COLLEGE PARK — After Saturday morning's open practice in College Park, Maryland is about a week away from breaking camp and entering game week for its season opener against Howard on Sept. 3. While some questions remain about positions such as quarterback, there appears to be some clarity in what the Terps starting lineup will look like against the Bison.
Coach DJ Durkin wants competition from his players, and he was reluctant to give any one quarterback an edge in the race for that position, though he's been complimentary of players at other positions.
"After this weekend, we'll start narrowing things down, and then going into game week we'll set it for game week and just like every game week, you come out of the game and regroup and figure out who's what and set it for the next game," Durkin said. "That's what we'll do."
Based off the limited view of practice over the past two weeks, here are some educated guesses about what the Terps will look like against Howard.
Quarterback: Senior Perry Hills
Durkin won't budge on giving one of the five quarterbacks on the roster an edge, but Hills appears to be the most likely on the roster to start against Howard. Hills took the majority of first-team snaps during Saturday's open practice, while senior Caleb Rowe and redshirt freshman Gage Shaffer watched. Freshmen Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager each got work, with Pigrome taking the second-most snaps behind Hills. About a week ago, it felt like this race could go in any direction, but with the opener creeping closer and Rowe's slow return from injury, Hills feels like the most logical choice for the opener. But it feels likely that Maryland will play — and possibly start — multiple quarterbacks this season, whether it's Rowe's arm or Pigrome's athleticism and dual-threat ability forcing the issue.
Running back: Sophomore Ty Johnson
In offensive coordinator Walt Bell's system, the running back position will probably be by committee in most cases. But Johnson seems like the top candidate to be on the field for the first play of the game. He's fast and bulked up more than 20 pounds in the offseason without losing any of that quickness. With a running quarterback beside him, Johnson could help befuddle defenses trying to defend any sort of personnel combination Maryland sets out. Senior Wes Brown should push for significant playing time when he returns from his suspension for Big Ten Conference play, while graduate Trey Edmunds is bruising and versatile. Freshmen Lorenzo Harrison and Jake Funk have earned praise and could also push into the rotation.
Wide receivers: Sophomore D.J. Moore, senior Malcolm Culmer, senior DeAndre Lane
This was the first group on the field at Saturday's open practice, and Hills threw touchdown passes to both Culmer — who he has a good rapport with — and Lane (Catonsville). The second group off the bench was senior Levern Jacobs, graduate transfer Teldrick Morgan (Meade) and sophomore Jahrvis Davenport, and Hills threw a touchdown pass to Jacobs later on. Bell said he expects to need eight wide receivers to make his offense hum, which could open the door for freshmen Tino Ellis and DJ Turner of DeMatha. Junior Taivon Jacobs missed the open practice with an injury. Moore, Culmer and Lane's mix of experience and talent make them a good group to pair with Hills, but any of the second three wide receivers off the bench could push them.
Tight end: Situational
Maryland used its top three tight ends — sophomore Avery Edwards, junior Derrick Hayward and redshirt junior Andrew Isaacs — throughout the open practice. While tight ends in Bell's system are expected to be well-rounded players, each of these three still brings a different strength to the table, which could make the starter dependent on game plan and opponent.
Offensive line: Senior LT Michael Dunn, junior LG JaJuan Dulaney, sophomore C Brendan Moore, senior RG Maurice Shelton, sophomore RT Damian Prince
This has been the top group for spring practice and fall camp, and Dunn, Moore and Prince appear locked in to their spots. The guard positions could land in flux, and sophomore Sean Christie was on the field first at right guard on Saturday. This group has had plenty of time to put develop its chemistry, and Durkin's emphasis on versatility should help any new starters transition into the lineup seamlessly.
Defensive ends: Senior Roman Braglio, junior Jesse Aniebonam
Durkin praised Aniebonam, who had been battling with redshirt sophomore Melvin Keihn (Gilman) at that spot. The coach said the junior had his three or four best days of practice earlier this week before sitting out Friday's with an illness. Braglio (McDonogh) has been entrenched at the other defensive end spot since last season.
Defensive tackles: Redshirt sophomore David Shaw, junior Kingsley Opara OR senior Azubuike Ukandu
This grouping could rotate frequently based on the situation, and Shaw said that the number of three-man fronts Durkin's defense uses could necessitate more bodies in the middle of the trenches. Shaw, who was lost to a season-ending injury early last season, has returned strong, while Ukandu (Towson) was strong in his stead and Opara has had impressive flashes during fall camp.
Linebackers: Junior Jermaine Carter Jr., junior Shane Cockerille, junior Jalen Brooks
This position group appears to be one of the most set on the team. Carter has All-Big Ten talent, while Cockerille has been adapting to his newest position change quickly.
Defensive backs: Senior CB Will Likely, sophomore CB JC Jackson, senior CB Alvin Hill, junior S Josh Woods, sophomore S Darnell Savage Jr.
The injury to senior Denzel Conyers makes Savage's spot in the secondary more secure for now, and it's looking like an athletic group. Hill, who suffered a season-ending injury in 2014 and was a bit player last year, has been overshadowed by Likely's return and Jackson's addition, but he made some savvy plays on passes in Saturday's scrimmage.
Kicker: Junior Adam Greene
Greene (Broadneck) made three field goals during Saturday's session, and Durkin complimented his consistency from spring ball into the preseason/
Punter: Freshman Wade Lees
Lees took the most punting reps on Saturday, and Durkin said the former Australian Rules Football player's ability to perform a number of different kicks well is a boost to the team.
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