Maryland?s Andrew Crummey is pleased that he made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team, but the senior guard is more concerned with ending his career with a victory, not an award.
Crummey who missed five games with a fractured left fibula this season, will get that chance as he leads Maryland (6-6) to victory over Oregon State (8-4) in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 28. Then it?s off to the NFL.
“This is big for me because I have a lingering injury issue and I haven?t played in many games. So for me to be able to come out and play and show that I?m 100 percent and that I can play again is going to be big for me,” Crummey said. “It?s going to be a great cap to my senior season and my career at Maryland. I get to play with my guys one last time, my offensive line one last time.”
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Crummey is ranked among the five best players at his position by many evaluators heading into April?s NFL Draft, which could land him a multimillion dollar contract. He earned second-team All-ACC honors for the second straight year by powering an offense that averages 147.3 yards rushing and 203.2 yards passing per game.
“I didn?t expect that after missing five games, and being out almost seven weeks, that I would get that honor,” Crummey said. “It was a tough season for me personally on the field.”
His return helped the Terrapins win their regular-season finale, 37-0, against N.C. State, which gave Maryland the NCAA-required six victories needed to play in a bowl game. And with injuries decimating the offensive line throughout the season, Maryland is happy to have its best lineman available against the Beavers, who haveallowed opponents an average of just 16 points the past five games.
“Well, I?m very grateful and indebted to Andrew,” Friedgen said. “He just epitomizes our team this year. His presence alone really helped us out, and I don?t think he is totally well yet. I think he?s about 85 percent, but he?s a lot better than where he was for the N.C. State game.”
EMERALD BOWL: TERRAPINS (6-6) VS. OREGON STATE BEAVERS (8-4)
» Kickoff: Dec. 28, 8:30 p.m.
» Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
» TV/Radio: ESPN, 105.7 FM, 1300 AM
» Tickets: Available
