Maryland’s weekly depth chart is out, and it looks quite a bit different from the version the Terrapins took into the Clemson game.
A position-by-position look at the changes:
SEE RELATED:
QUARTERBACK
C.J. Brown is listed as the starter over Danny O’Brien. This isn’t a surprise; Brown played the entire game Saturday and accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) while setting a school record for rushing yards by a quarter. O’Brien, who had started the previous 15 games, did not play. Despite an interception that led to a Clemson touchdown, Brown did little to suggest he couldn’t be a capable option going forward.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kevin Dorsey and Ronnie Tyler are no longer listed. Marcus Leak and Kerry Boykins are, in that order. That suggests Dorsey won’t play at Florida State after emerging as Maryland’s top wideout in the first half of the season. Tyler, meanwhile, has struggled with dropped passes as well as a two-game suspension. In their place are Leak, a true freshman, and Boykins has the second-most targets this season behind Dorsey. Leak was thrown to three times and hauled in two passes against Clemson.
DEFENSIVE END
Marcus Whitfield is now listed as the top backup to David Mackall rather than Alvin Thomas. Whitfield tore an ACL early last season and played sparingly so far as a sophomore.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
A.J. Francis is now listed as Maurice Hampton‘s backup rather than Joe Vellano‘s backup. Darius Kilgo is listed behind Vellano instead of Hampton. Francis, though, basically took over Hampton’s reps the last few weeks when the senior came off the field. This is more an acknowledgment of how things have been rather than a groundbreaking shift.
LINEBACKER
Mario Rowson is listed ahead of Kenny Tate, who missed the last two games, at Star. Alex Twine is listed ahead of Darin Drakeford, who has missed the last three games, at Will. Both Rowson and Twine started against Clemson, and this might be a hint at the unlikelihood of Tate or Drakeford playing this week. Or not.
CORNERBACK
Very similar to defensive tackle. Jeremiah Johnson (now behind Dexter McDougle) and Trenton Hughes (now behind Cameron Chism) swap places where they are reserves. Presumably, Hughes will continue to function as the Terps’ nickel back.
KICKOFF RETURN
Tony Logan is back as the No. 2 kickoff return man, replacing Avery Graham. Recall that Graham limped off early in the second half; this would seem to hint Graham might be out for a week, if not longer.
—- Patrick Stevens
