Terps stars due to miss opener

The Maryland Terrapins likely will open their season with star running back Bruce Perry and returner Steve Suter on the sideline.

Perry suffered a high ankle sprain in practice Tuesday and is listed as doubtful for the Terrapins’ opener at Northern Illinois on Aug.28. Perry is expected to be out 2-6 weeks, putting him in danger of missing a critical game at Florida State on Sept.6.

Suter will miss at least two weeks because of a severely strained hamstring he suffered Tuesday. Running backs Josh Allen and Lance Ball are expected to replace Perry, and receivers JoJo Walker and Rich Parson are the leading candidates to replace Suter.

“I’m just going to go with who we have on the field, and if they’re hurt, they’re hurt,” coach Ralph Friedgen said. “Move on and next guy step up, get the flag and go up the hill.”

Perry was the ACC’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2001, rushing for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Terps to a conference title and an Orange Bowl appearance. He missed six games last season because of groin and shoulder injuries.

Perry appeared impressive in spring camp and had strong practices this month. He seemed to have regained the form that made him so effective in 2001.

Perry had three treatments yesterday and watched practice, moving around on crutches and limping noticeably. He declined to comment, waving reporters away in silence.

“He’s just determined this is not going to keep him out that long,” Friedgen said. “Traditionally, he hasn’t been a fast healer. It’s a shame because he’s worked very, very hard.”

Allen’s experience may give him the edge over Ball and Sammy “The Bull” Maldonado. However, Friedgen said it is possible that Ball, a freshman the coach regularly has praised the past week, could start against Northern Illinois.

Suter scored a team-record four touchdowns on returns last season. Walker appeared sharp during the Red-White spring game while Suter was recovering from knee surgery.

Running back J.P. Humber, safety Curtis Williams and cornerback Jamal Chance remain day-to-day with strained hamstrings. Offensive tackle Matt Powell (ankle), center Akil Patterson (knee), defensive tackles Conrad Bolston (strained muscle) and Robert Patterson (sick) and fullback Ricardo Dickerson (concussion) also are day-to-day.

Meanwhile, receiver Jafar Williams (hamstring) and Allen (hamstring) practiced yesterday. Defensive tackle C.J. Feldheim (knee) and Parson (concussion) may return today. Feldheim has quickly recovered from knee surgery Aug.6.

Eat up

Defensive tackle Justin Duffie began his Terps football career as a walk-on and finished last season as a surprise starter in the Peach Bowl. This season Duffie has another surprise: an additional 40 pounds.

The 286-pounder’s offseason program included six meals daily of eggs, bacon, pizza and burritos. The result is a waist that is 6 inches larger.

“I ate everything I saw,” he said. “Anything I could put in my mouth. But I wanted the girls to still like me so I had to work hard in the weight room.”

The former lacrosse player’s workout ethic impressed strength coaches enough that they recommended him to Friedgen. Duffie had one snap last season and was learning a stance the week before the bowl game.

One coach even joked that he didn’t know Duffie’s first name until shortly before he was forced to make an emergency start against Tennessee when another player was suspended. Duffie now is one of the Terps’ top reserves.

“He went from a nonentity to a guy that really played a significant role,” defensive coordinator Gary Blackney said. “I’m looking for him right now to grow into a position to become a viable part of the unit — if not as a starter then as a role player with 15 to 20 plays a game.”

Extra points

Friedgen was upbeat after several disappointing workouts, saying the team finally showed some spark.

“They’re very tired, but they pushed themselves through it very good,” Friedgen said. “It’s just the dog days of two-a-days.” …

A strong workout by senior quarterback Orlando Evans has him again pushing for the No. 2 job, which still is open to four players. … The Terps checked every helmet following a rash of recent concussions. “Some guys have to put air in them — the helmets, that is,” Friedgen said jokingly. … Kicker Steve Novak converted all 19 attempts in practice, including a pair of 47-yarders.