Fall Camp Notebook: August 9
DURKIN’S OPENING STATEMENT
“Very pleased with our guys; how they handle practice, tempo. It’s been really good. Our older guys have a little bit more understanding of what we want; the leadership. … The younger guys we brought in, they’re good football players. They’re doing a nice job of learning and coming along and competing. So, it’s been good. Obviously a lot of work to do, a long way to go. It’s only practice seven. Very pleased so far.”
Maryland Athletics
FIRST-WEEK TAKEAWAYS
From a coach’s standpoint, in terms of naming starters and team state as Week 1 of the regular season approaches, not much can be deciphered through one week of practice. And while Durkin kept saying that not a lot has changed over the past week or so, he’s tabbed a few valuable things.
TERPS INSIDER message board | SHOP NOW: DEALS on TERPS apparel | LIKE us on FACEBOOK
Number one -- and not like it’s been lacking in the first place -- discipline needed for progression and effectiveness is evident.
“Going into training camp, [you wonder], ‘What’s the mindset of your team? How are you going to approach practice? All those things come up,” Durkin said. “I like how our guys have approached the walk-throughs, the meetings, practice. It’s been good. It’s been a joy to coach, when you can focus on getting better. You know they’re bringing great attitude and work ethic.”
Coupled with eagerness to learn, competitiveness rooted from a culture makeover has intensified.
MORE: Watch Durkin address media ahead of first open practice
“It’s much more competitive now; depth in spots and guys competing in position,” Durkin said. “That makes such a difference, man. It’s more than just us saying, ‘Here’s how we practice, here’s our culture.’ When you have competition, that does a lot more than any sort of coaching could do. That’s been helpful. That’s the thought: Always keep bringing great players in the program and keep the competition up.”
NOTABLE FRESHMEN STANDOUTS
After Durkin and his coaching staff put together one of the finest recruiting classes in recent memory, every Terps fan wants to know the ETA of the program’s future. For some, like Kasim Hill and Anthony McFarland, it’ll be quicker than others.
McFarland, the coveted running back prospect, is easing his way back into full-fledged football activities after sustaining a broken fibula in that ended his senior year at backyard hotbed DeMatha Catholic. He started drills with the third-team unit, and eventually took some reps with the first and second team.
Marcus Minor, another DeMatha product, took first-team reps at right tackle.
Running backs Tayon Fleet-Davis and Javon Leake, defensive lineman Cam Spence and defensive backs Foffie Bazzie, Deon Jones and Markquese Bell all seem destined to carve out some kind of roll come Week 1.
“There’s times at practice, you’re like, ‘Wow. That’s what we thought we were getting. We’re glad we got that,’” Durkin said of his most recent recruiting class. “There’s also times, like normal freshmen, you scratch your head a little bit; like, ‘OK, we got to get this cleaned up.’ But we’re still early in practice and allowing these guys to compete for everything. As many freshmen that can play and help us win a championship, that’s how many we’ll play.”
Hill, the former 4-star recruit and St. John’s College High product, appeared to have split first-team reps on Wednesday afternoon with Tyrrell Pigrome.
“He’s doing great; looks really good,” Durkin said of Hill. “He doesn’t look like a freshman; he’s very mature in meetings and, really, everything he does. He’s been good.”
NO TIMETABLE TO NAME STARTER AT QUARTERBACK
Durkin emphasized Wednesday that there’s no timetable on when a specified starting quarterback will be named. With no scrimmages in the books until this weekend, this news is not surprising.
The battle under center is anticipated to come down to junior Caleb Henderson, true freshman Kasim Hill sophomore Tyrrell Pigrome. Sophomore Max Bortenschlager is in the mix as well. Other quarterbacks on the roster include true freshman Legend Brumbaugh and redshirt sophomore Ryan Brand.
“We haven’t really had any scrimmages or anything like that. So, we’re still going with our plan going into camp, in terms of dividing up the reps and keeping even -- how many reps they’re getting, how many reps you’re getting with the one’s, the two’s or what it might be,” Durkin said. “After we get through our first big scrimmage this weekend, I think we’ll start to adjust and alter what those reps are. I don’t have a set date or time on when we want to make a decision. I want to let it sort itself out on the field and let the players decide.”
Henderson, who is coming off a broken ankle, is about 85 to 90 percent healthy, Durkin says.
“He’s not 100 percent, but he’s close,” Durkin said of Henderson. “He’s able to do everything in practice. He’s not held out in anything. He’s doing everything he would normally do. He’s not quite 100 percent, but he’ll get there soon. He works hard at it.”
Backtrack a few months to the Spring Game, and the quarterback race appeared to be Henderson’s to lose. But with the injury stunting his progression, the competition has leveled off and is virtually anyone’s for the taking.
“It’s pretty competitive,” running back Lorenzo Harrison said. “They come in everyday, working hard, trying to get the number one spot. … I’m waiting to see who comes out number one.”
INJURY REPORT
None. Durkin said, “We have a couple bumps and bruises, but nothing major.”
