After an offseason of Maryland football rookie coach DJ Durkin fostering competition for starting spots and playing time, the team released its first depth chart of the campaign entering Saturday’s season opener against Howard.
Freshmen quarterbacks Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager will back up quarterback Perry Hills against the Bison. The rookie duo beat out redshirt sophomore Gage Shaffer after the three signal-callers split repetitions behind Hills through fall camp.
Redshirt senior quarterback Caleb Rowe, who started four games last season, missed most of the preseason with an injury and is not on the two-deep.
Defensive back Will Likely, meanwhile, is projected to be a two-way starter. The All-Big Ten defensive back from a season ago is listed with wide receiver DeAndre Lane as a counterpunch to wide receiver D.J. Moore.
Likely, the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2015, could also see action on special teams as coaches have said throughout the offseason they intend use Likely in all three phases.
Freshman wide receiver Tino Ellis, a four-star recruit from DeMatha Catholic High School, could also see playing time on both sides of the ball. He ranks behind Moore at wideout and is a backup to defensive back Alvin Hill the cornerback slot opposite late-summer addition J.C. Jackson. Reserve running back Jake Funk, a rookie Damascus High School product, could do the same as a reserve safety.
In a conference call Friday, Durkin said the defensive line competition was one of the toughest of the offseason. Jesse Aniebonam is slated to play ahead of Melvin Keihn at buck linebacker, while Roman Braglio (defensive end), Kingsley Opara (nose tackle) and Cavon Walker (defensive tackle) earned starting nods, too.
On the offensive side, Damian Prince (right tackle), Maurice Shelton (right guard), Brendan Moore (center), Mike Minter (left guard) and Mike Dunn (left tackle), will block for starting running back Ty Johnson and reserves Trey Edmunds, Kenneth Goins, Jr. and Jake Funk.
