Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen isn?t sure who?ll be his starting quarterback, but he does know this: his choice will be surrounded by plenty of speedy teammates.
But none are faster than receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who blazed past defenses, including Miami?s, which he torched for a school-record 96-yard touchdown reception.
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Heyward-Bey is the go-to guy this season after starting in 10 of 13 games as a redshirt freshman, when he caught 45 passes for 694 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“I don’t think Darrius has even scratched on his potential yet,” Friedgen said. “He’s such a giving kid. Even though he’s only a sophomore, he’s like the oldest guy in the group and he’s turned into a coach for the wide receivers. I think once you understand things good enough to teach someone else, you get better at it.”
However, Heyward-Bey, consensus preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick, is just one of several Terps who can make life difficult for the opposition.
Wide receivers Isaiah Williams and Danny Oquendo, tight ends Dan Gronkowski and Joey Haynos, and running backs Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore must produce if Maryland is to contend for a conference title.
“I think last season we didn’t show the true Maryland team,” Ball said. “I feel we have the capability to blow everybody out and be one of the top teams in the ACC.”
Ball, who rushed for 815 yards and eight touchdowns, is more of a down-hill, work-horse runner, while the faster Lattimore is also effective catching the ball out of the backfield, as he amassed 210 yards receiving to go with 743 yards rushing.
“Its kind of a job we fell into,” Ball said. “A lot of guys before us stepped up as the foundation of the offense, so we’re ready to step up and have a good senior year.”
Heyward-Bey feels the team has the potential to finish the season playing in a Bowl Championship Series game–something Maryland has not done since losing to Florida in the Orange Bowl in 2002.
“Right now, I’m thinking ACC Championship,” Heyward-Bey said. “If we don’t go to the ACC Championship, it’s a disappointment in my eyes.”
DISCUSSION QUESTION: Is Darrius Heyward-Bey the best receiver in the ACC?
