Linebacker Shane Cockerille already knew coach DJ Durkin held a high importance about special teams, but Friday night’s team dinner further cemented the redshirt junior’s thoughts.
Durkin called on the punt team to get in line for food first at the team’s meal before facing Howard on Saturday afternoon.
It was a small gesture, Cockerille said, but showed Durkin’s regard for the less-heralded positions. The coach confirmed that feeling after his first win at the helm of the program.
In the 52-13 victory against the Bison that featured a momentum-generating special teams play — the punt team’s block returned for a touchdown punctuated the Terps’ first-quarter scoring barrage — Durkin showed his willingness to play his top players in whatever position he felt would help the team succeed.
“He said if you’re not a D-lineman or an O-lineman or a quarterback and you don’t play special teams, you probably wont’ see the field too much,” Cockerille said. “Definitely special teams is a huge thing here.”
Durkin said that mindset shined through when running back Ty Johnson broke through the Bison line to slam down the ball as it left Howard punter Dakota Lebovsky’s foot with less than four minutes left in the first quarter.
Johnson is the team’s starting running back. Trey Edmunds, who corralled the ball on the 13-yard line and barreled into the end zone out of the reach of a lunging Bison defender, is Johnson’s backup.
They weren’t the only veterans in for the play, either.
Starting outside linebacker Jesse Aniebonam put pressure on Howard up the middle. Rather than lining up deep to receive the punt, defensive back Will Likely, an All-American returner last season, lined up next to Aniebonam.
“We don’t take that lightly at all,” Durkin said. “Special teams is critically important here. If you’re a starter on special teams, you’re a starter on this team.”
Having Likely, a two-way starter, play out of his usual role and rush from the left side of the line forced the Bison to try to focus their protection in his direction.
As the ball was snapped, Howard’s third lineman on the right shifted to the left, leaving three Terps, one of whom was Johnson, to face two down linemen.
After the sophomore snuck through the gap, Edmunds, who had lined up to Johnson’s right in the formation, scooped the ball in stride and pushed the team’s lead to 21-0.
The redshirt senior grabbed the ball running a direct angle to the end zone, but he said Likely, who was about a step behind him after moving across the formation from the left, would have capitalized on the mistake, too.
After the game, Likely joked about his chance to score if Edmunds hadn’t.
“I was like, ‘Man, we know you would. That’s what you do,'” Edmunds said. “Anybody could have scored, and I would have been just as happy.”
Aside from their special teams production, Edmunds finished the game with six carries for 48 yards and a rushing touchdown, matching Johnson’s production as the two saw action early before a host of reserves and newcomers finished the game after the Terps touted a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Likely also recorded one tackle and rushed for two yards. His senior debut as a two-way starter came on the heels of the team releasing its first depth chart with three players listed at two positions on the breakdown.
Running back/safety Jake Funk and wide receiver/cornerback Tino Ellis were the others and each recorded a tackle Saturday, while Funk also tallied 59 rushing yards.
Durkin joked after the game he would’ve listed more players on the depth chart at various positions if the team’s media relations staff hadn’t cut him off.
“We’ll use our best players in all phases of special teams, and guys are going to play both offense and defense,” Durkin said. “[Whatever] gets our best guys on the field and gives us our best chance to win.”
