WR had career game against Wake Forest
As Ralph Friedgen was answering a question on Tuesday about wide receiver LaQuan Williams, a cell phone rang. After casting an irritated look at reporters, the Maryland coach checked his pocket and realized the noise was coming from his phone.
It was perhaps appropriate that the call interrupted a question about Williams. For four years, Williams has been a burr in the saddle of Friedgen, tantalizing the coach with his potential but never realizing it. Bad luck, in the form of a foot injury, and bad habits in the classroom and on the practice field have hindered Williams’ progression.
But after four trying years, Williams has shown maturity in his senior season, becoming a special teams standout, a reliable option at receiver and an example of a successful reclamation project.
After he caught a touchdown pass, blocked a punt and made three tackles on special teams in the Terps’ 62-14 rout of Wake Forest on Saturday, Friedgen grew emotional when talking about Williams.
“You want to talk about a kid and why I like coaching,” Friedgen said. “I’ve had some struggles with him academically, but he is just on a mission right now. He’s enjoying success not only on the football field … He’s doing well in school, too.”
Williams came to Maryland from Baltimore Poly. After a redshirt year at defensive back, Williams shifted to wide receiver and made the All-ACC freshman team, catching 15 passes for 217 yards.
After starting seven games as a freshman, Williams started just one the next two seasons. A foot injury and academic ineligibility in the spring of 2009 kept his career in neutral.
This year has been a re-birth for Williams, on and off the field. He is on schedule to graduate in the spring and has plans for a career in the Air Force.
“I want to fly planes,” Williams said.
At long last, his career is taking off.
O’Brien will take shots
The next opponent for Maryland (6-2, 3-1) will be Miami (5-3, 3-2), which plays a distinctive brand of defense. The Hurricanes rank second in the NCAA in tackles for a loss (70) and are tied for fourth in sacks (25). They also take on receivers at the line of scrimmage.
“This is going to be in-your-face, press-man coverage,” Friedgen said. “It’s gonna be harder to throw quick passes that we’ve been able to do, because they’re going to challenge every throw.”
Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien likens Miami to Clemson, a team that intercepted him three times in a 31-7 defeat.
“They’re big, fast, strong, athletic at all positions. They’re going to play man-to-man and leave single coverage,” O’Brien said. “We’ll have to take some shots on them.”
Harris iffy for Saturday
Miami will not reveal the status of quarterback Jacory Harris (concussion) until later this week. Coach Randy Shannon said Sunday that freshman Stephen Morris will start if Harris can’t play.
Morris was slated to redshirt this year, but Shannon pressed him into service in last week’s 24-19 loss at Virginia after Harris was hurt, backup A.J. Highsmith (hand) was unavailable and No. 3 Spencer Whipple, son of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, was ineffective, throwing two interceptions in six attempts.
Friedgen said Tuesday that he expects Morris to start, but wouldn’t be surprised if Harris played. Morris threw two touchdowns and two interceptions in a fourth-quarter comeback that fell short.
