July 31, 2003

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

Today's portion of the outlook for 2003 takes a look at the Terrapin special teams, a unit that will see a new face at punter but looks solid after a strong season a year ago. For information on the other segments of "Outlook" and when they ran as well as season ticket information, please see the bottom of this page.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Maryland special teams saw a big improvement between 2001 and 2002 and the primary source of its improvement came from it being strong in all facets. In 2001, Nick Novak (Charlottesville, Va) and Brooks Barnard formed the league's top kicking tandem, but the return teams struggled. In 2002, kick, punt and return teams hit on all cylinders.

Novak returns for his junior season on the verge of entering several career kicking categories. He is equally adept at field goals and kickoffs and has hit on better than 75 percent (40-of-53) field goals in his career. He finished fifth in the NCAA in field goals last year, was a first team All-ACC selection and enters his fourth year in College Park as a viable Lou Groza Award candidate.

Career punting leader Brooks Barnard will be missed in the kicking game, but redshirt freshman Adam Podlesh (Pittsford, N.Y.) had the benefit of an entire season working with Barnard before having to take his first snap. He actually gets the ball off quicker than Barnard did and his progress will be key -- as Barnard was -- to Maryland's field position battles.

Steve Suter went from an unknown to an All-American selection by The Sporting News and CNNSI.com in the return game. The speedy receiver tied an NCAA record with four punt returns for a touchdown while averaging 24.8 yards per kick return and falling just 20 yards shy of the all-time NCAA record for punt return yards in a season with 771. He will be at it again in 2003, but will have support from players like Jo Jo Walker and Rich Parson who will each work on kick returns while filling in for Suter on punt returns when needed. Walker caught the eyes of coaches with his work in the offseason.

Jon Condo enters his third year as the team's longsnapper, a position he now has a stronghold on. He is quick and consistent and has been solid getting downfield and making the occasional tackle. Podlesh will serve as the team's holder with receiver Dan Melendez backing him up.

"Last year, we returned the ball better and we covered the ball better," said Friedgen. "I think our kicking game is in good shape, but the thing I am looking for now are the guys who want to be the hardcore special teams players and understand that this is a place on our team that know that this is where they can excel. Like everywhere else, we will put the best players on the field, but I am hoping we can take another step from the improvement we made last year and be even better in all phases."

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                 Posted Thursday, July 24

Defensive Backs             Posted Tuesday, July 29

Specialists                 Posted Thursday, July 31

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