Testudo Times - Maryland football travels to Miami to face FIUSB Nation's award-winning Maryland Terrapins sitehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50025/testudo-fav.png2016-09-09T23:32:17-04:00http://www.testudotimes.com/rss/stream/126012372016-09-09T23:32:17-04:002016-09-09T23:32:17-04:00Stock report: Hills and Moore excel in win over FIU
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Maryland at Florida International" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F29Pqh5lO2C16xVRXil3CUN5iKI=/0x0:2849x1899/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50769713/usa-today-9529888.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There were a lot of positives in this one.</p> <p id="vwbMav">Maryland football is now 2-0, and the Terps looked as strong as anyone could have expected in Friday’s <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12868066/maryland-football--florida-international-final-score-recap-results-game-2016">41-14 win over Florida International</a>.</p>
<p id="vFu1RQ">Maryland looked strong in nearly all aspects of the game. Here’s what stood out to us, for better, worse and everything in between.</p>
<h3 id="yKZtmI">Stock up</h3>
<p id="qh3cJO"><strong>WR D.J. Moore.</strong> The sophomore wideout had his breakout game Friday, racking up 147 receiving yards, more than half of Maryland’s team total. Two of his six catches resulted in touchdowns of 45 and 40 yards. Oh, and he also tossed a successful 21-yard pass to...</p>
<p id="xJoPCG"><strong>QB Perry Hills.</strong> He did pretty much every thing an offensive player does in this game. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 210 yards and three scores; that’s good for a stout 225.2 passer rating. He even threw a good deep ball, hitting Moore on a 45-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He exited the game as Maryland’s leading rusher with 52 yards on eight carries (that total was later surpassed), and probably threw too many blocks after handoffs. He was the Terps’ third-leading receiver, courtesy of Moore in the first quarter. And he did all of this with zero turnovers. </p>
<p id="lVHU0F"><strong>RB Lorenzo Harrison. </strong>After leading the Terps with 67 rushing yards against Howard, the slippery true freshman burst onto the scene with a 40-yard touchdown run on his first touch.</p>
<div id="DANS7R">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you like long touchdown runs, <a href="https://twitter.com/TerpsFootball">@TerpsFootball</a> has the play for you. <a href="https://t.co/MdX4gtiz6F">https://t.co/MdX4gtiz6F</a></p>— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet/status/774403575472594944">September 10, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="q211zK">Harrison finished the night with six carries and 54 yards, second on the team behind Trey Edmunds. Harrison was the forgotten man in a crowded Terps backfield throughout fall camp, but he’s quickly made a name for himself. It’ll be interesting to see how well his shiftiness translates when Maryland plays, like, a good team.</p>
<p id="zTprgQ"><strong>CB JC Jackson.</strong> He’s back on the field, and for the most part, the transfer in his Maryland debut lived up to the hype that surrounded him during camp. He was noticeably beaten in coverage only once, and he committed one penalty, but for the most part he locked down FIU receivers. It’s great that his academic issues are out of the way, allowing him to ease back into game action.</p>
<h3 id="ipYcLw">Stock holding</h3>
<p id="QCMfDb"><strong>CB Will Likely.</strong> We still haven’t been able to seen Likely break a big return on a punt this year, which is a real shame because he’s one of the best in the nation at doing that. Both Howard and FIU were pretty consistently punting the ball short enough to prompt fair catches. Likely also wasn’t a factor on offense, with his lone catch going for a five-yard loss. He did record a sack, two tackles for loss and five tackles overall, but we’ve known for years that he’s can get the job done on defense.</p>
<h3 id="pY6pz6">Stock down</h3>
<p id="x53gAp"><strong>Maryland rush defense.</strong> The front seven didn’t look all that great in the first half, when FIU recorded 148 yards on the ground and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Alex Gardner’s 55-yard burst in the second quarter was a lot of that, and he scored untouched from four yards out on the very next play. The Terps will certainly see more dangerous running backs and bigger offensive lines this year, so there’s reason to be concerned.</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12868922/maryland-football-dj-moore-perry-hills-florida-international-stats-recapThomas Kendziora2016-09-09T22:53:56-04:002016-09-09T22:53:56-04:00Maryland destroys Florida International
