Maryland hires consulting group to conduct external review after Jordan McNair’s death

During a press conference addressing Jordan McNair’s death last Thursday, Executive Athletic Director Damon Evans announced there would be an external review of Maryland football regarding the incident. He didn’t say who would be conducting the review at the time, but new details have emerged.

By the end of this week, Walters Incorporated will have begun its external review. “The review will evaluate relevant policies and protocols, as the safety and well-being of [Maryland’s] student-athletes is the highest priority,” per a University Spokesperson.

Walters Incorporated is a sports medicine consulting group headed by Dr. Rod Walters, who served on the National Athletic Trainers Association from 1997-2003 and was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 2005. He was the head athletic trainer at Lenoir-Rhyne College and Appalachian State before moving on to South Carolina, where he held a similar position and eventually became the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. Walters wrote the SEC pre-participation medical and functional assessment screening test for the conference’s officials.

In addition, football players have been informed that regularly scheduled practices are voluntary until further notice.

“First and foremost the focus is on the well-being of our student-athletes, and this time is for them to grieve,” the University Spokesperson said. “We will continue to provide the resources our student-athletes need, which includes counseling services and access to spiritual leaders, during this difficult time.”

There’s no telling how this review could turn out, what it will or won’t find, or whether it comes up with more negative news or something positive—if there even is such a thing at this point. All we can do is wait to find out.

In other news

DJ Moore was Maryland football’s highest draft pick in years, but first-round receivers haven’t been so lucky in the NFL recently. He’ll have an opportunity to buck that trend with the Carolina Panthers.

Ty Johnson could have joined Moore in the NFL Draft, but is expected to be the leader of a stacked group of running backs during his senior season instead.

We’ve written plenty about Byron Cowart here before, but in case you needed a reminder that this is his chance—perhaps his last one—to resurrect his career, ESPN is here for you.

The NBA Draft is tomorrow night, which means you should know where Kevin Huerter and Justin Jackson are projected to go.

You should also know how Huerter got to be as highly regarded as he is.

If you didn’t watch Maryland baseball this year, you missed Zach Jancarski doing ridiculous things like this.

THIS IS FAKE BUT IT’S STILL FUNNY.