Kenny Tate

- Kenny Tate, who last season struggled away from the safety position where he became one of the ACC's best, will remain at linebacker next season, Maryland coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday. Tate, an all-ACC selection at safety in 2010, was moved to linebacker under then-defensive coordinator Todd Bradford before last season. Although Bradford has since been replaced by first-year coordinator Brian Stewart, Tate - who has sat out all of this spring with a knee injury - will remain at linebacker in Stewart's new 3-4 system.

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 football and basketball. Five Maryland commitments helped the U.S. All-Stars to a 105-93 win over the Capital All-Stars in the Capital Classic on Saturday . After seeing incoming post players Shaquille Cleare, Charles Mitchell and Damonte Dodd in action, how can we expect those freshmen to fit in a frontcourt that returns James Padgett, Alex Len and Ashton Pankey?

A surprise on Maryland's injury report: linebacker Kenny Tate is listed as doubtful for Georgia Tech. We don't know why yet. Tate had nine tackles and an interception against Towson last week. He's 11th in the ACC in tackles at 8.8 per game. His absence would be a blow to a defense already without linebacker Darin Drakeford and defensive lineman Andre Monroe, among others. Maryland started three first-year players on defense against Towson last week. Tate plays a hybrid position called "Star.

Don't let the 120 total points fool you: Maryland's spring football game on Saturday was won emphatically by the defense, which celebrated inside Byrd Stadium with high-fives and chest bumps while the offense was left to wonder how it surrendered late sacks and penalties. As if defensive players need any more incentive to hit ball carriers, Maryland established a scoring system for this season's Red-White game in which points could be scored not only for touchdowns, but for turnovers (five points)

At 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds, Kenny Tate looks like a linebacker. Beginning with spring practices next week, Maryland's All-Atlantic Coast Conference safety from 2010 will do more than look the part — he'll play it, too. Maryland coach Randy Edsall said Friday that Tate is moving to "Star"— a hybrid linebacker-safety position in which he will essentially be an outside linebacker. The shift means that Tate, a solid NFL prospect, will have undergone position shifts under each of his head coaches before his college career is over.

This is part of a series of 2008 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to signing day Wednesday. All answers are provided by the featured player. Name: Kenny Tate Born: May 15, 1990 Hometown: Forestville Nickname: "Six" Height: 6 feet 4 Weight: 215 pounds Position: Wide receiver High school: DeMatha Senior statistics: 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns Rankings: Rivals.com: Four stars, No. 23 wide receiver, No. 4 player in Maryland; Scout.com: Four stars, No. 16 wide receiver.

Maryland linebacker Kenny Tate, a preseason all-conference pick who starred at safety last season, will undergo surgery and miss the rest of the season, coach Randy Edsall said Sunday. Edsall said Tate, a senior and team captain, will seek a medical redshirt to return in 2012. Following surgery, he will be out six to nine months, according to the school. Edsall would not disclose the nature of Tate's injury. "This is just something that he's had. He's just taken a hit in one of the games this year," the coach said.

At 6 feet 4, Kenny Tate was a formidable safety, towering over receivers and his defensive backfield teammates. With Tate's imposing size, it made sense for Maryland to shift the all-Atlantic Coast Conference player to linebacker where he can do what he does best - unsettle quarterbacks. But the offseason move - as well as the switch of linebacker David Mackall to defensive end - has other implications for Maryland's defense as well. The moves have opened up opportunities for increased roles for other players in the defensive backfield vacated by Tate - including an expected leadership role for second-year safety Matt Robinson . Switching players' positions is akin to changing the letters in a crossword puzzle.

Junior defensive tackle Joe Vellano was honored as Maryland's MVP Sunday night at the Terps' annual football banquet at the Stamp Student Union. Vellano, who also was named best defensive player and top lineman, finished his junior season with 94 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. The Rexford, N.Y., native was a first-team All-ACC pick and a second-team Walter Camp All-American. Here are the rest of the award winners from Maryland's banquet: Top Special Teams Performer: Austin Walker A.V. Williams Award for Outstanding & Conspicuous Sportsmanship: Trenton Hughes George C. Cook Memorial Award for the senior with the highest GPA: Andrew Gonnella George Boutselis Memorial Award for letterman with the highest GPA: Ryan Schlothauer Alvin L. Aubinoe Award as the unsung hero: Tim Downs C.P. “Lefty” McIntosh Public Service Award sponsored by Don & Terry Wilson: Andrew Gonnella James M. Tatum Award for Lineman of the Year: Joe Vellano Dr. John E. Faber Award for Iron Man: Kevin Dorsey Most Valuable Offensive Player: Davin Meggett Most Valuable Defensive Player: Joe Vellano Ray Krouse Award for Most Valuable Player: Joe Vellano Distinguished Contributor Award: Larry and Cheryl Grabenstein Captains Award: Andrew Gonnella, Davin Meggett, Kenny Tate, Joe Vellano ...

