July 3, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the second in a 10-part series previewing the 2003 University of Maryland football team. The Terrapins open fall camp on August 3rd in preparation for their season opener at Northern Illinois on August 28th.

Today's portion of the outlook for 2003 features takes a look at the tailback position, one of the deepest on the Terp roster. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of July for a breakdown on each component of this year's team (a complete list of when each position's synopsis will be posted on umterps.com can be found at the bottom of this page), a squad ranked by most preseason publications in the top 15 nationally.

Tailback

The tailback position is one that has become a bit of a trademark of the Maryland offense in recent years. The Terrapins have had a back rush for 1,000 yards or more in three of the last four seasons and based on the talent of this year's crop, the possibility that the accomplishment will be extended another year is strong.

Bruce Perry (Philadelphia, Pa.) heads into his senior season leading a group that is likely the deepest unit on the offense. Perry, the ACC's Offensive Player of the Year and a Doak Walker finalist in 2001, is healthy after a season of injury setbacks a year ago and heads into this year off of the momentum of his strongest offseason in the program. His strengths are his speed, quickness and big-play potential, but a return to form from his '01 season means he also has the uncanny ability of finishing nearly every play falling forward, breaking tackles along the way.

One of the players who stepped up his play in Perry's absence last year was sophomore Josh Allen (Bladensburg, Md.), a player whose future at Maryland seems bright. Allen is a bigger back (206 pounds) who also offers breakaway speed. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry on 60 attempts last year while hitting paydirt eight times in as many games.

Junior Sammy Maldonado (Harrison, N.Y.) and sophomore Mario Merrills (Columbia, Md.) are two other backs who will be seeking playing time. At 231 pounds, Maldonado gives the Terps the option of giving the ball to a bruiser and with his play in the offseason, when he showed that he also has very quick feet, the Ohio State transfer likely ensured himself of making the regular rotation. Merrills is a speedy back who saw significant playing time early last season before Chris Downs' breakout.

Freshmen J.P. Humber (Lakeland, Fla.) and Lance Ball (Teaneck, N.J.) give the team two more talented backs to watch as the season progresses. Humber, who redshirted last year, has all the tools to be a top-flight back, but must limit his mistakes to move up the depth chart according to Friedgen.

"Along with the secondary, I think tailback might be our strongest position," said Friedgen. "We probably have five quality tailbacks. Bruce Perry had the 15 best days of practice that he has had since I have been here this past spring. For consistency, for leadership, he went out and gave us 15 really tough practices. But for the whole group, we have good diversity in terms of class and I think they all have a chance to be fine football players."

Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com:
Offense/Quarterbacks        Tuesday, July 1

Tailbacks                   Thursday, July 3

Fullbacks                   Tuesday, July 8

Wide Receivers              Thursday, July 10

Tight Ends                  Tuesday, July 15

Offensive Line              Thursday, July 17

Defense/Defensive Line      Tuesday, July 22

Linebackers                 Thursday, July 24

Defensive Backs             Tuesday, July 29

Specialists                 Thursday, July 31

For season ticket information, please call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070 or (800) 462-TERP (8377).