Steve Suter. That was the answer early this season when Maryland football fans were asked who the last game-changing playmaker to roam the field at Byrd Stadium was.
Darrius Heyward-Bey. That?s the answer to the same question today, and likely the same answer for the next three seasons in College Park.
The redshirt freshman receiver has injected a big-play aspect to an otherwise relatively bland Maryland offense. His two long touchdowns in Saturday?s win over Miami gave the Terps their eighth win ? a total that seemed more unlikely at the beginning of the season than Heyward-Bey?s breakout.
“I don?t think he?s even come close to touching his potential. He is still learning the position,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “He works at it every day,and I think that?s why he has really improved. He has become a better route-runner and has learned to catch the ball better.”
In 10 games, including seven starts, Heyward-Bey has 34 receptions for 549 yards and four touchdowns. For his career-best 165 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Heyward-Bey was rewarded with the Atlantic Coast Conference offensive player of the week award. The McDonogh School product is starting to gain notice on campus, too.
“That?s just natural, to go to class, everyone?s looking at you,” Heyward-Bey said of the attention that came with Saturday?s win. “But you can?t pay that any attention. You?ve still got to come to practice and listen to coach yell at you when you make mistakes.”
He?s also getting attention from his teammates. In particular, ACC defensive back of the week Josh Wilson has had trouble matching Heyward-Bey?s speed in practice.
“I?ve had to trip him up and stuff,” Wilson said. “I don?t know where he got his speed from. I thought I was fast, but he?s got some wheels.”
Heyward-Bey said Tuesday that he has aims on becoming a film director after his playing days are behind him. He recalls seeing his first movie, “Coming to America.”
“I remember images of being at the movie theater,” Heyward-Bey said. “So my mom tells me I?m gifted in that way.”
The images of his 65- and 96-yard touchdowns Saturday will likely stick in the minds of Terps fans, who are starting to understand how gifted the 19-year-old is on the gridiron.
