Cannon's aim: Power Terps' offense

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By Patrick Stevens

As receivers, Adrian Cannon and Darrius Heyward-Bey are not much alike.

Heyward-Bey is the jet-quick workout warrior who surged to the No. 7 pick in April's NFL Draft. Cannon is a bulky outside option who enters his junior year with six career receptions.

Nevertheless, the two forged a bond at Maryland. Some of it stemmed from their similar backgrounds - both were raised by strong single mothers determined to see their children succeed. And then there was a shrewd work ethic; Heyward-Bey and Cannon were constant companions during extra film work after practice.

And when Heyward-Bey opted to depart for the NFL last year, he offered Cannon a message for the future.

"There's one thing I want you to do: I want you to take over and be a leader," Cannon recalled Heyward-Bey telling him. "I know you're not the most vocal guy, but that's what I want you to do. I'm going to tell a couple other guys this, but I want you to follow in my footsteps and be better than me."

If this month's preseason camp is any indication, Cannon is unlikely to disappoint his mentor.

At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, Cannon is arguably the Terrapins' strongest option at receiver and is expected to be a starter.

Cannon provides hints of his capabilities each day at practice. Last week, cornerback Anthony Wiseman appeared to have provided optimal coverage in a goal-line drill. Cannon simply leapt higher and wrested control of the pass for a touchdown, leaving Wiseman to perform push-ups in the end zone despite doing everything possible to contain his teammate.

"Adrian's been on a mission," quarterback Chris Turner said. "He's always had that about him, where he can be the man."

All of which prompts the question, where was this guy the past few years?