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Maryland at Florida International" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3yYzx2ypXprZnRw-tIrLN9SM1HI=/0x0:3093x2062/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50769183/usa-today-9529906.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Terps are 2-0, and this wasn’t close.</p> <p id="79rfMU">Maryland football’s second game of 2016 followed the same formula as its first. The Terps easily dispatched Florida International, 41-14, in Miami on Friday night.</p>
<p id="SSewfR">After blowing out FCS opponent Howard 52-13 at home last week, Maryland only had a slightly tougher time against FIU. </p>
<p id="Rj9XN8">Perry Hills was once again spot-on, going 13-for-18 through the air for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He almost never attempted passes down the field against Howard, but he aired it out a little more against FIU. He answered FIU’s first touchdown only 84 seconds after it happened with a 45-yard bomb to D.J. Moore. Just like in Week 1, Tyrrell Pigrome relieved him, but didn’t have any highlight-reel runs this time around. Maryland’s running backs combined for 238 yards, ripping off 10 rushes of over 10 yards, compared to just four by FIU.</p>
<p id="lARTFg">Maryland’s defense provided the game’s first touchdown. Alvin Hill tipped a pass intended for Thomas Owens, and it ended up in the hands of Jermaine Carter Jr., who took it 14 yards to the house to make it 10-0 Maryland. Carter was a thorn in FIU’s side all game, adding eight tackles, including one sack.</p>
<p id="kSmOPq">The Golden Panthers excelled on the ground, but it didn’t matter. Running back Alex Gardner had over 100 yards in the first half, but the Panthers balanced that with only 57 yards passing. Starting quarterback Alex McGough came off with an injury after Carter’s interception, returning for a few plays at the end of the half before leaving permanently. Dual-threat quarterback Maurice Alexander came in as McGough’s replacement and performed solidly, going 9-for-18.</p>
<p id="GNkIes">Maryland came out slinging from the get-go. After Hills completed a third-down pass to Moore, the team ran a reverse pass from Moore to Hills on the very next play, good for a 21-yard gain.</p>
<div id="V5ACpj">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">How about the trickeration. <a href="https://twitter.com/TerpsFootball">@TerpsFootball</a> brought some with this nifty play. <a href="https://t.co/0Eb7SKlWyJ">https://t.co/0Eb7SKlWyJ</a></p>— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet/status/774395128362442752">September 9, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="YPehsm">Freshman Lorenzo Harrison scored a rushing touchdown for the second straight game, juking some defenders and turning a one-yard loss into a 40-yard touchdown. The Terps took a 31-7 lead into the second half, and still outscored the Panthers in the final 30 minutes.</p>
<p id="l0CNc2">Maryland is now 2-0, and neither win has been close. Not that they should have been, considering Howard is an FCS team and FIU is the No. 113 team in the country, according to S&P+. But the Terps won by more than anyone projected them to. That’s progress.</p>
<h3 id="Chfa7k">Three things to know</h3>
<ol id="1y8K2L">
<li>
<strong>JC Jackson is here.</strong> After he sat out the Terps’ first game with an academic issue, Jackson made his Maryland debut Friday. He got beat once in the rain, but he had one pass defensed and played lockdown coverage for most of the night.</li>
<li id="MRJb2Z">
<strong>Maryland is 2-0.</strong> Yes, this win came against a not-so-good FIU team, but this was a very good sign. Remember, FIU was leading Indiana heading into the fourth quarter last week. That’ll be a fun thing to remember when the Terps go to Bloomington in October.</li>
<li id="2B6s4c">
<strong>Maryland’s coming right back.</strong> The Terps will return to Florida next Saturday to play UCF for the opportunity to start the season 3-0. The Knights should be a tougher opponent than FIU, but the Maryland should still be favored to win.</li>
</ol>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12868066/maryland-football--florida-international-final-score-recap-results-game-2016Ryan Connors2016-09-09T18:53:57-04:002016-09-09T18:53:57-04:00JC Jackson making debut for Maryland vs. Florida International
<figure>
<img alt="J.C. Jackson" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1ZnAyts_4z-VPqCyLFXdOGyijLk=/4x0:4252x2832/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50767227/081216fball049.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Greg Fiume / Maryland Athletics</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We finally get to see what he can do.</p> <p id="EuoSDm">After a fall camp full of hype, Maryland fans will finally get to see cornerback JC Jackson in action.</p>
<p id="YSVd9M">The JuCo transfer was inactive for Maryland football’s season opener against Howard, but he will play in the team’s Week 2 matchup Friday night against Florida International, according to multiple reports.</p>
