Darrius Heyward-Bey hears the wind rush past his ears. Voices fading in the distance. The Maryland receiver can see the goalline … and maybe the NFL.
“When I hit my extra gear, I feel like nobody can stop me speed-wise,” he said. “I feel the wind hit me. My legs really turn over fast. It happens two-three times per game when you can hit that type of speed.”
Heyward-Bey ran 40 yards in a 4.23 seconds last year. That’s Darrell Green fast. Quicker than a rumor spreads through the barber shop.
He’s the Terps headliner. The All-American prospect after earning national freshman honors last season when setting the Terps’ first-year mark with 694 yards. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds after adding 25 over the last two years, Heyward-Bey has NFL stature on looks alone.
After producing first-rounders Shawne Merriman and Vernon Davis in the last three years, Heyward-Bey could be the Terps’ next star. The redshirt sophomore is eligible for the NFL draft after next spring, though it’s far too early to know whether he’ll be ready. The season will say.
Heyward-Bey has heard the talk. One more good season and he’s a rich man. And yet, Heyward-Bey is ignoring the siren’s call for now. Too many term papers, pop quizzes and study halls to remain eligible and off Friedgen’s morning stadium steps tour. Thoughts of prime time are postponed until the coming offseason at the earliest … or maybe the latest.
“I’m still making mistakes,” Heyward-Bey said. “I’m still not doing everything I’m supposed to do. I know I have a lot of things to work on before leaving.”
The question is whether Heyward-Bey can withstand the double looks given by coming defenses when Maryland opens Sept. 1 against Villanova. Double coverages are surely coming, one reason why coach Ralph Friedgen moved Heyward-Bey to the X receiver position Monday with more variations rather than his pure speedball routes. Isaiah Williams is now the downfield burner to lure defenses from Heyward-Bey.
“We’ve got to get another guy other than Darrius making plays,” Friedgen said. “Otherwise, they’ll take him out of the game and we’ll be stuck.”
Heyward-Bey saved Maryland last season with touchdowns of 65 and 96 yards in the 14-13 victory over Miami. The 30- and 5-yard scores were the difference in the 27-24 win over Florida State. The 9-4 season could have unraveled without those two triumphs, but the Terps went to the Champs Sports Bowl where Heyward-Bey scored on a 46-yarder in the 24-7 win.
“I just think about scoring every time I touch the ball,” he said.
The Terps will change quarterbacks, but Friedgen gave simple advice to his new passers.
“Throw it up because [Heyward-Bey] can go get it,” Friedgen said. “Throw it quick or he’ll be out of range.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
