) and XM (196) will carry the NC State broadcast. The Maryland broadcast will not be available on either Sirius or XM.
Game Notes
First-and-10...
The Maryland Terrapins close out the 2011 season Saturday when they travel to Raleigh, N.C., to face the NC State Wolfpack in an Atlantic Division game. The Terps lost to Wake Forest, 31-10, last Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C., while NC State knocked off seventh-ranked Clemson, 37-13. The Wolfpack need a win against Maryland to become bowl eligible and keep their season alive.
Sophomore C.J. Brown has taken over the starting quarterback reins after splitting snaps for a number of weeks with Danny O'Brien who suffered a season-ending injury (fractured left arm) against Notre Dame (11/12). Brown has started four games and rushed for more than 100 yards in two of those contests. He set the Maryland single-season rushing record for a quarterback (497) by posting 110 yards on the ground vs. Wake Forest. Senior Davin Meggett has also been a rushing threat for the Terps. He ranks seventh in the ACC in rushing (73.2 ypg) and eighth (2,320) on the Maryland career rushing list. When in the lineup, junior WR Kevin Dorsey and senior Quintin McCree have been the top two receiving threats. Dorsey (missed two gameshad a game-high tying eight catches vs. Wake Forest and now has a team-high 42 receptions. After posting 28 receptions in the last five games, McCree is second on the team with 38 catches, while junior Kerry Boykins is third with 34. Junior Matt Furstenburg has 29 catches (fourth on the team) and ranks third in the ACC among tight ends in both receiving yards (30.4 pg) and receptions (2.6 pg). The offensive line lost its leader in left guard Andrew Gonnella last month. The senior captain suffered a season-ending knee injury against Georgia Tech (10/8). However, junior Justin Gilbert, out of action since early last season, started at right guard the last two weeks after returning to the field against Virginia (11/5). Bennett Fulper, who started the previous 16 games at center, missed the Wake Forest game and will be out of action against NC State. Sal Conaboy will again start in his place.
The defense has been in a state of transition due to a number of injuries which has seen as many as eight potential starters on the sideline, including four (LB Joe Vellano, one of four team captains, has been the leader of a defense which has forced 23 turnovers (tied for 23rd in the FBS), with three being returned for touchdowns. Vellano also has two fumble recoveries on the season (30-yard return for TD vs. Miami, 9/5) and leads the FBS in tackles by a lineman (7.8 pg). Junior Demetrius Hartsfield, who moved from Will LB to the Mike position in the off-season, ranks second on the team in tackles (90) despite missing three games with an injury. He returned to the lineup vs. Virginia (11/5) and has 39 tackles over the last three contests. Fellow starting linebacker Darin Drakeford returned from injury against Florida State (missed previous three games) and has averaged 8.0 tackles over the last five contests. The Terps started five freshmen defenders vs. Clemson (second most in the FBS in 2011 - see chart on pg. 5), including the entire linebacking corps. Sophomore Dexter McDougle and senior Cameron Chism are tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece. Junior safety Eric Franklin ranks fifth in the ACC in tackles (8.9 per game) and is tied for the team lead with four pass breakups.
Nick Ferrara, a 2009 freshman All-American, is handling all three phases of the kicking game. The junior ranks seventh in the ACC in punting (39.2 ypp) with nearly one third of his attempts (18 of 56) landing inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Ferrara is 12 of 19 on field goals, including a career-best four field goals against Miami (9/5). Senior Tony Logan, a 2010 first team All-ACC selection and record-setting punt returner, ranks fourth in the league (6.6 ypr). Freshman Justus Pickett is averaging 17.2 yards (eighth in the ACC) on 25 kickoff returns.
Quick Hitters...
The injury report for the NC State game was released following Thursday's practice. Out for the Season: WR Tyrek Cheeseboro, DB Makinton Dorleant, OL Bennett Fulper, OL Andrew Gonnella, DB Avery Graham, LB Garrett Lederman, QB Danny O'Brien, DB Matt Robinson, DL Isaiah Ross, TE Dave Stinebaugh, LB Kenny Tate; Out for the Game: DB Titus Till; Questionable: WR Kevin Dorsey, DB Eric Franklin, LB Alex Twine.