<p id="UQMCQJ">His status for the season opener was announced right before game time. He was not included on the team’s two-deep depth chart for this game, which didn’t technically rule him out, but seemed to indicate he was unlikely to play. RaVon Davis, who started against Howard, was slated to start again in Jackson’s absence.</p>
<p id="m3ewZU">When asked about Jackson’s status this week, Head Coach DJ Durkin did not have any updates on when he’d be available to play.</p>
<p id="z0yKuV">Jackson made a splash in fall camp, and he <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjcnfSqrYPPAhUKVh4KHbkrBA8QFggiMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.testudotimes.com%2Fmaryland-terps-football%2F2016%2F8%2F30%2F12267390%2Fjc-jackson-cornerback&usg=AFQjCNEASQZgrfUKmsbKYDMuld0JCfVtSg&sig2=F5Owp_35DDJ_iOew2J5mTw&bvm=bv.132479545,d.dmo">changes things for Maryland</a>. Along with Will Likely, he gives the Terps two outstanding cornerbacks that allow the team to get a little more aggressive on defense. With Jackson now available, the team will probably go with a lineup of Jackson and Alvin Hill on the outside and Likely playing nickel corner. However, we won’t know for sure how he’ll be used until the game starts.</p>
<p id="XQtlHm">This is Jackson’s second college game. He played in Florida’s season opener in 2014, but suffered a shoulder injury and was shut down for the season. A native of Immokalee, Fla., Jackson is one of 13 Floridians playing for Maryland in Friday’s game.</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12867870/maryland-football-jc-jackson-florida-international-active-debutRyan Connors2016-09-09T18:03:03-04:002016-09-09T18:03:03-04:00GameThread: Maryland-FIU
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FUX44DcbI3ERCpg2BXeCDPBI4oI=/0x733:1759x1906/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50764019/usa-today-9515864.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Terps are looking to get to 2-0. Express your thoughts about it.</p> <p>Maryland football plays an FBS team today!</p>
<p>After running through Howard to open the season, the Terps are playing a rare Friday game against Florida International. The two teams kick off at 7:30 on the CBS Sports Network. We don't have anyone in Miami, but we'll still have plenty of coverage from College Park.</p>
<p>You can find a collection of our stories from this week <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12837196/maryland-football-florida-international-game-updates-stats-preview">here</a>, but these are some of the important ones:</p>
<ul>
<li> The <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/8/12841578/maryland-football-florida-international-preview--game-tv-channel-2016">full Maryland-FIU preview</a> </li>
<li>Our <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12854140/maryland-football-florida-international-preview">Q&A with Underdog Dynasty</a> on FIU. Here's a <a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2016/9/8/12843662/marland-terrapins-vs-fiu-panthers-q-a-with-testudo-times-big-ten-cusa-college-football-miami-florida">corresponding Q&A</a> I did on their site.</li>
<li>Keep an eye on <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/8/12844548/maryland-football-jesse-aniebonam-melvin-keihn-defensive-line-sacks-buck">Jesse Aniebonam and Melvin Keihn</a> as they go after opposing quarterbacks.</li>
<li>Perry Hills is very clearly Maryland's starting quarterback. <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12837128/maryland-football-qbs-perry-hills-tyrrell-pigrome-florida-international">That doesn't mean we won't see a does of Tyrrell Pigrome in the right situation</a>.</li>
<li>Here's <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12844962/maryland-football-florida-international-game-time-tv-schedule-live-radio-streaming-odds">everything you need to watch or listen to the game</a>, which airs on the ever-elusive CBS Sports Network.</li>
<li>When you need to find something to watch on a Maryland-free Saturday, check our handy <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12844962/maryland-football-florida-international-game-time-tv-schedule-live-radio-streaming-odds">college football Week 2 schedule</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>And be sure to follow along <a href="http://twitter.com/testudotimes">@testudotimes</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com?ryanconnors_">@ryanconnors_</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/tkendziora37">@tkendziora37</a> for updates and commentary throughout the game! The comments section is open. Have at it.</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/9/12865820/gamethread-maryland-football-takes-on-florida-internationalRyan Connors2016-09-08T09:06:57-04:002016-09-08T09:06:57-04:00MM 9.8: Every Maryland player who hails from Florida
