COLLEGE PARK — Maryland's practice Wednesday did not produce the same amount of noteworthy plays that the second practice of Tuesday did. But there were some good moments for both the offense and the defense.
Of note, star wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long each had probably their best practices of the preseason.
Long had a 25-yard catch over cornerback Jeremiah Johnson early in practice and looked good throughout the session. So did Diggs, who had several catches, including a sliding catch during team drills and some short passes that he turned into bigger gains later on.
Wide receiver Levern Jacobs also continues to stand out. Jacobs, who is part of the group competing for the Terrapins' No. 3 receiver job, has been praised several times by coach Randy Edsall during the past few days and had some good plays Wednesday. He had a catch during the first-team offense's attempt at the two-minute drill, had a long gain on a crossing route later on and then turned a short pass into a nice-sized gain near the end of practice.
Here are some other notes and observations from Wednesday's practice:
** Freshmen defensive backs Josh Woods (McDonogh) and Daniel Ezeagwu both had nice pass-breakups on deep pass attempts early in practice. Woods jumped in to break up a pass intended for wide receiver Malcolm Culmer. Ezeagwu batted away a deep shot over the middle intended for receiver Amba Etta-Tawo.
** Backup quarterback Caleb Rowe did not have a particularly sharp day Wednesday. Rowe has been impressive at times during camp, but he had two throws that should have been intercepted during team drills early in practice.
** Freshman center Brendan Moore has been praised some by Edsall, but he had at least two bad shotgun snaps Wednesday.
** Reserve quarterback Shane Cockerille (Gilman) had an off-target throw intercepted by freshman defensive back Antwaine Carter.
** Running back Albert Reid broke a big run up the middle during short-yardage drills late in practice. Running back Brandon Ross also looked decent running Wednesday, as did third-team running back Wes Brown, who sticks out with his violent running style.
** Edsall continues to praise wrestler Spencer Myers, who is competing for a backup job along Maryland's defensive line. "You can see as he's out here each and every day, he's getting better," Edsall said. "The thing that Spencer gives you is that he's just relentless. He's going to just keep attacking you and getting after you. What's going to happen with him is that every practice he's out here and every rep he gets he's going to get better because he's going to get back into the swing of things with the technique and doing the things you're supposed to do and understanding everything. I'm very pleased with him so far, and I know he's just going to get better. … He's earned the right to get more repetitions."
** Edsall said before practice that freshman Damian Prince had a good first day at left guard Tuesday. "I told him this morning that I thought he had a pretty good day," Edsall said. "It's not perfect and it's not going to be perfect, but you saw a guy who almost looked like he felt a little bit more comfortable with that position. … He's a very coachable young man. He takes corrections very well and he wants to do well. I'm pleased with what I saw for the first day."
** Edsall said Diggs, Will Likely and Taivon Jacobs are all in the running to handle kick return duties. He said Diggs and Likely are the two being considered for the Terps' punt returner job.
** Defensive end Quinton Jefferson returned to practice Wednesday after missing some time to tend to his wife, who was hospitalized.
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