In early March, Terrapin quarterback Chris Turner approached wide receiver Ronnie Tyler in the Gossett Team House dining hall with some constructive criticism.

Turner had just finished watching game film of the Terps’ 42-35 Humanitarian Bowl win against Nevada.

In the game, Tyler cut one of his routes about two yards short, resulting in an incompletion instead of a possible touchdown.

“That’s how you know he’s working on it and wants to get better,” said Tyler, who had a 14-yard touchdown catch in the game. “We were talking about a play that happened three months ago, so he’s obviously working hard.”

Turner knows that attention to detail will go a long way toward making his senior season successful. After competing with Jordan Steffy and Josh Portis in spring practice the past two seasons, Turner, who has started 20 games in his Terp career, throwing 20 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, has a clear handle on the starting quarterback job for the first time.

With Steffy’s graduation and Portis’ transfer, Turner can focus on leading a young Terp offense into their second season in offensive coordinator James Franklin’s system.

“Everyone expects more out of me,” Turner said. “Since I’m the guy, I’ve got to be perfect every play, show more leadership and really just play like a starting quarterback in every aspect.”

The fifth-year signal caller said that, in a lot of ways, he feels more pressure than he ever did locked in competition for the job. Turner, who opened last season behind Steffy on the depth chart, was never worried about his fellow quarterbacks’ performances because coach Ralph Friedgen and Franklin made it clear the competition was wide open. The job was not his to lose, and he had to earn it.

Rather than seek a transfer after losing out to Steffy during preseason camp last fall, he stuck around and ended up starting the last 12 games.

Now, Turner, who enters the season seventh in program history in passing yards, feels more prepared than ever before.

He’s made an effort to become more mobile in the offseason with an improved diet and extra reps in the weight room. After re-grading his performances in each game last season, he went back and looked at each of his incompletions, interceptions and sacks individually.

Reliving his past struggles – such as an early season loss at Middle Tennessee – helped Turner realize the importance of small details.

“I’m pretty sure that will never happen to me again,” Turner said of his three-interception performance against the Blue Raiders. “I won’t be that flustered in a game again – I hope.”

Friedgen has seen the differences already. The ninth-year coach said the game is starting to slow down for his starting quarterback. Turner, who was considered a poor practice player early in his career, has impressed Friedgen with his ability to pick up hot reads in 11-on-11 drills against new defensive coordinator Don Brown’s scheme.

“I think he’s feeling better because he’s not learning the plays – he’s perfecting them,” Friedgen said.

The Terps are counting on Turner to continue his growth under center.

He is the only player on the roster to play a down at quarterback, and until a pair of freshman recruits join the team in the fall, the Terps are short on depth under center. During yesterday’s workout, Turner was relieved by Director of Football Operations Jemal Griffin during a wide receiver versus defensive backs drill as the other two quarterbacks were working with the running backs and linemen.

Despite having just four seniors on the offensive depth chart, Franklin is expecting his offense, which finished third in the ACC in total offense last season, to move forward in its second year. With an inexperienced offensive line and an unproven receiving corps, Turner will carry a lot of that weight on his 6-foot-4 frame.

“Right now, he looks like the guy who is going to lead us where we want to be,” said wide receiver Torrey Smith, who will be counted on to offset the loss of Turner’s top three targets from last season. “He’s got a great understanding of the offense, and he’s making big-time throws right now.”

After completing his fourth spring workout, the laid-back Californian with a penchant for knocking off ranked opponents had trouble describing his new role on the team. After four years of hard work, the Terps are finally Turner’s team.

“It’s a new feeling, but it’s definitely better,” Turner said. “It’s a big responsibility, but I’m more comfortable. I’ve waited a long time for this, and I’m trying to enjoy it.”

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