University of Maryland Athletics

April 1, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

The following is the fourth and final installment of the 2005 Spring Football Outlook for the Maryland Terrapins football team. With the Terps' first practice slated for tomorrow morning, today's focus will be on the defensive backs and special teams.

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Defensive Back
It isn't everyday that a team can lose three starters and still end up being better the following year. That scenario is a possibility for the Terps this year.

Though the loss of a player like Domonique Foxworth, with his leadership and consistency, will certainly not help, it should be considered that the three starters other than Foxworth from last year were also in their first year in that role. Meanwhile, players like junior Josh Wilson and senior Gerrick McPhearson split a lot of time, gaining them valuable experience in the meantime. The bottom line is that if this year's group can minimize mistakes and understand the scheme, there is no question that - on the whole - it is an faster, more athletic group than the foursome of a year ago.

McPhearson enters his senior year as the starter at the field corner spot formerly occupied by Foxworth. The fastest cornerback in school history and an All-ACC performer on the Terps' track team in the offseason, McPhearson can cover and run with any receiver in the league. With a good year of experience under his belt, 2005 could be a breakout season for him. Behind him will be a player who coaches worked very hard to keep a redshirt on last year, Kevin Barnes. Barnes looked very good as a true freshman and will get his shot at playing time while likely being groomed as the replacement for McPhearson for future seasons.

At boundary cornerback, Wilson is another player of whom big things are expected. Like McPhearson, Wilson has worked with the UM track team in the offseason and will likely be even faster than his 4.35 time in the 40-yard dash of a year ago. He is a fiery back who plays like every down is his last. If everything comes together for he and his counterpart, it is not unthinkable that the Terrapins will be fashioning a couple of all-conference type cornerbacks. Redshirt freshman Richard Taylor will get a look behind Wilson after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury.

A contrast in styles will be one of the feature components of the battle at strong safety to replace Chris Kelley, the honorable mention All-ACC performer of a year ago. Junior Marcus Wimbush and his hard-hitting style will try to stave off speedy, hard-working newcomer Isaiah Gardner in what will be an interesting spring competition. Wimbush will need to sharpen his cover skills but is as solid a tackler as any on the team while Gardner - who transferred early in the season last year from Notre Dame - will likely need to show that his tackling is up to par with his cover skills. The Terps need a good mix of "force" and "cover" and it will be the player who can do the most of both who will end up with the job. Senior Milton Harris is another player with good cover skills who could factor in.

Sophomore Christian Varner did a good enough job in his first season working in the nickel and dime packages that he is relatively firmly entrenched as the starter at free safety heading into spring ball. Varner is an intelligent player with a nose for the ball who improved on his size (he gained 15 pounds) and speed in the offseason. A player who has also improved his stock is fellow second-year safety J.J. Justice. Justice has very good straight-line speed but has worked on becoming more fluid and now seems that his cover skills may be better suited to free safety as opposed to strong. Like many other spots, these two give the Terrapins a pair of very good athletes to count on for years to come.

"I think we have two pretty good corners who both can run and thanks to last year, have some pretty good experience," said Friedgen. "But we will need to find some backups and we are looking forward to the competition at safety as well as seeing what some of the newcomers like (Anthony) Wiseman and (Jamari) McCollough can do in the fall."

Special Teams
Placekicker will be an issue for the first time in four years with the loss of perennial All-ACC performer Nick Novak. Junior Dan Ennis enters spring just ahead of redshirt freshman Obi Egekeze, but competition will be very stiff. Egekeze has the stronger leg, but Ennis has worked tirelessly over the last few years to improve his range and, last year, was probably the more consistent of the two overall.

Adam Podlesh's first two seasons as the Terrapin's punter could not have been much better with two seasons as a Ray Guy semifinalist under his belt. One of the best directional punters in the country, Podlesh will also work on kickoffs, a duty that will be held by Egekeze when spring starts.

One other position worth mentioning is long snapper after the departure of Jon Condo, a player who in the middle of spring ball could get drafted as he is rated as the top long snapper available in this year's college class. Tim Cesa and Derek Miller are the early candidates to serve as his replacement while Brendan McDermond will also get a shot.

SPRING OUTLOOK SCHEDULE
Offense, QB, TB, FB -- March 29
WR, TE, OL -- March 30
Defense, DL, LB -- March 31
DB, Special Teams -- Today