Aug. 15, 2012

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall on Wednesday announced that starting quarterback C.J. Brown has suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the season.

Brown, a junior who started five games last season, suffered the injury Tuesday night in a non-contact drill.

"I just feel really, really bad for C.J.," said Edsall. "To see the work he's put in for this season go away with one cut, one cut in a non-contact drill, a cut that he's made thousands of times, it's just devastating.

"It was a situation where we were running a two-minute drill and he broke through the pocket, was running down field and went to make a cut. As I said, it's a cut he's made thousands of times. It just so happens that this time his knee didn't hold up and he had the torn ACL. Again, injuries are part of football. We feel very, very bad about this, but now we have to move forward."

True freshman Perry Hills now sits atop the depth chart at quarterback, with fellow true freshman Caleb Rowe behind him. Devin Burns, who was originally a quarterback at Maryland before switching to wide receiver, will transition back to quarterback. He'll take third-team reps starting with Wednesday's practice.

"It's disappointing for C.J., but the excitement we have and the kind of practices we have been having the last few days and the things that are taking place haven't hampered anything," said Edsall. "We are disappointed and upset that this injury has occurred to C.J. but none of the expectations, enthusiasm, or excitement that we have for this season have been taken away from us. We are looking forward to getting back out on the practice field today so we can continue all of this energy, excitement and enthusiasm that our players are really developing and putting into this season."