Last season, the Terrapin football team counted on tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson to be playmakers on both sides of the ball.
As they moved on to the NFL, the door slamming shut behind the two stars made a thunderous impact on everyone in the Terps’ program. But time has allowed the Terps to consider what this year will be like without Davis and Jackson.
How does the team replace them?
“Oh, you can never really replace [Jackson],” junior linebacker Wesley Jefferson said. “As a team, we just have to step our game up so we can cover it up, just hide it that he’s not here.”
“It’s not easy for one guy to replace Vernon Davis,” junior tight end Joey Haynos said. “[Junior tight end] Jason [Goode] is good with the ball in his hands, I think I can stretch the defense, I’m running pretty good routes down the field and [freshman fullback] Dan [Gronkowski] and I are picking up the blocking.”
Terp players and coaches aren’t trying to fool anyone by saying it will be an easy transition; in fact, they know many of the players will have to adapt and improve while filling in the gaps at tight end and middle linebacker.
Davis slashed across opposing defenses to the tune of 51 catches for 871 yards and six touchdowns. His unique combination of catching ability, athletic prowess and game-breaking abilities contributed to his being named a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, and being drafted sixth overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
Coach Ralph Friedgen has already made long-term plans to reload at tight end, bringing in freshman recruit Drew Gloster, whose catching skills remind many of Davis’. But Gloster is gradually learning the offense and the Terp veterans at tight end will shoulder the burden this season.
Those veterans, Haynos, Goode and Gronkowski, now must become better all-around tight ends while also playing to their specialties. Haynos and Gronkowski, who are competing for the starting spot, have combined for three catches and a touchdown.
Haynos said replacing Davis is a group effort and that all the tight ends need to make use of increased playing time.
“There’s definitely a different role for us,” Haynos said. “Each of us has to pick up the receiving. I don’t think Friedgen’s gonna stop throwing to the tight ends.”
The 6-foot-7-inch Haynos caught a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Sam Hollenbach in the Terps’ first summer scrimmage, and Friedgen has lauded the tight end’s ability to run downfield and catch the ball in practice.
Gronkowski – a high school quarterback who converted to tight end – and Haynos have improved their blocking game, Haynos said. Goode and Gloster were banged up a bit in camp, but they could become key factors in the Terps’ passing game if healthy. Because of this depth, sophomore quarterback Jordan Steffy said there will be few differences in the way the tight end is used.
“The way our offense is, and this may surprise a lot of people, there weren’t many plays last year that were just for Vernon,” Steffy said. “A lot of times, the tight end comes into play, and that hasn’t changed at all.”
But without a dynamic pass-catcher at the tight end position, the Terps will turn to a group of wide receivers led by sophomore Isaiah Williams.
Williams has a lot of potential, but caught only one pass during his freshman season. He and Darrius Heyward-Bey are the players Friedgen is counting on as deep threats. Though neither is as intimidating as Davis, they can be valuable targets while tight ends focus on blocking.
On the defensive end, Jackson dominated games last season, compiling four sacks, two interceptions and a team-leading 137 tackles en route to being named All-ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
The Terps have to cope with losing their top three tacklers: Jackson, safety Milton Harris and linebacker William Kershaw. They’ll try to make plays on defense with depth and speed in the linebacking corps and two underrated seniors, cornerback Josh Wilson and tackle Conrad Bolston.
The ray of hope that one linebacker will emerge as a star derives from how Jackson filled in for two-time first team All-American E.J. Henderson, who is now playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
A celebrated high school recruit, Jefferson is a top candidate to follow that lineage. He steps into the middle linebacker position vacated by Jackson, but Friedgen isn’t piling all the pressure on one guy.
“[Jefferson] doesn’t say a lot, but when he does speak up, everyone listens,” Friedgen said. “Is he going to be like E.J. Henderson? He doesn’t have to be. He just has to be Wesley Jefferson. He just has to beat the ball, be there and make the play.”
Aside from Jefferson, the Terps will rely on several new faces at the other linebacking positions – starting with another Henderson. Sophomore Erin Henderson – E.J.’s brother – tore the ACL in his left knee during camp last season and hasn’t played a game yet at the college level.
Henderson has not complained of any major problems with his knee so far this season.
“Some things I’m doing better than I did before because I can’t rely on my athleticism,” Henderson said.
Henderson has the possibility of being a pleasant surprise next to Jefferson. That is, if he keeps the starting job. During spring practice and through camp, Friedgen has singled out the play of sophomore Frostburg State transfer Moises Fokou, even to the point where Fokou is pressing Henderson for the starting weak-side linebacker spot.
Senior linebacker David Holloway is penciled-in to start as well, and incoming freshmen Chris Clinton and Alex Wujciak and Temple transfer Rick Costa will provide depth that will be crucial to allowing two or three players at a time make up for the loss of Jackson.
And while the departures of Davis and Jackson are two monumental issues for the Terps, new defensive coordinator Chris Cosh pointed to the past to foresee the near future.
“There was life after E.J. and then came D’Qwell,” Cosh said. “So we’ll see who the next guy is.”
Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.
