Projected QB, RB starters won't practice for Maryland in spring
Maryland’s expected starters at quarterback and running back won’t participate in spring practice.
Rising senior quarterback Caleb Rowe, who is projected to replace longtime starter C.J. Brown, is still recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered during a practice in October. Terps head coach Randy Edsall said that Rowe is seeking a medical redshirt that would give him an additional year of eligibility in 2016. Rowe previously suffered the same injury to his left knee during his first career start against Boston College in 2012.
In 12 games combined over the past three seasons, Rowe has thrown for 1,768 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
In Rowe’s absence, Edsall said that Shane Cockerille and Perry Hills will split the reps at quarterback, with Cockerille taking the majority of the first-team reps when practice begins Wednesday. Hills started seven games and threw for 1,336 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012, so it came as a bit of surprise that the inexperienced Cockerille will begin the spring ahead of him.
“We’ll have Shane in there getting reps with the ones too, put him out there and see what he can do,” Edsall said, per the Washington Post. “Those guys will be competing. But Shane will be out there with the ones to start. Don’t read anything into that. It’s 15 days for us to evaluate things to see where we’re at. And again we hope that he’s improved and gotten better.”
Cockerille, a left-handed redshirt sophomore, was fourth on the depth chart last year and has never appeared in a game at quarterback for the Terps, but he did see time on special teams in four games.
Hills, a redshirt junior, started seven games while Brown was injured in 2012. After redshirting in 2013, Hills completed 5-of-10 passes for 86 yards and a score in limited time in 2014.
Meanwhile at running back, redshirt junior Wes Brown is still recovering from labrum surgery after going down with an injury against Stanford in the Foster Farms Bowl. Brown was suspended for the entire 2013 due to off-the-field incidents, but came back in 2014 and showed glimpses of why he was so highly recruited coming out of Good Counsel High in Olney, Md. Overall, Brown ran for 356 yards and six touchdowns while also catching 21 passes for 198 yards.
Seniors Brandon Ross (417 yards, 4 TDs) and Albert Reid (61 yards, TD) also return at running back for the Terps.
On the defensive side, Edsall said the Terps will make the switch to a 4-3 defense next season. Under Brian Stewart, the Terps ran a 3-4. Stewart and Maryland parted ways (Stewart since joined the staff at Nebraska) and Edsall promoted inside linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski to defensive coordinator.
“I just feel that we’re better suited to be a 4-3 team,” Edsall said per the Baltimore Sun. “When you take a look at who we have, I think it fits us better.”
The Terps, who start spring practice on Wednesday, went 7-6 in 2014.
For more Maryland news, visit TerrapinSportsReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
