COLLEGE PARK — Maryland opened its doors to the public Saturday morning for an open practice at Maryland Stadium to give fans their last look at the Terps before the season opener in two weeks. The practice featured plenty of 11-on-11 action as competition at a number of crucial positions continued and the Terps prepare to break camp late next week.
Here are some notes and observations from the morning's practice:
> Junior Jesse Aniebonam (illness) returned to practice, while redshirt sophomore Melvin Keihn (Gilman) was a full participant in practice after wearing a yellow noncontact jersey Friday. Aniebonam and Keihn continued their battle for the starting job at the defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid position in DJ Durkin's defense.
> Wide receiver Taivon Jacobs (undisclosed injury) did not participate in practice.
"I think we're all healthy coming out of today," Durkin said. "I'll get a report afterward, but everyone finished the scrimmage and played, so I think we're good."
> Cornerback JC Jackson was wearing a noncontact jersey again, but he was still a disruptive presence in the secondary. He broke up a pass attempt from quarterback Perry Hills to wide receiver DeAndre Lane along the sideline and still delivered some hits on Maryland's wide receivers.
> Hills was the first quarterback to work with the first team, while freshmen Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager worked with the second team. Senior Caleb Rowe's only participation was at holder on field goals while redshirt freshman Gage Shaffer did not see the field. Hills and Pigrome received the most reps at quarterback by far.
Durkin addressed the status of Rowe and Shaffer.
"They'll both be fine," Durkin said. "They'll be practicing the next time we're out. We held them today just for reasons. They've got to be healthy."
> Junior Adam Greene (Broadneck) made field goals of 44, 46 and 37 yards. Freshman Mike Shinsky (McDonogh) made his attempt from 40 yards. Junior Danny Sutton had a long attempt blocked.
"[Greene has] been really consistent going back to spring," Durkin said. "He's done a great job. We put Adam on scholarship and he definitely has earned that."
> Freshman Wade Lees took the most attempts of any of the Maryland punters.
"He can do so many things," Durkin said. "He can punt pro-style, he can roll out rugby-style, he can end-over-end, spiral. He can do it all. That's a good weapon for us for sure to be able to swing the field."
> Senior Will Likely and Jackson received the most reps at punt returner.
> Seniors Malcolm Culmer and Lane (Catonsville) and sophomore D.J. Moore were the first three wide receivers on the field for Maryland. Seniors Levern Jacobs and Teldrick Morgan (Meade) and sophomore Jahrvis Davenport rotated in with the first team.
> Sophomore Ty Johnson and seniors Wes Brown and Trey Edmunds rotated with the first team at running back.
> The first touchdown of the morning came more than an hour into the practice when Hills connected with Culmer, who crept into empty space behind safety Josh Woods, up the sideline for a 25-yard score.
> Morgan later scored a touchdown on a handoff from Pigrome out of the shotgun. Morgan appears to be a threat in the running game with his speed on sweeps and end-arounds.
> Hills connected with Lane for his second touchdown pass of the day when Lane leaked out of a bunch formation and into the back corner of the end zone, where he made a sliding catch.
> Earlier in practice, Bortenschlager almost hit freshman wide receiver Tino Ellis for a long touchdown pass up the right sideline, but Ellis couldn't hang on. Later in the competition period, Bortenschlager again had Ellis open but threw it slightly behind him.
> Hills' third touchdown pass was a fade to Jacobs in the back left corner of the end zone. He connected with Lane for a two-point conversion.
> Former Maryland football players C.J. Brown and Matt Robinson (Atholton) were in attendance.
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