COLLEGE PARK — One-third of the way through the season, the acclimation period for Maryland's freshmen has wound down. The group has experienced the highs of winning, the lows of big losses, playing at home and facing a hostile environment on the road.
Along the way during Maryland's 2-2 start, the team's freshmen have emerged as contributors. Through four games, running back Ty Johnson, wide receiver D.J. Moore, tight end Avery Edwards (twice), and freshman Jahrvis Davenport have all scored touchdowns. It's the first time in program history that four different true freshmen have scored touchdowns.
"To me, it's not like we're really freshmen anymore," Edwards said Tuesday. "It's time to step up. You got to be a player now. I don't think it's surprising. I was happy Jahrvis got his first touchdown catch at West Virginia. I think that was huge for him and his confidence."
The freshmen have helped make up for an offense that lost the majority of its receiving production from a year ago and that was thin at running back. Edwards has single-handedly surpassed the season production from tight ends a year ago with his season totals of nine catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, Terps tight ends had six receptions for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those guys pick things up pretty quickly," offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said. "They've been productive in practice which leads you to believe they'll have that type of success when given the opportunities in games. I've been pleased with all those guys that have played early thus far. We're still early in the season with them and expect them to get better."
Moore has started the past two games in an effort to help jumpstart the passing game, and he's been a trusted target for the Maryland quarterbacks. Davenport's playing time has increased, and after being targeted a couple times against South Florida, he got his first catch and touchdown against West Virginia in the fourth quarter. And Johnson, the speedy running back from Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, has become more involved earlier in games.
Their contributions to the offense has helped create a tighter bond for a group of players away from home for the first time and trying to adapt to a much more physically taxing game than any of them has ever been accustomed to before.
"Definitely coming in as a freshman, going through the same experiences, first time for each other," Edwards said. "After practice, you'll be looking at each other like, 'Wow, that was a really tough one.' You're like, 'Wow, how did we get through that?' You don't say that to an older guy because they'll just look at you. You don't want that kind of vibe. But no, we definitely have a great friendship. We go to each other, talk to each other."
The quartet of Edwards, Moore, Johnson and Davenport represents a bright future on offense for Maryland. But the freshmen also present one of the best opportunities for the Terps to win now. The coaching staff recognizes that, and so when Maryland faces Michigan on Saturday, the team's youth will have another shot to prove its worth.
"Most of it is done for the sake of trying to win a ballgame today or this week," Locksley said. "All those guys that are playing are playing because they give us an opportunity to try to go out and win."
Terps to face Rudock again
It's not unusual for a defense to develop a sense of familiarity with opposing players, especially the quarterback. He's the fulcrum of the offense, and most of the time, the game plan revolves around his skills and limitations.
So when Jake Rudock returns to Byrd Stadium on Saturday, Maryland already knows a little bit about the Michigan quarterback. The Terps forced Rudock to throw 56 times, sacked him four times and returned an interception for a touchdown courtesy of cornerback Will Likely.
The main difference between last year and this year, though? Rudock was an Iowa Hawkeye a year ago. Now he's a Michigan Wolverine.
"That's probably a first for me," defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski said Wednesday. "Jake is a good player. We saw him live and in color last year. We got a good feel for what he can do. He's very comfortable in that offensive style. He's efficient throwing the ball, doesn't panic in the pocket. He's playing with a lot of confidence."
After he was beaten out by C.J. Beathard for the Hawkeyes starting job, Rudock graduated from Iowa and transferred to Michigan after the Big Ten Conference approved a waiver for him to be eligible immediately. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Rudock beat out Shane Morris for the starting job and has been unspectacular but solid for a Wolverines team that features a power running game.
Rudock has completed 73 of 116 passes for 776 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. One of those picks was returned for a touchdown in the season opener against Utah, a game Michigan lost by seven points. For his career, he's completed 60.7 percent of his passes, and last year, he threw 16 touchdowns to only five interceptions.
"He doesn't make many mistakes," middle linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. said. "He's smart with the ball, so we got to go out there and force him to make those mistakes. They're going to try to get us to play their game, but we're going to go and do what we have to do to stop the run, and hopefully we'll be on the good side of the stick this game."
In Maryland's 38-31 win over Iowa last season, the Terps pulled away and took a 17-point lead in the second half, which forced the Hawkeyes to play catchup. Rudock finished 32 of 56 passing for 317 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Maryland's secondary struggled in losses to pass-heavy Bowling Green and uptempo West Virginia. Against Michigan, which has an impressive stable of running backs, the defense's chances to force Rudock into making mistakes will be limited. And so the Terps will have to make the most of their chances.
"He's a smart quarterback," outside linebacker Jefferson Ashiru said. "He controls the game. He may not throw the most or furthest down the field, but he controls the game. I see he's the field general out there."
Kickoff rescheduled for noon
Saturday's Maryland-Michigan game has been rescheduled to noon from 8 p.m. because of impending inclement weather from Hurricane Joaquin, the school announced Thursday.
The game was scheduled to be a nationally televised night game on the Big Ten Network. Maryland had been billing the game as a "blackout" and was expecting a sellout crowd. The game will still be televised on Big Ten Network.
On Wednesday morning, the Big Ten Network canceled its scheduled broadcast of "BTN Football Pregame" from outside Byrd Stadium and cited "safety concerns for the fans and the production crew and the uncertainty surrounding the storm's path."
Around noon Thursday, the "gamefinder" feature on the Big Ten Network's web site listed Maryland-Michigan as a noon game.
Some Maryland players said Tuesday they didn't know there was inclement weather forecasted to hit College Park.
"We're kind of a weather-proof team, I think," Michigan tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh told The Detroit News on Wednesday. "So it's not something we're really concerned about.
"We'll play anywhere. We'll play on the moon or Mars. They found water there, so maybe that's our next spot."
This is the second game Maryland game affected by weather this season. The Terps' loss to Bowling Green on Sept. 12 had a lengthy weather delay because of lightning in the area.
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