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Richmond at Maryland" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uSTXu7Cx0n5DDGK8EQvN_U6EO3U=/0x0:3947x2631/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50735601/usa-today-8782584.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is the Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.</p> <p id="NZrmi7">The Maryland football team is heading down to Miami to play Florida International on Friday, and the Terps will then fly right back down to Florida in Week 3 to play UCF. For the team’s 13 Floridian players, this will be a rare opportunity to play in front of hordes of family and friends.</p>
<p id="wJVApB">Here’s each and every Maryland player who’ll be making a homecoming over the next two weeks:</p>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" dir="ltr" border="1" style="table-layout: fixed; font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,sans,sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #ccc;">
<colgroup> <col width="100"> <col width="100"> <col width="100"> <col width="100"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Player"}'>Player</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Year"}'>Year</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Position"}'>Position</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Hometown"}'>Hometown</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Will Likely"}'>Will Likely</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Senior"}'>Sr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CB"}'>CB</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Belle Glade"}'>Belle Glade</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"JC Jackson*"}'>JC Jackson*</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Soph."}'>Soph.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CB"}'>CB</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Immokalee"}'>Immokalee</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Denzel Conyers"}'>Denzel Conyers</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"senior"}'>Sr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"S"}'>S</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"St. Petersburg"}'>St. Petersburg</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Elijah Daniels"}'>Elijah Daniels</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"S"}'>S</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Davie"}'>Davie</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Antwaine Richardson"}'>Antwaine Richardson</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CB"}'>CB</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Delray Beach"}'>Delray Beach</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Qwuantrezz Knight"}'>Qwuantrezz Knight</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"S"}'>S</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Quincy"}'>Quincy</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Elisha Daniels"}'>Elisha Daniels</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"CB"}'>CB</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Davie"}'>Davie</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Dion Goldbourne, freshman, defensive lineman, Delray Beach"}'>Dion Goldbourne</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"DE"}'>DE</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Delray Beach"}'>Delray Beach</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Kingsley Opara"}'>Kingsley Opara</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Jr."}'>Jr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"DT"}'>DT</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Jacksonville"}'>Jacksonville</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Chandler Burkett"}'>Chandler Burkett</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Jr."}'>Jr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"DE"}'>DE</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Panama City"}'>Panama City</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Nicholas Rubinowicz, redshirt freshman, punter, Wellington"}'>Nicholas Rubinowicz</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"RS Fr."}'>RS Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"P"}'>P</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Wellington"}'>Wellington</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"LaDerrien Wilson"}'>LaDerrien Wilson</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Fr."}'>Fr.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"RB"}'>RB</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"St. Cloud"}'>St. Cloud</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 21px;">
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Jahrvis Davenport"}'>Jahrvis Davenport</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Soph."}'>Soph.</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"WR"}'>WR</td>
