C.J. Brown
The Terrapins football team held its third practice of the season open to the media Tuesday evening. Here are a few notes and observations to tide you over until Thursday’s paper, which will have a few notebook items.
– Quarterback C.J. Brown sat out practice to give backups Ricardo Young, Caleb Rowe and Perry Hills reps with the first team. Coach Randy Edsall said none of the three backups have separated themselves as a clearcut No. 2 quarterback. Edsall previously said on Friday he expected one to emerge over the weekend, but that wasn’t the case.
Young looked the sharpest out of the three, and his mobility is definitely an extra weapon for the Terps offense. Rowe and Hills were about even. During one 11-vs.-11 drill, outside linebacker Marcus Whitfield batted down an option pitch from Rowe and returned it for a touchdown.
Young had a nice play in 11-vs.-11 drills called back by holding. He scrambled to find backup tight end P.J. Gallo open in the middle of the field. He also had a miscommunication along the line during one drill and took a delay of game penalty.
“I have no idea right now who’s our No. 2 quarterback because nobody’s really separated themselves,” Edsall said. “So I thought it would be a good day today just to get those guys involved with the first unit and evaluate them because within the next day or two, we’ve got to move forward. I’ve got to make a decision on who the No. 2 is so I can get him all the reps we got to get him to be prepared to play in a game.”
– Wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Nigel King didn’t practice either after having dental work done. With fellow wideout Deon Long (back) out, the first-team offense featured redshirt freshman Amba Etta, sophomore Levern Jacobs and sophomore Malcolm Culmer.
– Cornerback Will Likely had two nice interceptions during drills. The freshman was impressive rotating into nickel and dime packages.
– Safety A.J. Hendy worked with the first team. He’s currently battling with Sean Davis for the starting spot.
“Nobody’s established themselves as the starter there yet,” Edsall said. “We still have that competition going between A.J. and Sean, just so happened today was A.J.’s day to work with the ones. That’s something we’ll continue to evaluate. We know both of them are going to have to play for us in the different packages that we use. That one will probably go down to at least I’m sure game week. We’ll see if somebody separates themselves and shows us. But right now, nobody’s really separated themselves from each other.”
– Left tackle Mike Madaras had his first practice in pads since returning from a suspension Friday. He worked with the first-team offense.
– Sophomore Ryan Doyle, who filled in at left tackle during Madaras’ suspension, is pushing senior Nick Klemm for the starting right tackle spot.
“I think that’s going to be a battle to see which one of those two guys is going to be the starter by the 31st,” Edsall said. “Ryan Doyle, I thought, is improved and playing a lot better this preseason than what he’s showed before.”
– Likely also worked with DeAndre Lane on the punt return unit.
