COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland emptied a mixed bag when it honored 16 seniors, including eight starters, before last night's game against North Carolina State.
The group included a sixth-year player; an unselfish lineman who volunteered to play two ways; two transfers who walked on and earned scholarships; two others who came in from junior colleges; and a lone fourth-year senior whose recruiting class is down to four players.
Left tackle Stephen Ingram, a preseason All-American, entered Maryland in 1989 and was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA because he lost the 1991 season to a broken leg. He was the most celebrated senior on the team until Jamie Bragg switched to defense and helped stabilize that group. Bragg, who went to Severna Park High, played center all last year.
Inside wide receiver Russ Weaver, who entered last night game's tied for sixth on the Terps' receiving list with 100, and strong safety Angel Guerra first played for Division III John Carroll and Division II Lock Haven, respectively. Superback Allen Williams, who had a team-leading 526 yards rushing, spent two junior-college seasons at Georgia Military College.
Raphael Wall, who came out of Wilde Lake High as the top rusher in state history, was moved to the secondary last year and has started every game at right cornerback. He's one of only four players who remain from the recruiting class that entered Maryland in 1991; the others are red-shirt juniors, quarterback Scott Milanovich, offensive lineman John Teter and linebacker Gene Gray.
Three other seniors start, including offensive guards Jade Dubis and Dave Hack, who, after Ingram, could be the second Terp to be picked in the NFL draft next spring. Inside linebacker Erick Wood missed two games with a knee injury but worked his way back into the starting lineup.
The other seniors who were honored before Maryland's final home game were Tim Fosque and Jahmal Webster, who are part of a six-man rotation at defensive end; linebacker Cleveland Everhart, a junior-college transfer; superback Doug Burnett; long-snapper Corey Holobetz; tight end Kevin Woodeshick; and Paul Gunsser, a former offensive lineman who this year has been a student assistant.