Da Rel Scott

If pundits and fans were optimistic before the season, it was largely because of Maryland's speed. But - with the exception of Darrius Heyward-Bey's long run against Clemson - the Terps haven't been taking advantage of this asset the past few games. Heyward-Bey had no catches against Virginia. Da'Rel Scott's longest run in the game was 12 yards. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/terpsblog)

New Maryland football coach Randy Edsall has three preset buttons on his car radio: sports talk, news talk and country. But none of those options appealed to Davin Meggett, the fourth-year captain who Edsall says will be his "workhorse" running back this season. So when Meggett rode with Edsall to a recent Baltimore appearance, the player not only switched the station but later seized the opportunity to call out his coach. "I don't know what was playing, but I didn't really want to listen to it," Meggett said after Maryland held its first training camp practice Tuesday.

Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke posted the third-fastest time at the NFL scouting combine since 2000. Van Dyke, who met with the Ravens during the combine, ran the 40-yard dash Tuesday in 4.28 seconds. Over the past 12 combines, only East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24 in 2008) and Houston cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27 in 2005) were faster. "Everybody here is fast," Van Dyke said during the combine, "but you have to be faster to stand out in the DB group. " At 6 feet, 168 pounds, Van Dyke was rated the 23rd-best cornerback prospect by Pro Football Weekly.

Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke posted the third-fastest time at the NFL scouting combine since 2000. Van Dyke, who met with the Ravens during the combine, ran the 40-yard dash Tuesday in 4.28 seconds. Over the past 12 combines, only East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24 in 2008) and Houston cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27 in 2005) were faster. "Everybody here is fast," Van Dyke said during the combine, "but you have to be faster to stand out in the DB group. " At 6 feet, 168 pounds, Van Dyke was rated the 23rd-best cornerback prospect by Pro Football Weekly.

COLLEGE PARK -- Morgan Green was looking for a breakout game in last year's Red-White spring contest to propel him into the 2007 season. Instead, he suffered a break. Vying to start at tailback for Maryland this season, Green fractured his collarbone during the game a year ago after leading the White team in rushing. The injury, which required surgery, dampened what had been a promising spring. A year later, the outlook is different for the tailback from Charles County as the Terrapins play the Red-White game this afternoon at Byrd Stadium.

Maryland (2-3, 1-0 ACC) at Wake Forest (3-2, 1-1 ACC) Time:: 6:30 p.m. TV:: ESPN360.com Radio:: 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: : Wake Forest by 12 1/2 Series: : Maryland leads 41-15-1. Last meeting:: Maryland won, 26-0, on Oct. 18, 2008, in College Park. Maryland offense vs. Wake Forest defense:: With Da'Rel Scott (broken wrist) out, the Terps will rotate Davin Meggett and Gary Douglas at running back. Coaches might also play one of two freshmen running backs - Caleb Porzel or D.J. Adams.

Clemson (2-2, 1-1 ACC) at Maryland (1-3, 0-0) Time: : Noon TV: : ESPNU Radio: : 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: : Clemson by 13 Series: : Clemson leads 30-25-2 Last meeting: : Maryland won, 20-17, on Sept. 27, 2008, at Clemson Maryland offense vs. Clemson defense: : The Tigers' penetrating defense is among the strongest in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson's eight interceptions (S DeAndre McDaniel has four) rank fourth in the nation. The Tigers surrendered just 54 yards in a win over Boston College - the fewest allowed by the school since 1963.

COLLEGE PARK - Another week, another "trap" game coming up for Maryland. The last time the Terrapins (5-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat a nationally ranked foe, as they did 26-0 Saturday over then-No. 21 Wake Forest, they stumbled badly the following week against underdog Virginia. Coach Ralph Friedgen is hoping the scenario won't repeat itself when the Terps, who dealt Wake Forest its first shutout since 1998, host North Carolina State on Saturday. N.C. State is winless in the ACC, just as Virginia had been.

College Park - It should have been only a quarterback "competition," and a settled one, for that matter. Maryland picks Jordan Steffy, he plays three quarters against Delaware in the season opener, he sits in the fourth quarter in favor of Chris Turner and the Terps hold on, 14-7. But no, it couldn't have been that easy in College Park. Not the game against a team from the former Division I-AA. And not the quarterback competition. No, it had to become a "controversy." There could be a million reasons Ralph Friedgen took Steffy out with 12:08 left yesterday and put Turner in. The one given, though, smelled fishy.

Redshirt freshman running back D.J. Adams is being viewed by Maryland coaches as a goal-line back -- at least for now. As preseason camp opened Tuesday, Adams was third on the depth chart behind Da'Rel Scott, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2008 who ran track this spring, and Davin Meggett. Adams, 5 feet 10, 220 pounds, says being a goal-line specialist is fine with him -- anything that gets him onto the field after a season of watching and waiting. "It was different because I've never done that before, so it was a great learning experience," Adams said of redshirting last season.

