Jamari McCollough entered the Terrapin football season as a third-string strong safety.

A shoulder injury to back-up strong safety Drew Robinson slid him up the depth chart at the beginning of the season. When starting free safety Terrell Skinner went down with an ankle injury against Middle Tennessee, he earned even more playing time.

Now McCollough leads the Terps in interceptions. The junior has picked off three passes in the last two games.

“It’s an opportunity I’ve been waiting for since I’ve been here,” McCollough said. “I was waiting for my turn, and it finally came.”

It came because the Terp defense, which ranks 102nd in the nation against the pass, giving up about 254 yards per game, has had to play through a number of early season injuries. Despite being forced to reach down the depth chart for healthy players and play the remaining healthy starters more than usual, the Terp secondary has played well enough to help the team to a 4-1 start.

With Skinner back from a two-game absence and cornerback Nolan Carroll nearly ready to return from an ankle injury, the Terps hope they are finally getting healthy as they move along with their ACC schedule.

“I’m looking forward to [being healthy],” secondary coach Kevin Lempa said. “We’ll be better because of it. We’ll have a lot of game-ready players.”

Lempa has had to get creative. He used nine players to fill the secondary’s four spots against Cal Sept. 13, when several players missed time with injuries. Unproven players like McCollough, Antwine Perez, Kenny Tate and Michael Carter have been asked to play increased roles. Starting cornerbacks Kevin Barnes, Anthony Wiseman and safety Jeff Allen have played nearly every play.

“We kind of covered things up with some coverages,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “I think we’re doing a pretty good job of trying to play to our strengths and hide our weaknesses.”

Barnes, who was moved off kickoff coverage to keep him fresher for his increased workload, said he’s proud of the way the unit has stuck together. He’s had to help the young players, especially Carter, at times, but he knows the team is building valuable depth for later in the season.

“Guys are showing up when they get their chance to play,” Barnes said.

Against Clemson, the Terps put together their best performance against the pass since the season-opening win against Delaware. They limited senior quarterback Cullen Harper to 151 yards passing with no touchdowns and an interception.

They also had to defend just 63 plays, after facing an average of 81 in the previous two games.

It was a small step for the defense, but with an off week coming after Saturday’s trip to Virginia, the secondary figures to have a chance to be fully healthy soon.

“I just can’t wait,” said McCollough, who had not taken a snap as a defensive back in game action before this season. “When [Carroll, who’s questionable against the Cavaliers,] gets back, we’re going to be a good secondary. We’ll have more depth, and coach will have a lot of options to rotate us.”

– Moten sidelined

Linebacker Adrian Moten had left wrist surgery Monday and will miss four to five weeks, Friedgen said at Tuesday’s press conference.

Moten hurt the wrist in the second half of the Terps’ win against Eastern Michigan Sept. 20. He played about 25 plays against Clemson Saturday with a hard cast on the wrist, registering three tackles and two pass breakups. He also caused a second quarter turnover, deflecting a Harper lateral attempt and recovering the ball before it rolled out of bounds.

Friedgen said Moten could’ve put off surgery, but with two of the next five Saturdays off, they decided to do it now.

“The tough part about it is I think his last two games have been his best two games,” Friedgen said. “We’re going to miss him.”

With Moten out, Antwine Perez will back up linebacker Moise Fukou. Perez, known as one of the hardest hitters in the Terp secondary, moves from safety where he started two games this season while Skinner was injured. Friedgen said the role won’t be too different for Perez, who has played primarily in running situations this season.

“[Perez] is picking up things very well,” Fokou said. “And we should be able to move forward without missing any heartbeat.”

Also listed on the Terp early week injury report as questionable were running back Da’Rel Scott (shoulder), wide receiver Danny Oquendo (head), defensive tackle Mack Frost (knee) and defensive tackle Travis Ivey (foot).

– Barnes Senior Bowling

Cornerback Kevin Barnes plans to play in this year’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Barnes, a second-year starter with six career interceptions, said he received an invitation from the prestigious all-star game the week after the Terps win against Cal.

Barnes gained national attention for his jarring hit on Golden Bear running back Jahvid Best in the game.

He said he was among the first 16 players in the nation to be invited to play in the game, which is regarded as a top showcase for the NFL Draft.

The 2009 Senior Bowl will be held at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium on Jan. 24, 2009 at noon.

“They told me I was the only corner they invited so far,” Barnes said. “It was an honor.”

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