<td style="padding: 2px 3px 2px 3px; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%;" data-sheets-value='{"1":2,"2":"Tampa"}'>Tampa</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p id="AcOPBH">*Jackson was inactive for Saturday’s game against Howard with an "academic issue" and it’s unclear when he’ll be back.</p>
<p id="YB8MAC">That’s 13 players in all, including six true freshmen. It’s no secret that DJ Durkin likes to recruit the heck out the state, but he resisted putting <em>too</em> much value into the trip from a recruiting standpoint.</p>
<p id="rLvFaz">From his Tuesday press conference:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Florida is definitely an important area for us. We have a good presence in Florida. Our staff has good connections down there. There are good players down there, so we’ll always continue to recruit down there. I don’t really know how you can measure the importance of a game played in Florida when it comes to recruiting down there. For us, no matter where we’re playing or who were playing, it is game number two and we have to find a way to win the game."</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="taymf2">Walt Bell made essentially the same point on Wednesday:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I really want to echo what [Coach DJ Durkin] said. A big part of us recruiting down below is us being able to run successful plays. If we can do that, then a lot of those things will handle themselves. Obviously, we have to do a good job, and we have to do a great job as an organization in recruiting the right people. Is Florida a huge piece for us? Yes. Is us playing a game there the end-all-be-all and will it somehow manage to help recruiting opportunities or will it somehow put us in a position to recruit some of the blue-bloods? Maybe, maybe not. I think for us, we need to go down, do well and be successful. I think if we do that, that will help us."</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="IbiGug">The Terps take on FIU Friday at 7:30 on CBS Sports Network.</p>
<h3 id="4w9Jl5">In other news</h3>
<p id="1IPWub"><strong>Perry Hills is Maryland’s quarterback</strong>, <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12837128/maryland-football-qbs-perry-hills-tyrrell-pigrome-florida-international">but we could see Tyrrell Pigrome in a packaged role against FIU</a>.</p>
<p id="EcgvCA"><strong>Good news</strong>.</p>
<div id="11phIb">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Louisville, Syracuse, Maryland, Rutgers UConn & Seton Hall are expected for 5 Louis King <a href="https://twitter.com/HCHawkNationBSK">@HCHawkNationBSK</a> per source <a href="https://t.co/DujrBi6KGj">pic.twitter.com/DujrBi6KGj</a></p>
— Andrew Slater (@ASlater247) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASlater247/status/773704743457812481">September 8, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="w8zX8D">Crunched for time? Here’s the <strong>2015 NFL season</strong>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2016/9/7/12835686/2015-nfl-season-recap-highlight">condensed into two minutes</a>.</p>
<p id="rqy7J9"><strong>Maryland kicker Adam Greene</strong> <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12813590/maryland-football-adam-greene-brad-craddock-kicking-stats">is working to fill Brad Craddock’s big shoes</a>.</p>
<p id="SOOIMl"><strong>Rasheed Sulaimon</strong> <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12841936/maryland-basketball-rasheed-sulaimon-hornets-bulls-nba-draft">officially signed with the Hornets</a>.</p>
<p id="ykbgKx"><strong>Podcast time:</strong> <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12824506/maryland-football-florida-international-howard-preview-results-recap-podcast">We previewed FIU and provided our takeaways from Howard.</a></p>
<p id="rgJKpZ"><strong>Previously:</strong> <a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12818576/maryland-football-freshmen-tyrrell-pigrome-redshirting">DJ Durkin explains his philosophy on redshirting.</a></p>
<p><b>Also:</b> SB Nation is making some visual changes to its sites. Find our more <a href="http://blog.sbnation.com/2016/9/7/12835486/visual-changes-are-coming-to-sb-nation" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/8/12823592/maryland-football-florida-international-ucf-will-likelyRyan Connors2016-09-08T09:02:02-04:002016-09-08T09:02:02-04:00Maryland vs. Florida International preview
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Indiana at Florida International" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yXRKJKenw5IxIhH35WAMYAWrE8Q=/0x0:2214x1476/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50733935/usa-today-9512807.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Maryland takes its first of two consecutive trips to Florida.</p> <p id="MJMdxY">The Maryland football team started its season with a cushy win against FCS opponent Howard. On Friday, the Terps go to Miami to face their FBS foe of 2016: Florida International.</p>
