Former Maryland football player and graduate assistant Tyler Bowen is joining the program as the offensive line coach, the team announced Saturday.
Dave Borbely, the offensive line coach in coach DJ Durkin’s first season, will remain on staff as a Special Assistant to the Head Coach with an “off-the-field” role, according to a release.
“Tyler is an extremely talented and innovative coach, who has had a great deal of success at each stop during his coaching career,” Durkin said in a statement. “Tyler has passion for this University, having been a former player and staff member. We’re happy to welcome Tyler back to College Park and are excited to have him as part of our coaching staff.”
Bowen spent the last two seasons at Fordham, earning a promotion to offensive coordinator for 2016 after serving as offensive line coach the campaign before. Under his lead, the Rams finished fourth in the FCS in yards (498.2) and points per game (40.1).
Bowen, a Helena, Georgia, native, has also had stints at Penn State and Towson after getting his start in College Park.
He was a three-year offensive lineman for the Terps before injuries ended his playing career and he became a student assistant to former coach Ralph Friedgen in 2010.
He then worked with the offensive line and wide receivers as a graduate assistant in 2011 and 2012 under former coach Randy Edsall.
Bowen inherits the Terps line that blocked for the Big Ten’s fourth-best rushing attack, averaging 199.5 yards a game, last season. Running back Ty Johnson surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, while Lorenzo Harrison dazzled with elusive moves before a four-game suspension ended his rookie season.
The group, however, struggled in pass protection, allowing 49 sacks, at least 10 more than the other 13 Big Ten teams. That left quarterback Perry Hills vulnerable to injury and didn’t afford rookie backup Tyrrell Pigrome much time to improve his pocket presence.
