July 23, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The following is the seventh in a 10-part series previewing the 2003 University of Maryland football team. The Terrapins open fall camp on August 4th in preparation for their season opener at Northern Illinois on August 28th.

Today's portion of the outlook for 2003 features takes a quick glimpse at the defense overall before previewing the defensive line, a position that has gotten better with each season of the Friedgen Era. Check back every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of July for a breakdown on each component of this year's team (a complete list of when each position's synopsis will be posted on umterps.com can be found at the bottom of this page), a squad ranked by most preseason publications in the top 15 nationally.

DEFENSE

When a team posts back-to-back seasons where it has allowed opponents less than 20 points per game, it is something special. When that team comes back in year three and returns what is probably the most talented group that it has had in all of those three seasons, it is time to take notice.

And that is exactly what stands in front of Terrapin opponents in 2003. Gary Blackney's defense will again display its hard-charging style, but this time with nine starters returning from a year ago and a host of players who are more experienced and ready to take it to the next level.

The defensive line is deeper, the linebacking corps has few questions, and the defensive backfield is one of the best in the nation while returning all four starters. The question that will be asked over and over is, "How do the Terrapins replace E.J. Henderson?" While the answer to that question is - as it often is with great players - "you don't," Maryland still looks to have one of the best defensive units it has had in Ralph Friedgen's tenure.

"We have to stay healthy, of course, but with that said, I think we have a chance to have a very good defense," said Friedgen. We have a lot of kids who can play right now whether it is in the secondary or at linebacker, what we as coaches have to do is worry about getting the best players on the field. But I think that is a problem any coach will take."

Defensive Line

In each of the last two seasons, the Terps have entered the season with the understanding that the defensive line is in good shape, as long as injuries don't become an issue. Year one saw the team escape injury free. Last year, the team wasn't so lucky but in the end, Dave Sollazzo's group held it together and posted another strong season. Heading into 2003, the unit manning the trenches is deeper and more talented.

Junior defensive tackle Randy Starks (Waldorf, Md.) headlines a unit that is one of the key's to Blackney's defense. Starks is the strongest player on the team (the second-strongest pound-for-pound) and has an outstanding first step. A second team All-ACC performer who posted 93 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in his first year as a starter, he is a legitimate candidate for major postseason awards and the anchor for the line.

Starks will be backed up by newcomer Robert Armstrong (Arlington, Va.), a first-year player who impressed with his work in his first spring camp. Like Starks, Armstrong moves well for his size and simply needs to work on his technique and consistency. He will be challenged for playing time by second-year player Dave Quaintance (Philadelphia, Pa.) and incoming freshman Conrad Bolston (Burtonsville, Md.).

At nose tackle, a healthy C.J. Feldheim (Hereford, Md.) will be a welcome sight to the Terrapin defensive front this year. Feldheim was having the finest season of his career last year before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on the first play of the Duke game. He still managed to put up career highs in tackles (36) and TFLs (5.5) before missing the final six games of the season.

Backing up Feldheim will be a trio of players headed up by sophomore Justin Duffie (Gaithersburg, Md.). The former lacrosse player-turned walk-on-turned Peach Bowl starter missed most of the offseason due to injury, but should be healthy for the fall and gives the line another run stopper with a nice upside. Battling Duffie for playing time will be senior Tosin Abari (Mt. Rainier, Md.) and junior Henry Scott (Baltimore, Md.), both steady performers with experience.

The lone lost starter from the defensive line - and one of just two for the defense - was end Durrand Roundtree, leaving an opportunity for playing time. Initial indications are that senior Scott Smith (Philadelphia, Pa.) has taken over the role. Though not as strong as his predecessor, Smith is a powerful player with good pass-rushing skills and enters this season in the best condition of his career.

The race for playing time behind Smith is wide open heading into fall camp. Senior Landon Jones (Marion, Ohio) and junior Kevin Eli (Deptford, N.J.) both earned quality experience a year ago while newcomer Bolston is also a possibility.

"Our numbers are better on the defensive line than they have since I have been here but we could still improve our depth and I am hoping that guys like Armstrong and Duffie can help us in that area," said Friedgen. "We will expect big things from Randy Starks and C.J. Feldheim and they have both delivered for us in the past. We will have a new starter at end, which is always a concern, but Scott Smith played well in the spring and hopefully he can make his last season his finest."

Outlook Schedule on UMterps.com:
Offense/Quarterbacks        Posted Tuesday, July 1

Tailbacks                   Posted Thursday, July 3

Fullbacks                   Posted Tuesday, July 8

Wide Receivers              Posted Thursday, July 10

Tight Ends                  Posted Tuesday, July 15

Offensive Line              Posted Thursday, July 17

Defense/Defensive Line      Posted Tuesday, July 22

Linebackers                 Thursday, July 24

Defensive Backs             Tuesday, July 29

Specialists                 Thursday, July 31

For season ticket information, please call the Terrapin Ticket Office at (301) 314-7070 or (800) 462-TERP (8377).