While C.J. Brown has split time with Danny O'Brien in seven of the nine games he's played, the sophomore was sharp in the two starts (vs. Clemson, at Wake Forest) where he was the sole QB. In those two games, Brown combined to go 37 of 77 for 363 yards, four TDs and one interception while also rushing for 272 yards and a TD. His 162-yard effort vs. Clemson (10/8) set a single-game school record for a quarterback and ranks eighth all-time in ACC history.
In addition to his 100-yard rushing game vs. Wake Forest, Brown spread the ball around well, matching a season high by hitting nine different receivers (also vs. Clemson, 10/15). Kevin Dorsey led the way with eight receptions for 77 yards. For the game, Brown set career highs in pass completions (20), attempts (42) and passing yards (186).
Andre Monroe had 2.5 sacks vs. Wake Forest (11/19) and now owns the team lead with 5.0 on the season. His output against the Demon Deacons was the highest sack total in a game by a Maryland player since Shawne Merriman had 3.0 at North Carolina on 11/2/2002. Monroe's season tally is the second most by a Maryland freshman in the last nine years (Adrian Moten - 5.5 in 2007; Merriman - 5.0 in 2002).
Overall, the Terps are plus-six in the sack department the last two weeks. The defense has posted six sacks and the offense has not surrendered one. In fact, the Maryland offense has allowed just one sack over the last four weeks.
Offensive lineman Justin Gilbert made his first start in over one year against Notre Dame (11/12). Gilbert opened the game at right guard where he played as a reserve vs. Virginia (11/5). Gilbert, the starter at left tackle last season, was sidelined with a knee injury since the 2010 West Virginia game.
Safety Eric Franklin and linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield each have six double-digit tackle games which lead the team.
Junior LB Darin Drakeford, who missed four games due to injury, is averaging 8.1 stops in seven contests. That mark would rank eighth in the ACC with enough games played this season. Drakeford has started at Star, a hybrid outside linebacker position, the last three contests.
Drakeford also has a team-high three forced fumbles. His 0.43 forced fumbles per-game average would rank tied for 12th in the FBS, but he has not played in 75 percent of the games.
Lorne Goree has started seven games at LB and is first among ACC freshmen in tackles (5.4 pg). He is averaging 7.1 tackles in his seven starts.
With the loss of Andrew Gonnella (season-ending knee injury vs. Georgia Tech, 10/8) and Kenny Tate (season-ending surgery), the Terps have just seven seniors (Davin Meggett, Maurice Hampton, Austin Walker, Cameron Chism, Trenton Hughes, Ronnie Tyler and Quintin McCree) listed among the 44 players on the offensive and defensive two-deep. Tony Logan (punt return) and Tim Downs (long snapper) are listed as starters on special teams.
Nearly 50 percent of the players (10 of 22) listed on this week's defensive two-deep are freshmen (four true/six redshirt).
Brown Out...
C.J. Brown rushed for 110 yards against Wake Forest (11/19) and now has 497 on the ground this season. That mark is a school record for single-season rushing yards by a QB. The previous record was 448 by Mark Manges in 1976. Brown has three 100-yard rushing games this season. No other Terp signal-caller has more than one in his career.
O'Brien's Milestone...
Before his season ended due to injury in the Notre Dame game (11/12), Danny O'Brien went 14 of 21 for 132 yards and became just the ninth QB in school history to reach 4,000 career passing yards. He now has 4,086 in his career. The sophomore moved past Brian Cummings (4,080,1994-97) for eighth all time.
New Game, Different Lineup...
Maryland used a different defensive lineup for the 11th time in 11 games this year in the Wake Forest game (11/19). With LB Alex Twine out with an injury, Demetrius Hartsfield shifted to Will LB and Lorne Goree started at Mike LB. On the offensive side, redshirt freshman OL Sal Conaboy made his first career start at center with Bennett Fulper unable to play due to a hamstring injury. Conaboy is the 11th freshman to start for Maryland this year. Over the last 11 seasons, no more than eight freshmen (2009 and 2000) have started for Maryland. Six of the 11 first-year players who have started this season are true freshmen. Over the same period, the Terps have only started as many as three true freshmen twice (2009 and 2005).
McCree On A Roll...
Senior WR Quintin McCree has posted more than 100 receiving yards in two of the last five games. McCree started his hot streak against Florida State (10/22) when he had career highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (177). He also posted seven catches for 117 yards against Virginia (11/5). Over the last five games, McCree is averaging 5.6 receptions and 83.0 receiving yards. McCree had 31 receptions for 269 receiving yards in his first 31 career games, and 28 catches for 415 yards in his last five.