<p id="kh4XVn">There aren’t too many conclusions that can be drawn from playing a team like Howard. FIU isn’t on par with the teams Maryland will be facing in the Big Ten, but can serve as a stepping stone for the program. The team’s first trip to Florida (Maryland returns to play UCF next week) should be a victorious one, but FIU is no pushover.</p>
<p id="83pN2s">The Golden Panthers lost their first game of the season to Indiana, 34-13, but the game was closer than the score indicates. FIU was actually winning 13-12 entering the third quarter before utterly collapsing and allowing the Hoosiers to score 22 fourth-quarter points. That’s a pretty good performance against a Big Ten team. Maryland could be in for a similar night. A Friday night road game in Florida is always a weird wrinkle for any Maryland team to face, but DJ Durkin has been preparing his team for this trip since practice started in August. </p>
<h3 id="5vxDiM">Florida International Golden Panthers</h3>
<p id="DlP1nI"><strong>Game time:</strong> 7:30 p.m.</p>
<p id="gKHg0u"><strong>TV channel:</strong> CBS Sports Network</p>
<p id="JfDRNT"><strong>Stream:</strong> Not available</p>
<p id="vN6CK1"><strong>Radio:</strong> Maryland Sports Radio Network, <a href="https://www.rabble.tv/broadcast/57d2db58a6ad6ba877b986d3/view">WMUC Sports Radio</a>, WJZ-FM (105.7) / ESPN 980 (D.C.), Sirius 81, XM 81</p>
<p id="2vsgPZ"><strong>2015 record:</strong> 4-8</p>
<p id="J4iAFc"><strong>Head coach:</strong> Ron Turner</p>
<p id="k4xDsO"><strong>All-time record vs. Maryland:</strong> 0-4. The Terps won 43-10 in 2013, the last time the two teams played.</p>
<p id="V8gQFp"><strong>F/+ ranking:</strong> 112 (Maryland is 57)</p>
<h3 id="Jc5e1w">Players to know</h3>
<p id="TISm87"><strong>Alex McGough, QB, junior, 6’3/218, No. 12.</strong> McGough is in his third year starting for the Golden Panthers. Against Indiana, he was 23-for-46 for 263 yards, but did have three interceptions. He’ll lead a short-passing attack, something Maryland has defended in practice since Walt Bell got to town.</p>
<p id="FRNWBj"><strong>Alex Garnder, RB, junior, 5’10/192, No. 1. </strong>Garnder is FIU’s main tailback, though Indiana held him to 2.3 yards per carry on 10 tries. He’ll need to be better than that against Maryland if the Panthers want a shot. He was also the team’s second-leading receiver against the Hoosiers, racking up seven catches for 70 yards.</p>
<p id="WRjp5g"><strong>Jonnu Smith, TE, senior, 6’3/232, No. 87.</strong> The team’s top receiving target against Indiana, he had eight catches on 12 targets. Smith had more catches than the team’s top three wide receivers.</p>
<p id="BPCZly"><strong>Treyvon Williams, LB, junior, 6’0/229, No. 52.</strong> He had 26.5 tackles last season, but if the Indiana game was any indication, he’ll be far surpassing that in 2016. He finished last week with 11 tackles, the most on the team.</p>
<p id="Yhz6Ng"><strong>Niko Gonzales, S, junior, 5’11/191, No. 33.</strong> He was second on the team in tackles against Indiana. Gonzales can come up and stop the run, but was also solid against the pass in 2015. He finished the year with two interceptions and four pass break-ups. </p>
<h3 id="t5kALJ">Strengths</h3>
<p id="HEeOW5"><strong>Explosiveness. </strong>FIU ranks 35th in isoPPP, Bill Connelly’s metric that measures explosiveness. The Panthers had passes of 45, 25 and 22 yards against FIU and one 27-yard run.</p>
<p id="Ycp7Ng"><strong>Pass blocking</strong>. FIU had the country’s best pass offensive passing down sack rate last week. When the Panthers’ linemen know what’s coming, they get the job done. </p>
<h3 id="lA6DXI">Weaknesses</h3>
<p id="kbxKtu"><strong>The running game.</strong> FIU can’t seem to run the ball or stop it. The Golden Panthers are `17`7th in efficiency, which we’ll evaluate using ”success rate.” FIU only ranks three spots higher at No. 114 in defensive efficiency. Maryland was rarely efficient after beating Richmond last year. The Terps should end up more efficient than the Panthers on Friday.</p>
<p id="48Fvrw"><strong>Special teams.</strong> FIU is No. 94 in punting success rate, No. 114 in kickoff success rate, No. 100 in punting return success rate and No. 83 in kickoff return success rate. These are stats after one game, sure, but they don’t bode well.</p>
<h3 id="KjHGaR">Predictions</h3>
<p id="HCKvnk"><strong>S&P+ prediction:</strong> 35.6-21.6, Maryland has a 79 percent chance of victory. </p>
<p id="bhkAOy"><strong>Ryan’s prediction:</strong> 31-24, Maryland. I think the Terps will win comfortably, but this game will never be quite out of reach, and the Golden Panthers grab a backdoor cover.</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/8/12841578/maryland-football-florida-international-preview--game-tv-channel-2016Ryan Connors2016-09-07T15:34:44-04:002016-09-07T15:34:44-04:00Hills is Maryland’s QB, but Pigrome could still play vs. FIU
<figure>
