Antwine Perez was shocked when he began classes at this university.
The campus was much bigger than the one he was used to at the University of Southern California.
The football program was not.
“Out there, you’re on such a pedestal to everyone,” said Perez, whose Trojan team won the Rose Bowl and finished No. 4 in the nation in his lone season. “It’s just so traditional out there. With all the history of football, championships [and] Heisman Trophies, there’s so much expectation you’ve got to live up to.”
All the differences were a little overwhelming to the Terrapin free safety.
Perez initially struggled to adjust to life at the university when he transferred from USC in January 2007. But after sitting out a season due to NCAA transfer rules, Perez says he is exactly where he wants to be.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore known for his ferocious hitting came off the bench in the Terps’ first two games this season, but starter Terrell Skinner sustained a right high-ankle sprain in Saturday’s loss at Middle Tennessee. Skinner will be out two to three weeks, and Perez will make his first career start Saturday against No. 23 California.
“It is a big opportunity,” Perez said. “I get a chance to go out there and make some plays and try to get back on the map, get our team back on the map.”
Perez has been waiting for the chance since he left USC after his freshman season. He played in seven games and recorded three tackles on a Trojan defense stacked with future NFL players, including 2008 NFL Draft top-10 choices Keith Rivers and Sedrick Ellis.
But Perez, who graduated from high school early to join the Trojans for spring practice in 2006, missed his family and questioned if his playing time would increase.
After consulting with former Terp defensive end Kevin Eli and current linebacker Jeff Clement, who both lived in his neighborhood in southern New Jersey, Perez decided to become a Terp.
“I just felt I had a better opportunity to come back closer to home and have a new start somewhere else,” said Perez, who has notched four tackles in two games this season.
Senior cornerback Kevin Barnes said he initially wondered why a guy from USC would want to leave the glamour of a perennial national powerhouse to become a Terp. He stopped caring when he saw the highlight video Perez brought with him of big hits he’d leveled at Trojan practices.
“He was destroying guys,” Barnes said. “I think one time he crushed [current Carolina Panther] Dwayne Jarrett on a post route. I was like, ‘OK, I’m glad he’s on my team.'”
But before Perez could show his abilities in a Terp uniform, he had to sit out a year and get comfortable with life at a new school.
Early on, Perez fell behind with his schoolwork and went through a tough adjustment period. At one point, coach Ralph Friedgen even called his parents in for a talk.
Perez said he just needed to focus and “get my head on straight.”
“There were just a lot of things that were going on that contributed to me not doing what I was supposed to do,” Perez said. “Everything is going pretty good now. I’m doing extremely well in the classroom.”
And after playing on the scout team last season, he’s finally getting a chance on the field.
Skinner beat out Perez in preseason camp for the starting spot, but coaches have worked Perez into games in situations where he can use his hitting ability. Perez said with the way Skinner performed in camp and the first two games (14 tackles and an interception), he didn’t feel slighted to be on the depth chart behind his friend.
But with Skinner out of the lineup, the Terps will need big production from the player linebacker Dave Philistin called the “John Lynch of our defense,” a reference to the former All-Pro safety known for dealing out crushing blows.
Friedgen said Perez will need to work on his pass coverage skills to be successful this season, and the Terps will rotate in junior Jamari McCollough, who has better pass defense skills, in certain situations.
Defensive coordinator Chris Cosh said there’s a reason Skinner was No. 1 on the depth chart out of camp, but believes Perez can raise his game.
That’s a good bet if Perez, who still talks with many of his former Trojan teammates on a weekly basis, can tap into the potential that earned him a chance to play in one of the nation’s elite football programs.
And Perez, ranked No. 29 in the 2006 high school class by Rivals.com, has a gut instinct for dealing out punishment on the field that translates to any team he plays for.
“He’s always been that way,” Friedgen said of his new starting safety. “I don’t worry about that. He’ll hit you.”
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