Caleb Rowe was just excited to have a Division I scholarship when he committed to the Terrapins football program in June 2011.

The Landrum, S.C., native, after all, was a relative unknown in FBS recruiting circles. He was unranked on Rivals.com. He was unranked on Scout.com. He was a lowly two-star prospect on ESPN.com. Heck, his only other listed offers were from FCS nobodies Gardner-Webb and Presbyterian.

“It’s just very exciting just to get the opportunity to play at a DI like Maryland,” Rowe said in August.

With five games remaining on the Terps’ regular-season slate, that opportunity has become reality. Presumptive starter C.J. Brown tore his ACL during a non-contact drill during preseason camp. His backup, freshman Perry Hills, absorbed an illegal hit against N.C. State on Saturday and suffered the same injury.

Then the unthinkable happened. The team announced yesterday that Devin Burns, the converted wide receiver who beat Rowe out for second-string snaps earlier this season, suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury — a gruesome setback involving either broken mid-foot bones or torn mid-foot ligaments — against the Wolfpack.

Suddenly, the genial Southerner who was ecstatic to land a single FBS offer 16 months ago is the only scholarship quarterback remaining on the Terps’ active roster. In six days, Rowe went from third-stringer to unquestioned starter.

And the stakes couldn’t be much higher. Rowe will take over a team that needs just two wins to become bowl eligible — a feat most pundits figured was a pipe dream in August. A victory at struggling Boston College on Saturday, and the Terps are suddenly just one upset away from staking their claim as one of college football’s best storylines.

Can’t you just see it now? “Lightly touted freshman leads injury-plagued Terps to Military Bowl.” It’d be on par with a walk-on on last year’s depleted men’s basketball team assuming starting point guard responsibilities and helping the Terps reach the NCAA Tournament. It would be remarkable. It would be unreal.

So go ahead. Bemoan yesterday’s ill-fated news. Dismiss the rest of the Terps’ season, and start counting the days until men’s basketball’s Nov. 9 season opener against Kentucky.

But be forewarned: You might miss out on a downright good time.

Rowe may have limited in-game experience. He may even have limited experience throwing the ball to players who see the field on Saturdays.

But he does have a tendency to overcome expectations. He got a major scholarship when few thought he could. He impressed the Terps’ coaching staff enough to warrant an appearance late against N.C. State.

And when he burned his redshirt with 32 seconds remaining, he directed the two-minute drill offense to near perfection.

Rowe took just three plays to move the Terps 60 yards. He sandwiched passes of 17 and 33 yards with an 11-yard scramble, setting up a 33-yard field goal attempt that would have won the game.

And when freshman Brad Craddock’s kick clanged off the left upright, Rowe was unfazed. He was just excited to have an opportunity to play football.

“Coach Edsall always preaches, ‘You have to do your job. You have to be ready to play when your number’s called,’” Rowe said moments after the 20-18 loss. “So every week, I go into practice with that mentality and I was ready to play.”

Like it or not, the Caleb Rowe era has begun. Might as well enjoy the ride.

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