<img alt="maryland football spring game practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bFx0BpuMqgDXk4bcFKTzP-_0LHw=/0x0:3807x2538/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50723979/26507597976_882d7149b6_o.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alexander Jonesi</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>No quarterback controversy here.</p> <p id="JbV5G5">Perry Hills has been Maryland football’s No. 1 quarterback since the team started practicing in August, but the specter of true freshman Tyrrell Pigrome has loomed over him the whole time.</p>
<p id="F1wibe"><a href="http://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/5/12793284/maryland-football-perry-hills-tyrrell-pigrome-quarterbacks-passing-howard">Hills did exactly what Maryland asked of him</a> Saturday against Howard, but a couple galvanizing runs by Pigrome were enough for some people to call for an increased role for the freshman.</p>
<p id="g0pCQN">Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Walt Bell squashed any talk of a competition between the two. He stressed that Hills is the starter, with Pigrome potentially receiving a small packaged role Friday against Florida International.</p>
<p id="z4PFxI">“Perry Hills is our starter, and he will be our starter until he proves himself not the starter,” Bell said. “One thing I think is important about the quarterback position is that you play it confidently and that you play it confidently from a command aspect and a decision-making standpoint.”</p>
<p id="AFOpka">Hills finished the team’s season opener 14-for-19 with 126 yards passing. He gave way to Pigrome in the third quarter with the Terps up 35-0. The freshman went 4-for-6 with 60 yards, and flashed the athletic ability that won him Alabama’s Gatorade Player of the Year award. He won’t be competing for playing time with Hills, but Bell could still put him in for a few plays here and there. Still, this is no <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjPtYmb__3OAhWOPB4KHXpZCjIQqQIIHTAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fchicago.suntimes.com%2Fsports%2Fnotre-dame-sticking-with-two-quarterbacks-for-now%2F&usg=AFQjCNEPJPa11lZpFGykDRPamex0J3-4iw&sig2=9yrpu8Qk7m_36mX_QMy56g&bvm=bv.131783435,d.dmo">Notre Dame two-QB situation</a>. Hills is the starter.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fLN7DVA5k9dBIjPUglCW0CABsGw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7041023/piggy.gif">
<cite>Via BTN</cite>
<figcaption>We could see Pigrome in a packaged role against FIU.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="VwaS3y">“I am a firm believer that if you have two quarterbacks, you have zero quarterbacks.,” Bell said. “Now, is Pig gonna be a great player someday? Absolutely. Are there places and packages where he can help us in a packaged role? Yes.”</p>
<p id="wPIVPD">Pigrome dazzled fans with his scrambling ability, but as true freshmen usually are, he was far from perfect in his debut. His scramble and juke in the third quarter are far from the whole story.</p>
<p id="ajNIJf">“Was his percent of error at the line of scrimmage, regardless of how explosive he may look in between the white lines very high? Absolutely,” Bell said. “He’s got plenty of things that we have to fix and a couple mistakes and third-down issues that we had, and some of the things behind the scenes that you guys don’t notice. A lot of those things he has to work and improve on, which you expect for a freshman quarterback.”</p>
<div id="VVxM76">
<div class="m-next-click"></div>
<link href="https://apps.voxmedia.com/tools/stylesheets/tools/next-click/app-public-9323e52c.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<script src="https://apps.voxmedia.com/tools/javascripts/tools/next-click/app-public-138f82b5.js"></script>
</div>
<p id="OoODAH">Hills finished with one rushing attempt for five yards, compared to 53 yards on seven rushes for Pigrome. He had plenty of plays where he had the option to keep the ball himself, but the read dictated he hand the ball to a running back.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1BDYj0TQh5KVhPmZDElCr3kXnEU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7044319/edmunds.gif">
<cite>Via BTN</cite>
<figcaption>Hills has the option to keep the ball here, but the defense left the outside open, so he handed it off.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Psbp4t">“We probably ran power-read four or four times while Perry was in the game, zone-read, five, six times,” Bell said. “No real designed quarterback runs, but I could see that start to increase a little bit.”</p>
<p id="nDUIXt">Hills probably won’t have any more games where he carries the ball only once. He was Maryland’s second-leading rusher in 2015, and is more of a bruising runner compared to the speedy Pigrome. If defenses keep focusing on Hills and not the team’s other backs, so be it.</p>
