Maryland Football Recruiting 2011: Why the Terrapins Are In for a Monster Season

It is around Christmas time. A fat, old, jolly man is seen next to his trusty band of magic helpers. He gives presents every year, but the present he gives this year might trump them all. No, he’s not Santa Clause, he’s Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen. The present? Star freshman QB Danny O’Brien.

O’Brien has become the face of the Terrapins, and has turned many of the Terrapins receivers into complete playmakers. The defense wasn’t too shabby either, especially the linebacker corps. Adrien Motten and Alex Wujciak will be gone with the draft (they’re seniors) but Demetrius Hartsfield is here to stay.

However, before the Military Bowl, Maryland may have lost one of its most intricate cogs, head coach Ralph Friedgen. Will the Terrapins still be able to win games without him?

Possibly.

The Terrapins did hire LSU’s assistant coach, and if you watched any LSU games this season, he’s not too shabby a decision. It all depends on the improvement of the defensive line. If Maryland had one weakness this season it was the defensive line. Perhaps they will gain some confidence after a solid year from the rest of the Terps squad.

The Terrapins will also have to rely on their heavy mixture of youth and experience if they are to have a successful season. The conference seems to be in the Terps' favor as well. Miami, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Clemson, teams that have been considered some of the ACC’s elite, have taken major steps backward.

However, one of the ACC’s teams, Virginia Tech, could very well be a national champion next season. Luckily, the Terrapins play in the Atlantic Division, so they won’t have to play the Hokies unless they play each other in the 2011 ACC Championship Game. The chances of that happening are about 50/50. The Terps have a chance of being champs or chumps, but there will be no in-between for them this season.

QB

This is the obvious strength of the team this season, despite the fact that it is led by a sophomore. Danny O’Brien showed great accuracy last season as well as some leadership. He turned an average group of wide receivers into absolute playmakers.

He isn’t much in the power factor, but that will develop in time. We must remember that he is a freshman, in a sport where experience is king. This is obviously not a point of concern.

HB

Da’Rel Scott has played his last game as a Terp, and boy was it a game, but that doesn’t mean this backfield isn’t loaded with talent. It starts off with Devin Megget, a small but agile sophomore who showed some major talent in the Military Bowl. If you watched any Maryland games this season, he is oozing potential. He was even recognized by Ralph Friedgen himself as one of the team’s key players for a successful season.

D.J Adams could have a similar impact on this team. He’s more of a power running back type, and is bound to get lots of third-down carries.

WR

Next to quarterback, this is the strength of the Terrapins. It’s led by catch-it-all receiver Torrey Smith—a big WR with sticky hands that is similar to Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons. The only question is if he will stay for one more season at MD. He’s projected as a second-rounder, but it is possible he could earn first-round honors as a sleeper.

At the other side is Kevin Dorsey, a solid but not spectacular receiver who brightly shined in the Military Bowl. However, he is just a sophomore, and if he showed the same talent he showed in the Military Bowl, it’s safe to expect big things from him.

OL

The Terps offensive line took a huge step forward this season. The guards and center are particularly impressive. That’s not to say the tackles didn’t do a good job either but it was particularly the men in the middle that were impressive. They managed to make holes for the halfbacks, as well as make holes if Danny O’Brien needed to take off.

DL

The defensive line was easily the worst part of Maryland’s excellent season. Some of the defensive ends showed some promise, particularly in their speed, but the defensive tackles were disastrous. However, Maryland has shown that is has the ability to produce some very impressive defensive linemen, and Terps fans shouldn’t worry too much about this position.

LB

Even with the loss of Wujciak and Motten, this unit is still full of young, solid talent. Hartsfield is the most obvious of all the talents. He has amazing instincts and pass-rushing skills as well as a decent sense of coverage. The scary part? He’s only a freshman. He is joined by Wujciak replacement, a big hitter named Claiborne, who can also play some impressive coverage.

DB

This unit is not amazing, but it’s solid. While INTs might not be very common from this group, they are good at deflecting passes and making sure the receivers don’t get the ball, which is what matters. As shown by playmakers Cameron Chism and Kenny Tate, they can also hit and stop the run pretty well. This is very impressive considering the lackluster level of play achieved by last year's Terrapin D-backs. They seem to be getting better each year though, and next year they could be vastly improved.

Offensive Playmaker: Danny O’ Brien

Without a question it’s O’Brien. He is the future of the Terrapins, and all of their hopes ride on his back. He has a very unique ability to make everyone around him 10 times better. In a few years he could be an elite quarterback, especially considering his achievements as a simple freshman.

Defensive Playmaker: Demetrius Hartsfield

Of the pantheon of linebackers on the Terps, only Hartsfield remains. He can pretty much do it all. He can play coverage, pass rush and wrap up everything around him. As a sophomore, expect him to be even more impressive than he was this year.

Predicted Record

9-4, No. 19 in the country