Danny O Brien

Quarterback C.J. Brown has started only a single game for Maryland, and there's already speculation about whether Danny 'O'Brien -- the starter the previous 15 games -- could depart for another school. It's a bit premature. At least for now, those who know him say O'Brien doesn't intend to leave. That doesn't surprise me. His attachment to Maryland and the region is strong, and that's not something that changes overnight.  O'Brien is smart enough to know seasons are long, and outlooks for players can swiftly change.

When C.J. Brown and Perry Hills were lost for the season, it continued a run of bad luck for Maryland quarterbacks. Hills, Brown, Danny O'Brien, Jordan Steffy - that's a partial list of quarterback starters from recent years who suffered knockout punches. It's been years since Maryland had a starting quarterback go wire-to-wire. “Hopefully this bug will get out of Maryland,” said Brown, who has endured season-ending injuries twice in his career.  He said the second one - the torn ACL from August - is more difficult.

Danny O'Brien likes most everything about Maryland.  That's certainly been a positive for the quarterback and the school.  And it clearly factors into the inner debate he's been having -- for months, those who know him say -- about where his immediate football future should be spent. Largely through his family, I've kept tabs on O'Brien. Here is some of what I know: * In recent months, he's tried to focus on recovering from the broken bone in his left arm. He suffered the injury when he was slammed to the turf during the Notre Dame loss on Nov. 12. He adhered to a routine in his recovery, and getting healthy seemed to take precedence over other matters.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland  sports. What is the mood of Maryland's football program heading to West Virginia on Saturday as a four-touchdown underdog? Jeff Barker: I'm certain Maryland appreciates the magnitude of its task Saturday -- to try to hang with a Top 10 program boasting one of the nation's most prolific offenses. The Mountaineers are averaging 612 yards of offense through their first two games.

Randy Edsallsaid he isn't looking back on what happened last season at Maryland, so I won't either. But that doesn't mean I won't be watching what Danny O'Brien is doing at Wisconsin this season, and I'm sure a few Terps fans were checking out the internet Saturday while Maryland was struggling to beat William & Mary at Byrd Stadium behind freshman quarterback Perry Hills. For those who hadn't heard what the former Maryland quarterback had done in his debut with the Badgers, it certainly had to make you think what O'Brien might have done in Mike Locksley's new offense in College Park rather than Matt Canada's new offense in Madison.

Like a jury deliberating its verdict, it seems that Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien is still contemplating where he will play the remainder of his college football career.  I'm told to expect some news by early next week. "Hang in there," someone close to O'Brien texted me when I asked whether there was anything new to impart. My sense is there is nothing easy or clear-cut about O'Brien's decision on whether to remain in College Park. You think that the impending decision of top receiver recruit Stefon Diggs could factor into O'Brien's decision?

A key figure for Maryland's next football season could be quarterback Danny O'Brien. Will he stay at the school? Here is what I know: *The quarterback has not made any pronouncements about leaving or staying. I know that  Randy Edsall has spoken with O'Brien, who has not complained to the coach about the program in general or the offensive system in particular. Maryland had new offensive and defensive coordinators this season. O'Brien, the Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year in 2010, had a difficult season that ended when he broke his left arm in the season's 10th game against Notre Dame.

Danny O'Brien  received some startling news last Tuesday. After finishing up practice with the Wisconsin football team, the former Maryland quarterback heard from a few of his old teammates. C.J. Brown, the man who took O'Brien's starting job 10 months ago, had torn his ACL during a noncontact drill and would miss the 2012 season. O'Brien was heartbroken. Brown is one of his close friends, someone he's talked with regularly since deciding to transfer last winter. So he did what all people do during a friend's time of need.

Danny O'Brien hasn't made his decision final yet, but the Maryland quarterback is serious enough about exploring options beyond Maryland that he's already thinking about where else he's likely to end up. According to those familiar with his thinking, O'Brien would like to play at a school in a good conference that could use an established quarterback and runs a variation of the pro-style offense such as the West Coast offense. Maryland fits that bill, and O'Brien - who was one of the first team leaders to renew his allegiance to the Terps after coach Ralph Friedgen was dismissed - does not want to disparage Maryland or its coaches.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland  sports. What is the mood of Maryland's football program heading to West Virginia on Saturday as a four-touchdown underdog? Jeff Barker: I'm certain Maryland appreciates the magnitude of its task Saturday -- to try to hang with a Top 10 program boasting one of the nation's most prolific offenses. The Mountaineers are averaging 612 yards of offense through their first two games.