<p id="CAAudV">“Hey, if the defense makes me keep the ball, I’ll keep the ball,” Hills said. “If we’re just gonna run it down their throats and establish a downhill run game, we’re gonna do that as well.”</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12837128/maryland-football-qbs-perry-hills-tyrrell-pigrome-florida-internationalRyan Connors2016-09-07T09:50:56-04:002016-09-07T09:50:56-04:00Greene doing his best to succeed Brad Craddock at kicker
<figure>
<img alt="maryland football spring game practice" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4HRFc4pCuNd4un2bvdXC4O5lSSI=/0x114:4736x3271/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50713125/25928244714_3e02ff5691_o.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alexander Jonesi</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Those are some big shoes to replace.</p> <p id="b0a07t">Kicker Adam Greene nailed his only field goal attempt in Maryland football’s season-opening win over Howard. At the same time last season, he was watching from the sidelines as Brad Craddock launched kicks through the uprights against Richmond.</p>
<p id="TXwhEL">Greene wasn’t expected to do much for the Terps in 2015, but that changed when Craddock dislocated a bone in his hand while making a tackle against Wisconsin. The former Lou Groza Award-winner was expected to have the kicking position locked down throughout the season. Most fans probably didn’t know who Greene was. Now he had the task of replacing arguably Maryland’s most popular player.</p>
<p id="S8bDuv">“Sure, it shocked me at the moment and initially I was all ‘Oh my gosh, I’m gonna be playing,’” Greene said. “But I just fell back on all those times where I said, ‘I put in all the effort, put in all the training necessary to perform at.” </p>
<p id="Zroghg">After Craddock, a senior, went down, Greene went out and sunk his first collegiate field goal, 44-yarder. He connected on his two extra point attempts in a losing effort against Wisconsin. </p>
<p id="OK4uKd">“It was almost just assurance,” Greene said. “Because when you go out for that first field goal, it’s like ‘this is the moment that you put in all those months training for — this one, right here.’”</p>
<p id="AiIFAb">Craddock’s injury kept him out for the final three games of the season, so just like that, Greene was Maryland’s starting kicker. </p>
<p id="BdIruG">He finished the year with three made field goals on five tries. He didn’t get many opportunities, thanks to Maryland’s middling offense, but that was a fine effort in his first cameo of game action.</p>
<p id="2MT6V1">This summer, Greene had the luxury of preparing with the knowledge that he’d be Maryland’s starting kicker this season. Towson transfer Danny Sutton is Greene’s primary backup, with Jonathan Doerer committed as a member of the 2017 recruiting class. </p>
<p id="NUtpxJ">“This year was different,” Greene said. “I definitely felt a heightened level of training that I needed to perform at. That’s what I really wanted to do this summer was to train not just as if I was starting, but to be training as if I was competing to be the Big Ten kicker of the year.</p>
<p id="nwULWv">“Just watching him over the summer, he always did extra stuff, no matter what it is,” Will Likely said. “It can be late night, he’ll be the last person in the building. Everything that he gets, he deserves.”</p>
<p id="luBce9">Durkin offered some praise for him on Tuesday, but also dove into how his staff expects Greene to improve.</p>
<p id="Om3Qko">“We’d like him to be more consistent on ball placement and hangtime. I thought he hit some really well and some that weren’t,” the coach said “I think he knows he can improve that.”</p>
<p id="kJJUny">As the team’s top two kickers, Craddock and Greene became close during Green’s first three years at Maryland. In addition to helping with technique, the veteran was constantly helping Greene prepare to be the starter in case he got hurt.</p>
<p id="0cQ3j8">When Craddock came back for the Terps’ opener against Howard, he repeated the same mantra he’d been telling Greene for years:</p>
<p id="aVRYBr">“Adam, just go slow and kick the crap out of it.”</p>
<p id="qrzmX7">That night, the two reminisced while watching football at Greene’s apartment. </p>
<p id="JoSPBe">Greene came to Maryland a walk-on in 2013. He stayed that way for three years as he waited behind Craddock. Starting kickers are usually on scholarship, but backups at the position might never get there. After the team moved into the dorms on campus this summer, Durkin stopped a meeting to let everyone know that Greene would be put on scholarship. Greene called his parents, and his mom cried.</p>
<p id="BdSzQB">When Greene trotted out for his first attempt as a scholarship kicker, he split the uprights.</p>
<p id="LffUuc">“It was an incredible feeling. Thirty-seven from the right hash, we put it dead-center,” Greene said. “We had a great snap and hold from my snapper Matt Oliveira and holder Caleb Rowe, and that’s what we’ve been working for.”</p>
https://www.testudotimes.com/2016/9/7/12813590/maryland-football-adam-greene-brad-craddock-kicking-statsRyan Connors