Published: August 12, 2009 11:06 pm      

Returning 10 starters, Terps seek fourth straight bowl

Maryland predicted to finish fifth in ACC’s Atlantic Division for second straight year

COLLEGE PARK — In assessing the potential of the 2009 Maryland football team, Ralph Friedgen has adopted the same approach he used during a diet that enabled him to lose 105 pounds.

It took Friedgen around nine months to drop the weight, and that’s the type of perseverance he’s going to need to get the desired results out of a squad that is without 30 seniors from last year’s 8-5 team.

“We have 58 out of our 84 scholarship kids that have three or four years eligibility. We have to be patient, we have to be positive,” Friedgen said.

The Terrapins were picked by the Atlantic Coast Conference media to finish fifth in the six-team Atlantic Division. If that happens, Maryland’s run of three straight bowl appearances would probably be over. But the Terps were projected to end up in fifth place last year, too, yet remained in contention to play in the ACC title game with two games left.

So who’s to say the same thing can’t happen in ’09?

“Every year, I think we get ranked fifth. This year, some people ranked us even lower,” Friedgen said. “I always kind of tell everybody it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. It’s been that way my whole life, so it’s nothing new to me. I just keep working and hopefully everything will fall into place.”

The schedule could prove helpful. After a tough opener on the road against California, the Terrapins hosts James Madison, Middle Tennessee State and Rutgers before starting ACC play at Byrd Stadium against Clemson.

Maryland returns only 10 starters — six on offense and four on defense. The departures include standout receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was taken in the first round of the NFL draft by Oakland, three offensive lineman and a trio of linebackers.

That could explain why the Terrapins aren’t getting much love from those who cover the ACC.

“At first, I kind of brush it off,” senior quarterback Chris Turner said. “But it’s definitely motivation.”

Turner represents a significant measure of continuity for the Terrapins. After taking over for the injured Jordan Steffy in the second week of the 2008 season, Turner led Maryland to four wins over ranked foes.

This season he hopes to pull off a worthy encore. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder won’t have to wait long for his first challenge: The Terrapins open their season on the road against California, which should be ranked in the Top 25.

The Terrapins may be young, but on defense that might be a good thing. Defensive coordinator Don Brown takes over after a successful five-year run as head coach at Massachusetts, and his aggressive system will be easier to teach to those who didn’t play under Brown’s predecessor, Chris Cosh.

“I do think the youth thing has been a positive because we don’t have a bunch of guys that were ingrained in what was done in the past,” Brown said. “On top of that, the coaches have done a great job in instilling what we’re trying to do. All the guys we have right now, they just want to play.”

ACC Predictions

A capsule look at teams in predicted order of finish:



Coastal Division

VIRGINIA TECH — Key players: QB Tyrod Taylor, TE Greg Boone, FS Kam Chancellor, Sr. Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: TB Darren Evans, who ran for 1,265 yards last season, is done for the year because of a preseason knee injury. .... The Hokies’ national title hopes will rise or fall dramatically in their season-opener against Alabama. ... Hokies don’t play Florida State, Clemson or Wake Forest, and N.C. State comes to Blacksburg.

GEORGIA TECH — Key players: RB Jonathan Dwyer, QB Josh Nesbitt, WR Demaryius Thomas, S Morgan Burnett. Returning starters: 9 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Dwyer is bidding to become the first two-time ACC player of the year since Florida State QB Charlie Ward in 1992-93. ... Yellow Jackets play five of seven games on the road from Sept. 17-Oct. 31.

NORTH CAROLINA — Key players: QB T.J. Yates, RB Shaun Draughn, S Deunta Williams, LB Quan Sturdivant. Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense.

Notes: Tar Heels need someone to step up and catch the ball, after three top receivers moved on. ... Biggest obstacle to school’s first BCS appearance might be the schedule: Toughest two Coastal games (Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech) are on the road.

MIAMI — Key players: RB Graig Cooper, OT Jason Fox, K Matt Bosher, LB Sean Spence. Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Jacory Harris takes over QB job on full-time basis after Robert Marve transferred to Purdue. ... Hurricanes haven’t finished with double-digit wins in any season since joining the ACC.

VIRGINIA — Key players: QB Jameel Sewell, OT Will Barker, OT Will Barker, CB Ras-I Dowling. Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Coach Al Groh added two former FBS head coaches to his staff, offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon (Bowling Green) and special teams coordinator Ron Prince (Kansas State). ... Sewell sat out last season because of academics. ... Cavaliers were one of two ACC teams left out of postseason in ’08, joining Duke.

DUKE — Key players: QB Thaddeus Lewis, RB Re’Quan Boyette, DT Vince Oghobaase, DE Ayanga Okpokowuruk. Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Lewis is 2,879 yards shy of the school’s career record for passing yardage and has thrown for at least 2,100 yards in each of his first three seasons. ... Blue Devils will need seven wins to qualify for school’s first bowl berth since 1994, because they play two FCS teams: Richmond and North Carolina Central.



Atlantic Division

FLORIDA STATE — Key players: QB Christian Ponder, OG Rodney Hudson, C Ryan McMahon, LB Dekoda Watson. Returning starters: 8 offense, 5 defense.

Notes: Tough schedule awaits Seminoles: Each of their 11 FCS opponents reached a bowl last season. ... Season could be determined by five-game stretch that includes visits from Georgia Tech and N.C. State and trips to North Carolina, Clemson and Wake Forest.

CLEMSON — Key players: RB/KR C.J. Spiller, WR Jacoby Ford, OL Thomas Austin, LB Brandon Maye. Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense.

Notes: Coach Dabo Swinney figures to lean on Spiller until his young QBs gain experience. ... Reason for optimism in Death Valley: Five regulars return on the offensive line.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE — Key players: QB Russell Wilson, RB Jamelle Eugene, WR Owen Spencer, DE Willie Young. Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense.

Notes: Wilson, the 2008 ACC rookie of the year, has to work to keep his job from redshirt freshman Mike Glennon. ... Wolfpack have the talent to contend for a division title if they stay healthy; Wilson, Eugene and RB Toney Baker were among the key players who missed significant time last season.

WAKE FOREST — Key players: QB Riley Skinner, RB Kevin Harris, OT Chris DeGeare, DT Boo Robinson. Returning starters: 9 offense, 4 defense.

Notes: Skinner looking to become first QB to lead Demon Deacons to four straight bowl games. ... Another win against Florida State would put coach Jim Grobe in exclusive company as one of few coaches to beat Bobby Bowden four straight years.

MARYLAND

BOSTON COLLEGE — Key players: RB Montel Harris, OT Anthony Castonzo, DE Alex Albright. Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Notes: Only ACC school to have no quarterbacks who have started at least one game. ... Defense will miss ACC defensive player of the year Mark Herzlich. The linebacker is sitting out the season to fight cancer.