associated press Maryland defensive back Anthony Nixon tackles Wake Forest’s Josh Harris ... more >Safety Anthony Nixon figured he would redshirt his first year.
The twists of the season and the Terrapins’ needs ensured he would be required for a lot more.
First it was a few appearances on special teams.
Then it was emergency duty as the personal protector on the punt team that morphed into full-time work.
And after another surprise in the form of safety Matt Robinson’s groin injury, Nixon found himself in a vital role in Saturday’s 19-14 defeat of Wake Forest.
“I always wanted to start,” Nixon said. “I’m glad it came kind of early.”
Considering the early returns, so are the Terps (3-2, 1-0 ACC).
Nixon was credited with three tackles against the Demon Deacons, though one was an open-field stop of tailback Josh Harris inside the Maryland 20.
Yet it was equally important he didn’t produce a situation to create headaches for a defense that played well after a blown coverage in the first minute led to a touchdown.
Nixon blended in effectively, and it was by design. One of coach Randy Edsall’s most repeated mantras is for players to just do the job assigned to them, a philosophy Nixon embraces.
“He made some plays Saturday and it was simply from being where he’s supposed to be,” linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield said. “He definitely impresses me because a lot of freshmen worry about making mistakes. I don’t think he does that. It doesn’t seem like he plays with any burdens.”
The Pittsburgh-area product was a high school teammate of fellow freshman Perry Hills, though the two committed to Maryland months apart. Yet like the Terps’ quarterback — who also couldn’t have expected to play as much as he has — Nixon learned to appreciate the value of watching film before he arrived in College Park.
It’s helped him pick up Maryland’s defense quickly and minimized any impact on the Terps after Nixon was informed Friday he would start.
“He knows what he’s doing on the field,” defensive lineman A.J. Francis said. “He doesn’t make mental mistakes and that’s why it’s good to have him out there. When you have a young guy, one of the biggest problems you’re going to have is when they make a lot of mental mistakes.”
It was the second time in less than a month Nixon unexpectedly found himself with more playing time. When fullback Tyler Cierski suffered a concussion in a Sept. 8 victory at Temple, it was Nixon who took the place in the middle of the punt wall.
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Patrick Stevens has covered Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic college sports for more than a decade. You can reach him at 64plus4@gmail.com.
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