Ralph Friedgen has told reporters repeatedly that he won’t turn down a good linebacker who wants to join the Terrapin football program. He also will welcome any player who can run fast and has good grades.

Friedgen can find places for those guys. He has done so with players like safety Terrell Skinner, fullback Steven Pfister and most recently with running back Pha’Terrell Washington.

But there is such a thing as having too many quarterbacks, with only one spot on the field available at any given time.

Stuck at No. 4 on the depth chart in a crowded backfield, it may have become an issue for freshman Jeremy Ricker. Ricker was not at practice Saturday, and Friedgen told reporters Ricker is considering transferring.

“I think he’s deciding whether he wants to do that or not,” Friedgen said. “We’ll have to see.”

Coming out of high school, Rivals.com ranked Ricker a four-star recruit and No. 94 among all players. Within the ACC, Ricker was also recruited by North Carolina and Virginia.

Despite his reputation, Ricker has not been able to overcome a numbers game at quarterback. Early in spring practice, Friedgen said he would have to concentrate on getting repetitions for the quarterbacks who are most likely to see real game action: Jordan Steffy, Chris Turner and Josh Portis.

Ricker was left right behind that group along with Bobby Sheahin and Jamarr Robinson. Ricker went 1-for-2 with nine yards in the Terps’ first scrimmage.

With Ricker absent, the other quarterbacks showed vast improvement in the second scrimmage Saturday. Steffy was 10-of-13 with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Portis was 10-of-17 with one touchdown, while Turner and Sheahin both had respectable performances.

n Kicking calamities

The sight of missed field goals has been part of spring practice for the Terps with dependable Dan Ennis gone. Competing for the starting kicker job are sophomore Obi Egekeze and incoming freshman Travis Baltz, who is also the team’s punter.

Egekeze has hit long field goals, but has also been inconsistent, while Baltz has had to adjust to the quicker speed of college defenders. At Saturday’s scrimmage, Egekeze made only one of his four attempts, while Baltz was 1-of-2.

Two weeks ago, special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski emphasized the importance of solidifying the kicking game and everything on special teams.

“Like I’ve told them, last year, we won five games by 13 points. Special teams were critical,” Rychleski said. “So if we don’t have quality play out of those two positions, it’s gonna be hard to get back to where we were and the ACC Championship game, which is where we’d like to be.”

Ennis hit game-winning field goals against Florida State and Clemson, while Egekeze’s only game experience has come on kickoffs.

But even with the inexperience at the position and struggles this spring, Rychleski offered up caution for the whole situation.

“It is early,” he said. “Let’s not panic. But we got a lot of work to do.”

The Red-White game is April 28.

Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.