Aren't turtles supposed to be slow? The Maryland Terrapins had impressive showings Sunday, running some of the fastest times at this year's NFL scouting combine. Da'Rel Scott ran the best time for a running back, and Torrey Smith posted the fourth-best among wide receivers. Smith's best time (4.43 seconds) — which fell short of Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey (4.3) — will help him in his effort to solidify his status as a first-round pick in the draft.

Like a band on its farewell tour, the 2010 Maryland Terrapins gathered a final time Wednesday and recorded one more win before sending a tearful coach Ralph Friedgen off with hugs, a Gatorade shower and 10 years of memories. If nothing else, Maryland's 51-20 victory over East Carolina in the Military Bowl provided solace for Friedgen, who had likened his final days at his alma mater to a "slow death. " When it was over, Friedgen smiled as he hoisted the gleaming Military Bowl trophy.

COLLEGE PARK — Representatives of the Military Bowl watched Saturday's Maryland-N.C. State game and said they would like to have Maryland in the game at Washington's RFK stadium. "We'd love to have Maryland," bowl president Steve Beck said in an interview. "(We're) right down the road. It would be great to have them. " The question is whether Maryland would like to stay close to home — the game is Dec. 29 — or whether the Terps will have the option of traveling to a higher bowl in the ACC pecking order.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.— Maryland right tackle Pete DeSouza had a message for his teammates after a motor-scooter crash left him hospitalized with multiple leg fractures. "The first thing he said was, 'Sorry,'" said offensive coordinator James Franklin , who visited the player late Thursday night. "He felt like he was letting the guys down. " "And then he said, 'Go get the win,' Our guys responded to it very well," Franklin said. DeSouza's crash occurred on campus Thursday night.

The Terps seemed listless. The Byrd Stadium crowd seemed restless. Everything changed once Tony Logan finally got the opportunity to field his first punt. Logan, who entered the day third in the nation in punt return average, faked left, went right and sailed 84 yards for a third-quarter touchdown that propelled the Terps to a 21-16 victory over Duke in Maryland's Atlantic Coast Conference opener Saturday. The Terps (4-1, 1-0 ACC) may have played an imperfect game — they trailed 9-0 until the final moments of the first half — but the victory allowed them to feel good about themselves heading into the bye week.

— It was a day that began with a sense of uneasiness for the Maryland Terrapins and their fans. The Terps were so thin at quarterback because of injuries that punt returner Tony Logan was designated as the principal backup and was throwing passes before Saturday's game. Once the game started, quarterback Danny O'Brien — a redshirt freshman making his first career start because of Jamarr Robinson's sore shoulder — could manage only one first down on the first three series as Maryland fell behind.

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.— Maryland right tackle Pete DeSouza had a message for his teammates after a motor-scooter crash left him hospitalized with multiple leg fractures. "The first thing he said was, 'Sorry,'" said offensive coordinator James Franklin , who visited the player late Thursday night. "He felt like he was letting the guys down. " "And then he said, 'Go get the win,' Our guys responded to it very well," Franklin said. DeSouza's crash occurred on campus Thursday night.

Last week was a difficult one for Danny O'Brien . The backup Maryland quarterback had to answer media questions about a botched handoff that led to a fumble on his first — and at that time, only — play of his college career against Navy. It all went a little more smoothly for the redshirt freshman on Saturday night against Morgan State. Three of O'Brien's first four passes went for touchdowns — 27 yards to tight end Matt Furstenburg , 24 yards to Torrey Smith and 22 yards to Da'Rel Scott . Expect to see more of O'Brien — even in games that aren't routs, as Saturday's was. Coaches have said they will look for opportunities to play him each week in relief of starter Jamarr Robinson . Smith racks up yards Entering Saturday's game, Smith needed 291 yards to set the Atlantic Coast Conference record for career kickoff return yards.

The Maryland Terrapins chanted and bobbed their heads as they emerged from the tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium to take on Navy in the season opener. "Yeah, it's on baby, ooh aah!" the players shouted in unison. If it looked like a scene from the high-school football movie "Remember the Titans," the players weren't apologizing. "We do that pretty much every time we come out of a tunnel, usually on away games," nose tackle A.J. Francis said. "There's not really a tunnel coming out of our [Byrd Stadium]

Last week was a difficult one for Danny O'Brien . The backup Maryland quarterback had to answer media questions about a botched handoff that led to a fumble on his first — and at that time, only — play of his college career against Navy. It all went a little more smoothly for the redshirt freshman on Saturday night against Morgan State. Three of O'Brien's first four passes went for touchdowns — 27 yards to tight end Matt Furstenburg , 24 yards to Torrey Smith and 22 yards to Da'Rel Scott . Expect to see more of O'Brien — even in games that aren't routs, as Saturday's was. Coaches have said they will look for opportunities to play him each week in relief of starter Jamarr Robinson . Smith racks up yards Entering Saturday's game, Smith needed 291 yards to set the Atlantic Coast Conference record for career kickoff return yards.