Terps Host Richmond for 2015 Opener
9/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team opens its 2015 season and its second season as a member of the Big Ten Conference with a noon kickoff against Richmond Saturday at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium. Maryland has won five straight season openers and 10 of its last 11. The Terps lone loss during that span came at 12th-ranked California to open the 2009 season.
In addition, Maryland has won 11 straight season openers at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, last losing a home opener against Ohio on Sept. 6, 1997.
Live Coverage
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPNU at Noon ET and is available online here through your cable provider. Ryan Ruocco (pbp) and Mike Belotti (color) will call the action. The game can also be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Johnny Holliday (pbp) and Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) on the call. The game can also be heard on Sirius Radio channel 81, XM Radio channel 81 and SiriusXM channel 81.
Series History
Maryland leads 12-5-1
Home: 7-2-1 / Away: 5-3
Neutral: 0-0
First Meeting: Oct. 5, 1907 / Away / L, 5-11
Last Meeting: Nov. 12, 1977 / Away / W, 27-24
Most points scored vs. Richmond:
Home: 46 (46-0 win on Oct. 15, 1912)
Away: 30 (37-7 win on Oct. 4, 1946)
Most points given up vs. Richmond:
Home: 37 (37-7 loss on Oct. 4, 1946)
Away: 24 (27-24 win on Nov. 12, 1977)
Number of Shutouts:
Maryland: 8 Richmond: 3
Largest Margin of Victory:
(46) 46-0 on Oct. 15, 1912
Largest Margin of Defeat:
(30) 37-7 on Oct. 4, 1946
A LIKELY STORY
Junior cornerback William Likely proved his breakout freshman season in College Park was no fluke after piecing together one of the most spectacular seasons in Maryland history from a defensive back and return man in 2014. Despite his physical stature at 5'7”, Likely is one of the most explosive players in Division I football. Said Randy Edsall at Big Ten Media Day in late July, “He might be 5'7”, but he plays like he's 6'4”.
- Likely currently holds at least a share of six Maryland program records, and has gained preseason national recognition from a bevy of media outlets across the nation, including All-American by Athlon Sports.
- He is a member of four watch lists: Bednarik, Hornung, Thorpe and Nagurski.
- Likely tied for the Big Ten lead in interceptions (6) in 2014, leading the conference and setting a program record with 170 interception return yards. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns - tied for the most in FBS.
- Likely tied the Maryland record with a 100-yard kick return against Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl last season in Santa Clara, Calif.
- The Belle Glade, Fla., native is poised to make a major jump on the Maryland career kickoff return yards list, needing just 295 yards to jump into second all-time. Torrey Smith is the career leader with an astounding 2,893 yards.
On The Offense
ROSS LEADS DEEP RB UNIT
Running back Brandon Ross is back for his final season in College Park after leading the Terrapin running backs in rushing the past three seasons. In addition to Ross, Maryland returns Wes Brown, who ran for six touchdowns in 2014. Ross, a native of Newark, Del., has carried the ball 336 times for 1585 yards and nine touchdowns during his career. Ross leads the team with five 100-yard career rushing performances. He ran for 108 yards and tied a career-high with two rushing touchdowns in the 2014 season finale against Rutgers.
- Ross ranks 20th in school history with 1,585 career rushing yards.
- Ross ranks 18th in school history averaging 4.73 yards per carry over three seasons.
- He has five career 100-yard rushing games – tied for 12th all-time in Maryland history.
HILLS TAKES OVER AT QUARTERBACK
Junior Perry Hills won a three-way quarterback competition in preseason camp to earn the starting nod for the season-opener against Richmond. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native looked sharp throughout camp, taking command of the huddle and meshing well with the team's receiving corps. Hills memorably started seven games in 2012 as a true freshman after C.J. Brown tore his ACL prior to the start of the season.
- Hills boasts a career passing efficiency of 132.5, passing for 1,423 yard and nine touchdowns in 10 appearances.
- In 2012, he became the just the third true freshman to start on opening day in program history.
- He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection last season.
EXPERIENCED O-LINE RETURNS
Maryland features strong consistency on the offensive line, specifically on its flanks with tackles Michael Dunn and Ryan Doyle and guard Andrew Zeller. The trio has combined 72 starts over their careers along the offensive line. Dunn, a former walk-on, leads the offense with 26 consecutive starts after starting every game over the last two seasons.
On The Defense
NO FLY ZONE
Maryland's secondary is a force to be reckoned with this season, as it returns five players that have combined for 94 career starts: Sean Davis, A.J. Hendy, Alvin Hill, William Likely and Anthony Nixon.
- Davis is the team's active leader in tackles (230), and is moving from safety to cornerback this season.
- After redshirting his senior season, Hendy returns to the Maryland lineup as the co-leader in interceptions returned for touchdown (2).
- Hill started the first four games of the 2014 season before his season was cut short to injury.
- Likely tied for the Big Ten lead with six interceptions in 2014, and is a preseason Athlon Sports All-American.
- Nixon is the Maryland active leader in starts (29), and finished fifth on the team with 62 tackles in 2014.
TERPS UNVEIL NEW 4-3 SCHEME
Under new defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski, the Terps are set to unveil their new 4-3 base defensive scheme against Richmond. With just one starter returning in the front seven (Quinton Jefferson), head coach Randy Edsall believes the scheme best fits the current personnel.
- The opening day linebacking corps of Jalen Brooks, Jermaine Carter, Jr. and Jefferson Ashiru has combined for just four starts in a Maryland uniform. The UConn senior transfer, Ashiru, however, made 19 career starts during his time in Storrs, Conn.
- Jefferson returns to lead the defensive line after his 2014 season was unfortunately cut short due to injury after three games. Juniors Roman Braglio and Yannick Ngakoue, and sophomore David Shaw join Jefferson on the line.
- Ngakoue is poised for another big season after totaling 13.5 tackles for loss and six sacks as a sophomore. He is a 2015 Butkus Award Watch List member.
AUTO-CRADDOCK
Senior place kicker Brad Craddock pieced together one of the best seasons in program history in 2014 en route to claiming the Lou Groza Award for the country's most outstanding place kicker. Craddock booted the longest field goal in team history (57 yds. vs. Ohio State) and made 18-of-19 field goals, as he was named an Associated Press All-American and was selected First Team All-Big Ten. Craddock currently holds at least a share of four Maryland records, including a consecutive made field goal streak of 24 that stretched from 2013 to 2014.
MEDIA INFORMATION
For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.
-Maryland-
