When he was a senior in high school, Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in a football workout at the University of Virginia. On Saturday, the Maryland redshirt freshman will return to Charlottesville to try and burn the Cavaliers? turf once again.
“I don?t like Virginia,” said Heyward-Bey, referring to his recruiting process coming out of McDonogh School. “And in coming to Maryland, I really don?t like them.”
Heyward-Bey has been working his way into the Terps? passing attack in his first season of college action, and in last Saturday?s 27-24 loss at Georgia Tech, the 6-foot-2 wideout had his best game to date. He had five catches for 111 yards, setting a season-high for the Terps.
“Darrius played well,” senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach said. “He?s just going to continue to get better. He?s a guy who, with experience, gets confidence, and with that confidencehe?s going to continue to play well.”
Coach Ralph Friedgen also took note of his young receiver?s performance.
“Offensively, we threw the ball better against a very tough defense,” Friedgen said. “I saw some improvement with our wide receivers, particularly with Darrius Heyward-Bey.”
On the season, Heyward-Bey has caught 15 passes for 214 yards but has yet to find the end zone.
“When we?re in the red zone, we?ve got to score,” he said. “Three points are great, but six points are better.”
With a tough schedule ahead, the Terps are going to rely on the rookie.
“We?re going to need him to be at the top of his game,” Hollenbach said. “We?ll need him to improve.”
After his performance against Georgia Tech, Heyward-Bey can take pride in how far he and the receiving corps have come.
And he doesn?t hide the importance of Saturday?s game against Virginia.
“It?s huge,” he said. “Getting four wins is one step closer to a bowl game. That?s all I keep thinking about.”
Maybe along the way, he can give the team that passed on him something to think about, too.
THE HEYWARD-BEY FILE
» Age: 19
» High School: McDonogh
» Did you know? Heyward-Bey totaled 1,623 yards and 22 touchdowns combined in his junior and senior seasons at McDonogh … Was the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes … Was also recruited by Alabama, Boston College, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Virginia.
