Maryland makes plans for synthetic turf at Byrd Stadium

Last year, Maryland's football uniforms made their dramatic debut on the season's opening night. While some called the glitzy helmets and jerseys a "fashion fumble," there was no argument that the school generated plenty of buzz.

This year, the school plans to showcase a new field.

Maryland is in the processing of digging up Byrd Stadium's natural grass. It will be replaced by synthetic turf.

An announcement — complete with renderings — is expected in the next several weeks.

In the meantime, the school is not disclosing which brand of turf is being installed. It says no final decisions have yet been made on the field designs.

Coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday that it would be premature to comment.

Maryland had a smilar strategy with the uniforms last season — holding back details to heighten suspense. The school staged a "fashion show," complete with a catwalk, to introduce its array of new uniform designs. But it withheld revealing the opening-night uniforms until just before the first game.

Diggs readying for arrival

Maryland's prized recruit, Stefon Diggs, won't have to wait until training camp to get accustomed to campus.

The wide receiver/kick returner from Good Counsel will be taking classes in College Park over the summer.

"He'll be getting here in July and getting acclimated academically and also getting acclimated to our strength and conditioning program," Edsall said Tuesday. "It's something that's very, very beneficial."

Diggs gave the Terps their first five-star recruit since Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy offensive tackle Bruce Campbell signed in 2007.

Diggs will get on the field as a kick returner, receiver — or both.

"That's something that we'll determine when we start practice on Aug. 6 in terms of, 'Can he make it as a kick returner, can he pick up the offense and make an impact as a wide receiver?' He's got good speed, good quickness," Edsall said.

"One of the things that stood out to me is he's got huge hands for a guy his size and catches the ball extremely well," the coach said. "The other thing is, he's a competitor."

jeff.barker@baltsun.com

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