Randy Edsall talked position changes, player development and run defense at his Tuesday press conference, ahead of a Saturday visit to face the South Florida Bulls.
Edsall, as Pete covered, announced athletic freshman Will Ulmer would move to wide receiver from quarterback. Ulmer is one of the faster players on Maryland's roster and has always been a candidate to play elsewhere than under center, but Edsall said Ulmer approached him and asked for the switch to be made. Edsall had been having similar thoughts of his own, he said.
"It's ironic that he was about to come see me to talk about exactly what I wanted to talk to him about, Edsall said. "He played some receiver on scout team last week because you have to do that when you have limited numbers, but he's all for it and believes that wide receiver will be his best position going forward. It was a very good conversation and one that was on his mind even before I mentioned it to him."
The coach said he is impressed by South Florida's talented running back, Marlon Mack. The freshman ran for nearly 300 yards last week against Western Carolina and scored four touchdowns.
"He has good vision, good patience getting to the hole and then good vision to see things," Edsall said.
Edsall heaped praise on former walk-on and current starting offensive tackle Michael Dunn. He said Maryland didn't initially evaluate Dunn as a potential scholarship player, but Dunn ultimately won the staff over. Edsall looked back sentimentally on the moment he told Dunn he'd be placed on scholarship:
"I still remember the day I brought him into my office and told him he would be on scholarship. It's one of the happiest things that happen to you as a coach because he had no idea that he was going to be offered a scholarship. Just to see the look on his face when I offered it was a look of surprise, but joy," Edsall said. He continued, "Sometimes guys get rewarded with something and they hit a plateau, but not Michael. He works even harder."
Maryland made Dunn himself available to the gathered press, and he discussed blocking for Maryland's three primary tailbacks, Brandon Ross, Wes Brown and Albert Reid. He was pleased with each's work against James Madison but singled out Brown, who missed all of last season because of suspension.
"I thought all of our running backs did a great job," Dunn said. "Wes was really excited to finally be back after missing last year, and he showed it. He had some really good runs, really tough runs. You really like blocking for guys like him, guys like B-Ross, guys like Albert, guys who you know will fight for every yard."
Check back for more on C.J. Brown's start and where Maryland's passing game looks to get better in Tampa.