Last season, the Maryland football team committed eight turnovers — seven interceptions and one fumble — through its first three games. Quarterback Perry Hills started two contests before former coach Randy Edsall benched him in favor of quarterback Caleb Rowe.
Eliminating those lapses and providing consistency to the position have been points of emphasis from coach DJ Durkin’s staff throughout the offseason and during the Terps’ nonconference slate, and the instruction has worked. Maryland is one of three FBS schools — Army and Western Michigan are the others — what have yet to turn the ball over on offseason this season.
Offensive coordinator Walt Bell has worked with Hills on improving his vision and awareness, coaching him to pull down and run, throw the ball out of bounds or take a sack instead of forcing plays.
“He’s a lot more confident in what we’re doing,” Bell said at the beginning of the season. “As a quarterback, if you’re confident in what’s going on, it’s only going to make you more successful in completions and not turning the ball over.”
After throwing 13 picks — Maryland led the FBS in interceptions last season — Hills has completed 37 of his 60 pass attempts for 463 yards and three touchdowns in 2016. He entered the game against UCF in the top 10 in the country for completion percentage through two games. While his success rate dropped against the Knights, he managed the offense, helping the Terps equal last year’s win total.
Hills suffered an injury on his first play in double overtime Saturday, but quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome stepped in to seal the triumph with a rushing touchdown on the next snap. Pigrome has made appearances in each game, going 5-of-8 for 76 yards to pair with 11 carries for 82 yards and two rushing scores.
Bell has said the former Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year is the team’s second-string option despite sharing the slot with the Terps’ three other quarterbacks on last week’s depth chart. Still, the Terps don’t plan to rotate Hills and Pigrome if the redshirt senior is healthy.
After the game, Durkin said Hills injured his shoulder. He didn’t elaborate on the injury in his weekly conference call Monday, calling Hills day-to-day while preparing for Purdue on Oct. 1.
“Perry’s about as tough as they come,” Durkin said. “Timed it well with having a bye.”