Darrius Heyward Bey

Darrius Heyward-Bey likes a challenge. Or perhaps more appropriately, he enjoys being challenged. From adolescence to McDonogh to Maryland, Heyward-Bey has encountered doubts and at each turn, he has overcome those obstacles. Now a starting wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, who will visit M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday to meet the Ravens, Heyward-Bey can look back at those challenges and credit them for aiding his development. "It's just my personality. I've always been that way," he said Wednesday night after a Raiders practice.

The knock on Ralph Friedgen's office door interrupted a major session of second guessing. As the University of Maryland's coach replayed the 21-14 loss to Oregon State in the 2007 Emerald Bowl in his mind, he contemplated the difference another fast and physical receiver to pair with Darrius Heyward-Bey would have made. That's when Torrey Smith, who fit the profile but was redshirted that season in a decision Friedgen still questions, was a surprise visitor to his office. "He walks in and says, 'You know coach, I let you down.

When the Oakland Raiders used the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft to select Darrius Heyward-Bey, the McDonogh graduate and Maryland product was the first wide receiver taken off the board. That honor raised the bar for Heyward-Bey, who is trying to assert himself as the Raiders' top wideout. NFL Network analyst and former kick returner Bucky Brooks thinks there is still room and time for Heyward-Bey to develop into that role. Here is what Brooks had to say about Heyward-Bey.

Ravens 55, Raiders 20 Strategy: Dean Pees' unpredictable, innovative schemes were highlighted by lining up rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw at defensive tackle. And Pees' two-defensive-lineman, three-linebacker, six-defensive-back "dollar" package contributed to three sacks, one interception and eight pass deflections. With a virtually nonexistent pass rush and Haloti Ngata sidelined, Pees got more speed onto the field by taking out beefy nose guards Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Terrence Cody, and inserting DeAngelo Tyson and Bryan Hall.

Sometime early in the process, Darrius Heyward-Bey removed the mystique from the NFL draft and reduced his interminable offseason to a series of job interviews. Less than two weeks from a destination, the 6-foot-3 wide receiver from Maryland with 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash has handled it all - the workouts and interviews, the poking and probing - with good humor and a keen sense of responsibility. It's almost as if Heyward-Bey, 22, has been preparing for this all his life. In a way, he has. When he was 14, he left his mother, Vivian Heyward-Bey, and his safety net in Silver Spring to attend McDonogh in pursuit of a better education and a future in basketball.

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)

About 20 injured football players did not participate in Maryland's third and final summer scrimmage yesterday, including four linebackers and the Terps' top three receivers, coach Ralph Friedgen said. By the end of the scrimmage, another linebacker had been injured. Among the sidelined were linebackers Erin Henderson (stinger) and his backup, Rick Costa. Linebacker Chase Bullock (ankle) is still out, and Dave Philistin, who had taken over for Bullock, pulled his hamstring yesterday. Philistin's backup, Ben Pooler, is out for three weeks.

Performer of the Year Darrius Heyward-Bey, McDonogh The senior sprinted his way into the record books at the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships. Heyward-Bey won the 100- and 200-meter dashes for the third consecutive season at the MIAA meet. His time of 10.3 seconds in the 100 broke the previous record of 10.60 set by Calvert Hall's Alan McDavid in 1999, while his time of 21.1 shattered the previous record of 21.65 he established last spring. A member of the winning 800 relay squad at the MIAA championships, Heyward-Bey also took the 100 at the Morgan State Invitational in 10.78.

Maryland 42No. 8 Boston College 35 College Park -- This was not the same Maryland team that lost its past three games and became an afterthought in the race for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. It was new faces - unfamiliar and unheralded playmakers who made names for themselves last night in a jaw-dropping 42-35 upset of No. 8 Boston College. Maryland@Florida State Saturday, noon, Ch. 13, 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Play it again What went right Maryland quarterback Chris Turner threw for more than 300 yards, and five Terps had more than 40 receiving yards apiece.

Maryland offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, who some thought could sneak into the first round because of his workout at the NFL Combine in February, was taken today by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round (106th overall). He joins former teammate Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was taken seventh overall last year by the Raiders. Campbell, whose 6-foot-6, 314-pound frame is ideal for an offensive tackle, ran an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.75 seconds at the combine in Indianapolis, putting him on some teams' radar.