Mash Unit...
The Terps have lost a number of key performers to injury this year with the defense getting hit especially hard. In all, eight potential starters, including the entire linebacking unit, have been sidelined for at least three games. So far this year, the Terps have lost 46 man-games to potential defensive starters (DL Justin Anderson - 11; LB Darin Drakeford - 4; LB Demetrius Hartsfield - 3; DL Andre Monroe - 3; DB Matt Robinson - 8; DL Isaiah Ross - 10; LB Kenny Tate - 7; LB Alex Twine - 1).
Leading the Nation...
Junior Joe Vellano is averaging 7.82 tackles per game, a mark which is first among defensive linemen in the FBS.
Leading the Nation (Part II)...
Sophomore C.J. Brown is averaging 7.77 yards per carry which leads FBS quarterbacks and ranks fourth overall in the ACC with players
Streaks and Trends...
Maryland is on a seven-game losing streak, while NC State has won four of the last six.
Joe Vellano has posted double-digit tackles in four of the last seven games. The nation's leader in tackles among defensive linemen (7.8 per game) is averaging 9.6 stops over the last eight contests, including a career-best 20 vs. Georgia Tech (10/8).
Quintin McCree has two 100-yard receiving games in the last five contests.
Demetrius Hartsfield has posted double-digit tackles in six of the eight games he's played in this season.
C.J. Brown has rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the last seven games.
Since the beginning of the 2010 season, Maryland is 10-5 when winning the turnover battle.
OT Joe Vellano 24 straight starts leads the defense. CB Cameron Chism had his team-best streak of 32 straight starts snapped vs. Notre Dame when Trenton Hughes was in the opening lineup.
The Terps have recorded 35 picks over the last 26 games. They had at least one interception in 11 of 13 games last season and have recorded at least one in eight of 11 games this year.
The Terps turned the ball over just 14 times (10 interceptions/four fumbles) in 2010 and just four of those (two vs. Navy, 9/6; one vs. Miami, 11/6; one vs. FSU, 11/20) occurred in the red zone. Maryland was tied for fifth in the FBS in fewest turnovers. The Terps have 18 turnovers this season, tied for 49th in the FBS.
No Laundry on the Field...
After setting a school record for most penalties (102) last season, Maryland has been one of the least flagged teams in the nation this season. The Terps rank tied for fourth in the FBS in penalties per game (4.0) and fourth in yards penalized (33.6 per game). They had just two penalties for 11 yards against Towson (10/1) and one for 5 yards vs. Georgia Tech (10/8), the fewest flags the Terps have received in a contest since 2009 (one for 5 yards vs. Virginia Tech, 11/14).
NC State At-A-Glance...
NC State is 6-5 (3-4 ACC) and needs a win on Saturday to become bowl eligible because two of its win have come over FCS teams (Liberty, South Alabama).
Last week NC State beat then-No. 7 Clemson 37-13 at behind Mike Glennon's 253 passing yards and three TDs combined with a strong defensive effort. The Wolfpack forced four turnovers and had six sacks.
A junior, Glennon directs the 11th-ranked offense in the ACC (337.7 ypg). He is averaging 225.8 passing ypg (sixth in the league), while junior running back James Washington's 69.3 rushing yards per game ranks eighth in the conference.
The defense has a league-high 31 turnovers gained (31) and has a number of playmakers. No team in the nation has more interceptions (22), and 11 of those have come from sophomore CB David Amerson. That mark leads the nation and ties the ACC single-season record.
Safety Earl Wolff and middle linebacker Audie Cole rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the ACC in tackles. Wolff is averaging 8.3 pg along with two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two recoveries. Cole averages 8.1 pg and has forced a team-high four fumbles while recovering one.
Weakside linebacker Terrell Manning is second in the ACC with 1.28 TFLs per game and third in the league with 0.56 sacks per game.
Senior wide receiver T.J. Graham is a threat on offense and special teams. He leads the league in punt return average (13.3 ypr) and is fourth in kick return average (22.2 ypr). Graham's 607 receiving yards and five TDs lead the team and his 146.4 all-purpose yards per game are the third-most in the conference.
Maryland-NC State Series History...
Saturday's game marks the 68th meeting between Maryland and North Carolina State. The schools first met in 1909 when NC State shut out Maryland 33-0. The teams have met every season since 1956, and Maryland holds a slight edge in the series (32-31-4).
