2010 Record: 9-4 (5-3), 2nd Atlantic Division
2010 Bowl Game: Military Bowl, Defeated East Carolina 51-20
2010 Schedule/Results
Navy, W 17-14
Morgan State, W 62-3
@ West Virginia, L 31-17
FIU, W 42-28
Duke, W 21-16
@ Clemson, L 31-7
@Boston College, W 24-21
Wake Forest, W 62-14
@ Miami, L 26-20
@ Virginia, W 42-23
Florida State, L 30-16
NC State, W 38-31
East Carolina, W 51-20
OFFENSE
342.2 yard per game
The Terps were coming off of a 2-10 season coming into 2010, so they weren't risking much by handing the ball to a freshman QB in Danny O'Brien. The risk paid off as O'Brien played like a QB beyond his years, and he developed a 22 TD performance against just 8 picks. The Terps never asked him to play beyond himself, and they were rewarded by solid pllay from the youngster. He was rarely spectacular, but he should get better with time, depending on the new staff of Randy Edsell. O'Brien averaged 187.5 yards per game, and you should expect that average to increase to over 200 by next season, as Edsell would finally have a QB under his tutelage that he can take the leash off of. Backups Jamar Robinson and CJ Brown should both be back in 2011 as well. The Terps did not add any new QBs through recruiting.
If you combined both Davin Meggett and Da'Rel Scott in 2010, then you had a solid back. Both were ok individually, as they both surpassed the 700 yard mark (Meggett with 720 and Scott with 708). They combined to rush for 9 scores on the season, but neither back to the reins as the every down guy. Both have the ability to break the big run, and both averaged over 5 yards per carry, but neither developed into the star, which was especially strange given the raw talent of Scott. Scott moves on, but Meggett is due back for one more season, with young DJ Adams looking to pick up Scott's carries. Taylor Watson, Gary Douglas, Haroon Brown, and Rahsaan Moore should all compete as well. The Terps added one TB and one FB in their recruiting clas, as Brandon Ross of Wilmington, Delaware and Tyler Cierski of Hoschton, Georgia join the Terps as freshmen. Both are 3 star prospects.
Torrey Smith jumped on the scene in 2010 at WR for Maryland, as he busted loose for 1055 yards and 12 TDs on the year. HE was the primary receiver in the offensive scheme, as he had 31 more catches than anyone else on the roster. The bad news is that Smith has decided to parlay that success into an NFL deal and will bolt a year early for the draft. That leaves the Terps a bit thin. Adrian Cannon was the second leading receiver, but he has graduated. That leaves TE Matt Furstenburg as the most experienced receiver, as he had 12 grabs for 206 yards and one TD in 2010. Quinton McCree and Kevin Dorsey project to be the top two WRs in 2011, but they had just 31 catches combined in 2010. Ronnie Tyler, Kerry Boykins, and Tony Logan should round out the group of WRs, while Furstenburg should be backed up by Dave Stinebaugh and Devonte Campbell. Marcus Leak, Nigel King, and Jeremiah Hendy are all 3 stars coming in at WR, while Tyrek Cheeseboro is a 2 star. There are no new TEs coming into the system in 2011.
There is some good news on the line for 2011, as 3 starters should be returning. The bad news is that the center position will be open for competition, as will one of the guard spots. Justin Gilbert and RJ Dill will come back at tackle as seniors, giving O'Brien some solid experienced bookends that will protect him from the perimeter. Bennett Fulper will be coming back at guard and will be a junior. The staff did recruit some help for the 2011 season, and the Terps added 3 guards in Nathaniel Clarke, Stephen Grommer, and Andrew Geller. Evan Mulrooney is a new addition at center. Ryan Doole is the lone addition at tackle.
DEFENSE
353.1 yards per game allowed
Joe Vellano wasn't on the depth chart on the D Line before the season, but the sophomore led the Terps in TFLs in 2010 with 10. That's not good news, as no other Terp registered in double figures on the season. AJ Francis spent the entire season at NT and ended up with 7. Justin Anderson started all season at DE, and hardly registered in putting pressure on the QB. Luckily, it's a young D Line, and everyone who played significant minutes returns in 2011.
Alex Wujciak is a tackling machine, and he led the Terps with 117 tackles in 2010, but he is gone now, as is Adrien Moten who had 78 tackles in 2010. Demetrius Hartsfield will be the lone returning starter in 2011, as he finished 2010 with 88 tackles. Darin Drakeford and David Mackall should get first crack at moving into the starting lineup in 2011 to replace the losses, but it may take more than one player to replace the productivity of Wujciak. Bradley Johnson will also be in line to take a shot at it. Cole Farrand of Sparta, New Jersey is the lone signee at LB, and he is only a 2 star. Help is not on the way.
Safety Kenny Tate will be back in 2011 after a 100 tackle season. Hopefully, you will see a reduction in tackles and an increase in other plays being made in 2011, as your safety is exposed if he is having to tackle that much. Tate, however, is a dynamic safety who is in line to have a huge 2011 senior season. Tate also added 3 picks, and took one in for a score, while also forcing 4 fumbles. Cameron Chism will return at CB, but is hardly a playmaker despite his 70 tackles. Depth will not be a problem, as there are several returnees coming back who put up numbers this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Travis Baltz was solid in 2010, connecting on 14 of his 18 FG attempts, and knocking in 53 of 54 PATs. The bad news is that he has gone away now, as he was a senior. What makes matters even worse is that he was a double duty kicker, as he served as the punter as well, and he averaged 41.73 yards per punt. This will leave a huge void in the Terp special teams area.
FINAL NOTES
The Terps were not expected to do a thing in 2010, and therefore became one of the biggest stories of the year when they went bowling and won 10 games. What should have been a great story turned sour when Ralph Friedgen was rewarded by being told that he would not be brought back after the 2010 season, regardless of the 8 game improvement. Enter Randy Edsell, who accepted the job in a rather classless way of leaving his team after the Fiesta Bowl without having addressed his team. The entire move on both ends was classless. Edsell did a solid job at UConn, but his Husky teams were hardly earth shattering in a very weak conference, much like the ACC is overall.
2011 SCHEDULE
The 2011 conference schedule is not complete at this time. The Terps will play the following non-conference opponents: 9/3 Towson, 9/24 Temple, and 11/12 Notre Dame.
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