When the Oakland Raiders used the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft to select Darrius Heyward-Bey, the McDonogh graduate and Maryland product was the first wide receiver taken off the board. That honor raised the bar for Heyward-Bey, who is trying to assert himself as the Raiders' top wideout. NFL Network analyst and former kick returner Bucky Brooks thinks there is still room and time for Heyward-Bey to develop into that role. Here is what Brooks had to say about Heyward-Bey.

Darrius Heyward-Bey likes a challenge. Or perhaps more appropriately, he enjoys being challenged. From adolescence to McDonogh to Maryland, Heyward-Bey has encountered doubts and at each turn, he has overcome those obstacles. Now a starting wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, who will visit M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday to meet the Ravens, Heyward-Bey can look back at those challenges and credit them for aiding his development. "It's just my personality. I've always been that way," he said Wednesday night after a Raiders practice.

As a wide receiver, Darrius Heyward-Bey is expected to go to the middle of the field, catch passes, and brace for the impact that comes when a defensive back or linebacker crashes into him. But the sight of the Silver Spring native and McDonogh graduate absorbing a blow from Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Ryan Mundy in the fourth quarter of the Oakland Raiders' 34-31 win still caused many to grimace. The top of Mundy's helmet appeared to strike Heyward-Bey in the facemask, and the former University of Maryland product had to be carted off the field.

Notes from Maryland's 36-27 victory over Temple: * A player who emerged Saturday was sophomore wide receiver Marcus Leak. He caught a 32-yard touchdown reception in the first half. In the second half, he made a leaping, 39-yard catch on a third-and-17. He outjumped a pair of Temple defenders. It was the sort of grab you haven't seen much from Maryland since the days of Torrey Smith and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Leak appears to be a gifted and physical enough receiver to snatch passes away from defenders in heavy traffic.

NFL Heyward-Bey pleads not guilty in DUI case An attorney for Oakland Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf Thursday to drunken-driving charges stemming from an arrest on the Bay Bridge, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. Heyward-Bey, 25, who played at Maryland, was not required to appear in San Francisco Superior Court to enter his plea to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit of 0.08 percent, the newspaper reported.

This is part of a series of 2012 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 1. All answers are provided by the featured player. Name : Amba Etta-Tawo Birthdate : Nov. 10, 1993 Birthplace : Muscat, Oman Hometown : Atlanta Height : 6-3 Weight : 180 Position : Wide Receiver Nickname : None High School : McEachern High in Powder Springs, Ga. Senior statistics : 58 receptions for 907 yards and six touchdowns Rankings : Rivals.com - Three-star prospect.

Adrian, Odenton: Are there any plans to expand the stadium capacity at Byrd Stadium? Yes, a $95 million expansion is planned, but that can't happen until the naming rights for the field are sold. When I last spoke with AD Debbie Yow about it, she said the university was still in the process of finding and interviewing bidders. The plan includes 10,000 seats and luxury boxes. Mike G., Miami, Fl.: With the great recruiting classes of the last few years, do you think the Terps will contend for the ACC football title in 2006?

After years of losing some of the top local college football talent, the Maryland Terrapins have apparently persuaded DeMatha wide receiver Kenny Tate to stay close to home. Tate, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver, announced last night on Comcast SportsNet that he plans to play for the Terps next season. Tate is expected to sign his letter of intent Wednesday, the national signing day. "I thought Maryland was the best fit for me, being close to home," Tate said. "Even though I'm a home-state kid, I still thought it was a home away from home, but I'm still close enough to be with my family."

As the NFL lockout limits coverage, media outlets have been quick to create their own news. ESPN and The New York Times have put out yearly player rankings, NFL Network unveiled its top 100 players, the Ravens' website recently ranked the top 50 Ravens , and here at The Baltimore Sun , we've released our All-Ravens team . Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders chimed in Tuesday on Grantland with his own twist on the list:...

The Ravens need a deep threat at wide receiver, and Maryland's Torrey Smith would like to fill that void. "To be able to play for the Ravens, it would definitely be a great situation for me, being that I played at Maryland," Smith said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. "I know how demanding the fans are, what they expect and how much they love the Ravens. I would be honored to wear the purple and black. " Whether the feelings are mutual won't be known until 61 days from now, when the Ravens will make the 26th overall selection in the draft.