COLLEGE PARK - The hurt and disappointment was written all over the face of freshman quarterback Perry Hills. He couldn't hide that the way his uniform hid the welts and bruises that must have been all over his body after the pounding he took in Maryland's 24-21 loss to Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at Byrd Stadium. So, head coach Randy Edsall had to take him aside after the Terps ' first defeat of the young season and remind him that it takes a lot more than one guy to win a major college football game, especially when that one guy spent most of the game with UConn defenders draped all over him. "He said, 'It's a team sport and you can't put it all on yourself," said Hills, who was just 10 for 24 passing for 109 yards and one touchdown.

Randy Edsallsaid he isn't looking back on what happened last season at Maryland, so I won't either. But that doesn't mean I won't be watching what Danny O'Brien is doing at Wisconsin this season, and I'm sure a few Terps fans were checking out the internet Saturday while Maryland was struggling to beat William & Mary at Byrd Stadium behind freshman quarterback Perry Hills. For those who hadn't heard what the former Maryland quarterback had done in his debut with the Badgers, it certainly had to make you think what O'Brien might have done in Mike Locksley's new offense in College Park rather than Matt Canada's new offense in Madison.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland  sports. Is Randy Edsall on the hot seat? Jeff Barker: I'm going to preface my response by saying that this is not my opinion. Rather, it's  something I've spoken to the athletic department about because it's obviously an important subject and you don't want to just be guessing. The best answer right now is that Maryland says he's not on the hot seat.

Maryland redshirted freshman quarterbacks C.J. Brown and Danny O'Brien in 2009. The two players had to wait for their turn. This season, Maryland's freshman quarterbacks -- Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe -- are listed as the starter and the backup. Their success will go a long way towards determining how the Terps fare this year. Edsall officially named Hills -- a former state champion wrestler from western Pennsylvania -- as the starter Tuesday for the opener against William & Mary.

Maryland coach Randy Edsall made it official today, naming freshman Perry Hills -- a former state champion wrestler from western Pennsylvania -- as starting quarterback for the opener against William & Mary on Sept. 1. I was also interested in who was named No. 2. It's fellow freshman Caleb Rowe. Former receiver Devin Burns -- he's been practicing at quarterback this season for all of one week -- was named third-string. Edsall relayed the info via Twitter. The season-ending injury to C.J. Brown sure had a ripple effect.

Danny O'Brien  received some startling news last Tuesday. After finishing up practice with the Wisconsin football team, the former Maryland quarterback heard from a few of his old teammates. C.J. Brown, the man who took O'Brien's starting job 10 months ago, had torn his ACL during a noncontact drill and would miss the 2012 season. O'Brien was heartbroken. Brown is one of his close friends, someone he's talked with regularly since deciding to transfer last winter. So he did what all people do during a friend's time of need.

Maryland football coach Randy Edsall entered the season with a lot of question marks on offense, and sophomore quarterback C.J. Brown isn't making it easier for the first-year coach. Edsall said Brown has been playing well this spring, turning the heat up on incumbent starter Danny O'Brien . "C.J. Brown is putting pressure on Danny," Edsall said in a conference call with reporters Monday. "I like the things that he's doing. C.J. is a guy that does a good job in the huddle and can make plays.

Randy Edsall has not say who will start at quarterback Saturday night against Clemson. And the first-year Maryland coach displayed what one of his predecessors, Bobby Ross, used to call "evadeability" when it came to talking during Wednesday's ACC teleconference about Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown. O'Brien, last season's ACC rookie of the year, was benched during last week's 21-16 loss at Georgia Tech after completing one of his first six passes. He threw one interception and had a couple of passes dropped. Brown, also a sophomore, wasn't much better throwing the ball (4 of 17 for 36 yards)

- There is a lot of interest among Maryland football fans about who the No. 2 quarterback will be this season, in part because there are still some doubts about the consistency and passing ability of the team's returning starter, junior C.J. Brown . While Brown has shown some improvement in those areas from where he was last fall, when he twice replaced former Terp star Danny O'Brien as the starter, the development of his two freshman backups...

Things I'll be watching for during Maryland's season-opening football game against William & Mary at Byrd Stadium on Sept. 1. *Stefon Diggs' debut. Will he follow the Torrey Smith model and make his mark initially more as a kick returner than a receiver? Remember that Smith caught only 24 passes in his first season but averaged 25.9 yards on kickoffs, where his talents were immediately evident. *The new FieldTurf. Does it have that new car smell? *The uniforms. Does Maryland come out right away with those funky “Maryland Pride” uniforms, or does it keep them in reserve?