Da’Rel Scott is Maryland’s incumbent at running back.
Yet after Sunday’s scrimmage, it seemed like the coaching staff wanted a little bit more from the junior.
Or, perhaps, it just reflects he needs to do more to continue to fend off Davin Meggett.
“It’s nothing Da’Rel’s not doing,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “It’s just the other kid is doing pretty good.”
Meggett was the Terps’ second option at tailback last year, a bowling ball of a rusher who looked like he might be an ideal option for short-yardage situations.
Yet Friedgen said that wasn’t exactly the player the Terps recruited. Meggett was a sub-4.5 guy at Maryland’s camp, but checked in above 4.6 last year.
Speed, though, might just be back in his arsenal.
“He’s just a little more physical right now,” Friedgen said. “If you were there yesterday, you saw some of the runs he made. He broke some tackles. He’s got another gear that he had in high school. I think when he got to college he felt like he had to be a big guy. I told him ‘Speed is what you need. You’re big enough – 205 is a big running back.’ You don’t need to be 225 and slow.”
Meggett indeed is down to about 213 pounds, a development that pleases Friedgen. Before and after, Meggett’s build was always good. He’s just a little more nimble now.
“He’s only got 6 percent body fat,” Friedgen said. “It’s not like he’s layered with fat. He’s put together pretty darn good. He’s 5-6, 5-7.”
And now he’s pushing Scott for a little extra playing time just 10 days before the season starts.
