At one point during training camp, the injury bug took such a big chunk out of the Terrapin football team that it had to play two-hand touch during a scrimmage that was supposed to be full contact.
About 20 players were missing from the scrimmage, and it left both the coaching staff and players frustrated. Coach Ralph Friedgen started to change around practices just to avoid putting players in situations that could lead to an injury.
“It’s amazing,” Friedgen said. “We got 105 guys, and we can barely field a scout team because we got so many guys out.”
The injuries have taken a toll on the Terps. Along with not being able to scrimmage as they usually would, the Terps have had backup players filling in at spots they normally wouldn’t. To an extent, it has slowed down the team’s progress.
“That’s how the ball bounces,” said linebacker Dave Philistin, who tweaked his hamstring last week. “We have a couple people that are maybe fourth string starting out [during practices] because we don’t have many guys.”
The two most notable injuries are redshirt freshman linebacker Alex Wujciak and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Wujciak, who was likely to emerge as a starter, partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is out for the season.
“He was probably one of our better defensive football players,” Friedgen said.
Heyward-Bey missed about a week of practice and was wearing a walking boot with what he called a “little foot strain.” Heyward-Bey said he was close to 100 percent and planned to play tomorrow against Villanova.
“It kinda makes things a little more difficult,” quarterback Jordan Steffy said. “But at the same time, we’re getting some younger guys some reps. All in all, guys are learning and once we get everybody back we’ll be fine.”
Throughout training camp, Friedgen did hint that he was unhappy with certain players for missing practice due to minor injuries.
“It just seems like we find a way to get guys nicked up,” Friedgen said. “You watch, game day everyone will be back. But that concerns me. It really does concern me with where we’re at as a team.”
Some of the notables on the injury list during training camp included: linebackers Erin Henderson (stinger), Chase Bullock (ankle) and Rick Costa (concussion); running back/kick returner Da’Rel Scott (foot); offensive linemen Paul Pinegar (knee) and Bruce Campbell (illness); and wide receiver Danny Oquendo (wisdom tooth removed).
Friedgen said Wujciak was the only one he expected to miss significant time.
“It’s tough, but you gotta expect it,” running back Keon Lattimore said. “College football’s brutal on the body, but you just gotta accept it and roll with the punches.”