The Wolfpack took eight of nine from the Terps from 1991 to 1999, before the Terps turned things around in the new millennium. Maryland has won eight of 11 in the series since 2000, with the games frequently ending in dramatic fashion. Aside from a 37-0 Maryland win in 2007, the nine games since 2000 have been decided by an average of 5.5 points. Nick Novak hit game-winning field goals for the Terps in the final seconds in 2002 and 2003, and Maryland scored the decisive touchdown in 2001 with 41 seconds left. Quarterback Shaun Hill rallied the Terps from a 15-point halftime deficit in the 2000 game for a 35-28 double-overtime victory.
The score of the last two games has been 38-31, with NC State coming out on top in 2009 at home and Maryland winning in College Park last year. The Wolfpack hold a 17-15-1 advantage in Raleigh.
In 2007, Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore rushed for two TDs apiece in the regular-season finale which made the Terps bowl eligible. The Terrapins posted their first shutout since 2003 and first in a league game since 1996. Chris Turner was 19 of 24 for 206 yards and had a 41-yard keeper that set up a TD for Maryland which scored on four straight possessions in the first half to take control of the game.
What to Look for vs. NC State...
C.J. Brown is averaging 7.8 yards per carry on 64 attempts this season. Should he get 11 more carries and maintain that average, it would rank second in school history (minimum 75 attempts). Chet Hanulak's 9.78 ypc in 1953 ranks first and Ed Modzelewski's 7.38 ypc in 1951 is second.
Davin Meggett, who is eighth in school history in career rushing yards (2,320), needs 82 more to move into seventh place, currently occupied by Da'Rel Scott (2,401; 2007-10).
Eric Franklin needs two tackles to become just the second DB (Kenny Tate - 100 in 2010) in the last 11 seasons to reach 100 stops. Tony Jackson has 101 in 2000.
Tony Logan (782) needs six yards to crack the top 15 on the ACC's career punt return yards list.
NC State and Maryland rank first and second in the ACC in turnovers gained. The Wolfpack have forced 31, including 22 interceptions (1st in FBS). The Terps have gained 23, including a league-best 13 on fumble recoveries (t-13th in FBS).
NC State is t-4th nationally in turnover margin (+1.18 pg) and Maryland is t-27th (+0.45).
The Terps (33.5) and the Wolfpack (33.9) are the two least penalized teams in the league in terms of yardage.
Both teams get after the quarterback. NC State had six sacks in its win over Clemson last week, while the Terps have three in each of the last two games.
Maryland has the fourth-ranked rushing offense in the ACC (166.6 ypg) and NC State has the fourth-ranked defense (350.7 ypg). The Terps rushed for 229 yards against Wake Forest last week, while the Wolfpack held Clemson to 34 rushing yards.
By The Numbers...
0...Number of sacks by the opposition in the Terps last 73 pass attempts.
0...With Andrew Gonnella is on the shelf with a season-ending knee injury, the Terps are without a senior on the offensive line.
2...So far this season, Maryland has seen two of the top eight crowds in the history of Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. There were 52,875 fans in stands for the Miami game (No. 8) and 53,627 for the West Virginia contest (No. 5).
2...Former head coaches (Gary Crowton, Greg Gattuso) on Randy Edsall's staff.
3...Number of sacks produced by the Maryland defense vs. Notre Dame (11/12) which had allowed just five sacks in its previous nine games.
5...Maryland ranks tied for fourth in the FBS in fewest penalties committed per game (4.0).
5...Maryland ranks fifth in the FBS in fewest fumbles lost (4). Davin Meggett had the only one over the first eight games before the Terps committed two vs. Virginia (11/5) and one vs. Wake Forest (11/19).
5...Number of freshmen who started on defense against Clemson (10/15) which is the second most this season in a single game for any FBS team.
5... C.J. Brown is one of just five QBs in ACC history to post 150 or more rushing yards in a single game.
11...The Terps have 27 former players on active NFL rosters, a number which ranks 11th nationally.
13...Maryland has recovered 13 opponent fumbles which ranks tied for 13th in the FBS.
18...Eighteen of Nick Ferrara's last 39 punts have been fair caught. Only one of his first 17 punts were fair caught.
22...Number of freshmen (14 redshirts; eight true) who have played this season.