COLLEGE PARK, Md. - With seven spring practices under their belts, the Maryland football team continues to amp up the intensity level under first-year Head Coach DJ Durkin.
The Terps held their first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday and were back at work on Tuesday morning in full pads. Maryland has just seven practices remaining before holding its annual Red-White Spring Game, which is set for April 16 at 12:30 p.m.
“Every day throughout spring we've made progress and we've gotten better," Durkin said after Tuesday's practice. "We still have a ways to go, but we've gotten better. These guys are very willing to do what we ask them to do and we just have to keep working.”
Two of the more intriguing position groups to watch in the spring are the offensive line and defensive backfield. There are numerous spots open in both groups in which young, talented players are starting to step up.
With the departures of Ryan Doyle, Evan Mulrooney and Andrew Zeller from the offensive line, sophomore Brendan Moore has seen an increased role in the spring.
Moore and the other offensive lineman aren't just learning a new system under offensive coordinator Walt Bell, but they're also learning to play multiple positions.
"As a center, you have to learn every single position because you have to know the techniques for each," explained Moore. "Being a center is great, but I still study the other positions and I would be fine if (the coaches) put me in any of them.”
In the secondary, All American William Likely returns, but the other cornerback spot and two safety spots are up for grabs.
Junior Josh Woods has embraced more competitive practices and hopes that as players compete for spots, the entire team will improve.
“I feel like everybody came in this year with a brand new start," said Woods. "The coaches look at how you are producing in the weight room, on the field and they look at if you're doing the things that they are asking you to do. If you are, they will reward you with playing time or by moving you up on the depth chart.”
-Maryland-
