Maryland football freshman quarterback Kasim Hill suffered a season-ending ACL tear against Central Florida, the team announced Tuesday.
Quarterback Max Bortenschlager will start Saturday at Minnesota. He struggled against the Knights on Saturday, throwing two interceptions and taking five sacks.
Hill is the second Terps quarterback to endure a season-ending injury. First-choice signal-caller Tyrrell Pigrome tore his ACL in the third quarter against then-No. 23 Texas.
[Read more: Maryland football quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome suffered season-ending ACL tear at Texas]
“It’s an unfortunate series of events,” running back Lorenzo Harrison said. “I just feel really bad for Kasim, but injuries are part of the game.”
Bortenschlager looked uncomfortable in the pocket over the final three quarters as Central Florida outscored Maryland, 38-7, under his guidance. But the Terps expect improvement from the sophomore.
After all, he’s only made two career starts, and Maryland’s gameplan against the Knights was tailored for Hill, who is more mobile.
Center Brendan Moore said Bortenschlager took control of the huddle last weekend and showed calm despite his uneven performance.
“He went in the game in a tough spot,” Durkin said. “It was a gutsy performance. … It wasn’t perfect, but who would expect it to be?”
Bortenschlager’s backup will be Caleb Henderson, who has missed the first three games with a foot injury and contended for the starting job during spring practice. The junior transferred from North Carolina before the 2016 season.
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Brand is now the team’s third-string quarterback.
Offensive coordinator Walt Bell mentioned running backs Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison as emergency quarterback options earlier this season. The players take turns under center in practice to prepare for that scenario.
Johnson took one direct snap against Central Florida, but he said he didn’t know if the coaching staff would use him more in that position. He added he was willing to increase that workload.
Hill suffered his injury in the first quarter against the Knights. Before the setback, he recorded three total touchdowns and 230 passing yards through about five quarters this year. The four-star recruit out of Washington, D.C., helped the Terps upset the Longhorns with a fourth-quarter rushing score.
While he’ll spend the rest of the year recovering from his injury, Hill’s expected to contend for Maryland’s starting quarterback role next season as one of the team’s most promising rookie quarterbacks in recent history.
“He’s got a great future in football, both here and beyond,” Durkin said. “That guy is a phenomenal talent, doesn’t even compare to the type of person he is. He’s looking this thing right in the face saying, ‘Let’s go get it.'”
