At 6-foot-9 and 350 pounds, sophomore offensive tackle Jared Gaither towers over almost everyone.

An athletic phenomenon, Gaither is the Terrapin football team’s tallest player and is working to better his technique and sharpen his mental skills even after his success last season.

Following a series of setbacks, Gaither takes the next step tomorrow when he’s expected to play his first game of the season against Middle Tennessee.

“I think Jared Gaither will play quite a bit this week,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “His attitude is good. I think he’s working hard.”

Coming in as a freshman from Hargrave Military Academy, Gaither had two years of football experience, one of them at tight end/defensive tackle. But by the fourth week of the 2005 season, Gaither was thrust into the starting lineup as a result of Stephon Heyer’s torn anterior cruciate ligament. He wasn’t exactly in the spotlight, but Gaither did not allow a sack in 583 plays while protecting the blind sides of quarterbacks Sam Hollenbach and Joel Statham.

Gaither had a successful spring, but things started to go wrong when he, along with guard Jaimie Thomas, was suspended for the first two weeks of fall camp, and Friedgen said they would have to regain their starting jobs.

Progressing since his Aug. 21 return, Gaither’s depth-chart climb hit a snag when Friedgen suspended Gaither for disciplinary reasons unrelated to his summer suspension. Hearing of his suspension, he said he couldn’t wait for the chance to play Middle Tennessee.

“That’s just worse for the next team,” Gaither said. “That’s who it’s going to get taken out on.”

Anger wasn’t Gaither’s only emotion about not suiting up for the season opener.

“I couldn’t really sleep without being in it,” Gaither said. “I’ve been losing sleep not being here with the rest of my teammates.”

Without Gaither, redshirt sophomore Dane Randolph – who has four games worth of experience on his resume – started at right tackle, and Friedgen said he wore down from fatigue late in the game. Randolph has since nursed a sprained ankle and returned to practice Wednesday.

Because of Randolph’s injury, Gaither has seen some practice time with the first team, but Friedgen wouldn’t name a starter yesterday afternoon.

“[Gaither will] play a lot. Dane’s been nicked up, and I’m going to play both of them,” Friedgen said. “We’ll just see where Dane’s at at gametime.”

Rust is one thing Friedgen said Gaither is battling right now, but even if the sophomore isn’t at mid-season form, he’ll help the Terps by adding depth and experience.

“Having Jared back, a returning starter, a guy who’s been through the fray, an experienced guy – that’s obviously a positive,” offensive line coach Tom Brattan said. “The more depth you have, the better. You can’t play with five guys the entire year.”

As several linemen missed camp time because of either injury or suspension, the line has struggled to maintain cohesion. Still, the Terps managed to run for 213 yards and keep the Tribe from recording a sack.

Gaither is itching to join that success and be a part of the gameday atmosphere – even if it means not starting.

“It doesn’t matter if I play one second or the whole game,” said Gaither. “I just want to get out there and play.”

Friedgen said his team’s success rushing the ball against William & Mary will affect how the Terps play against Middle Tennessee, as the Blue Raiders have seen the film. But he added that he doesn’t have any preconceived notions of how much he’ll run the ball or pass it.

The game is the Terps’ last preparation game before facing West Virginia on Thursday, a game Friedgen said he and his staff began preparing for during training camp. Tomorrow night will be the Terps’ opportunity to sharpen their passing game and tackling, which Friedgen noted as problem areas.

Already bench pressing roughly his weight, Gaither said he has to work on his strength, speed and mental aspects of the game. But last year’s success has set a high bar, even for Gaither. The sophomore tackle just wants to reach potential, whatever the result.

“I don’t really know high my potential is. I’m just trying to be the best I can be. That leads to whatever it leads to,” Gaither said. “If it leads to greatness, then it leads to greatness. That’s always my focus and my attitude, that I want to be the greatest.”

Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.