Maryland football running back Jacquille Veii will transfer

Maryland running back Jacquille Veii will transfer from the program, an athletic department spokesman said Tuesday.

The Terrapins will grant Veii, currently a sophomore, his release. He will have two remaining years of eligibility wherever he lands. If he winds up at a major college program, Veii will be required to sit out the 2015 season.

Veii, an explosive offensive product from the Avalon School, shifted between running back and wide receiver over his two seasons in College Park. He technically moved from the backfield to a receiving role before last season, but he functioned just as much as a back as a pass-catcher. He caught 16 balls for 230 yards and a score, while he ran 39 times for no touchdowns and a 3.7-yard average. This spring, he was back at running back.

The move is probably an avenue to more playing time for Veii. He wasn't likely to be Maryland's starter at running back, where seniors-to-be Brandon Ross and Wes Brown are more experienced. And Maryland has at least six or seven clearly playable receivers, so there was no clear place for Veii – a perfectly skilled junior – to get much field time.

Still, his move hurts Maryland's backfield depth. Rising senior Albert Reid already stated his intention to transfer last week, and Veii's transfer leaves the Terps with only Brown and Ross as experienced running backs. Safety Zach Dancel will also transfer, making Veii the third player in less than a week to leave Maryland.