Maryland (0-0) at No. 12 California (0-0) Time: : 10 TV: : ESPN2 Radio: : 105.7 FM, 1300 AM Line: : California by 21 Series: : Maryland leads 1-0 Last meeting: : Maryland won, 35-27, last season Maryland offense vs. California defense: : Quarterback Chris Turner is always cool under pressure - Maryland is 6-2 against Top 25 teams in the previous two seasons. But his young offensive line, which starts former walk-ons Andrew Gonnella and Paul Pinegar on the right side, will be tested by a stellar defensive line.

- Kenny Tate, who last season struggled away from the safety position where he became one of the ACC's best, will remain at linebacker next season, Maryland coach Randy Edsall said Tuesday. Tate, an all-ACC selection at safety in 2010, was moved to linebacker under then-defensive coordinator Todd Bradford before last season. Although Bradford has since been replaced by first-year coordinator Brian Stewart, Tate - who has sat out all of this spring with a knee injury - will remain at linebacker in Stewart's new 3-4 system.

Maryland is preparing to open spring football practice with 10 starters back on defense, questions on the offensive line and a promise from coach Randy Edsall that "we're on the right track. " Coming off a 2-10 season in Edsall's first season in College Park, the Terps begin three days of practices on Saturday. After spring break, they return for more workouts leading to the Red-White game April 21. "It's more motivation [this season]," said linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield, who ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season in tackles with 12 per game.

The hiring of Brian Stewart as Maryland's defensive coordinator is a move that is being celebrated on a number of fronts. It signifies a return to the attacking style and the 3-4 formation the Terps played under Don Brown, whose sudden departure last spring left new coach Randy Edsall scrambling for a replacement. Edsall wound up promoting linebackers coach Todd Bradford, whose 4-3 scheme turned All-ACC safety Kenny Tate into a linebacker and contributed to Maryland's finishing 108th in the country in overall defense after being ranked 39th under Brown in 2010.

I have been critical of many things Maryland football coach Randy Edsallhas said and done over the course of his first season in College Park, but the moves he made in replacing his team's offensive and defensive coordinators are to be applauded -- on a number of fronts. First, new offensive coordinator Mike Lockley is a huge upgrade over any assistant Edsall has brought on when it comes to recruiting. Locksley, too, consistently raised the performance of his offense in the four years he held the coordinator's position at Illinois under Ron Zook.

COLLEGE PARK -- Brian Stewart, a former assistant with four NFL teams who oversaw the Dallas Cowboys' defense under Wade Phillips, has been named Maryland's new defensive coordinator. Stewart, who spent the past two seasons as the University of Houston's defensive coordinator, will be introduced to the media during a teleconference Tuesday morning. “I'm excited to join [Maryland coach] Randy [Edsall]'s staff,” Stewart said in a news release. “I admired what he did at UConn and saw the beginning of that transformation while I was at Syracuse.

Maryland wide receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro, defensive back Matt Robinson, defensive lineman Isaiah Ross and linebacker Kenny Tate have been approved for medical hardship waivers, the school announced today. “It was great news to hear that each of them gained another year,” Terps coach Randy Edsall said in a news release. “We're looking forward to having all four of these young men healthy for 2012.” The decision was relayed to Maryland by the Atlantic Coast Conference office today.

Maryland-Georgia Tech notes: *Beautiful, sunny day at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Bit of a gusty wind. Not many people in the stadium yet. Tech coach Paul Johnson appealed to fans to come out and be loud. A crowd of about 44,000 is expected by the locals. *Kenny Tate was on the field warming up but that doesn't mean for sure he will play. I'm told backup Mario Rowson will start but that Tate is still expected to be available. The Maryland linebacker was listed as "doubtful" by the school.

Maryland wide receiver Tyrek Cheeseboro, defensive back Matt Robinson, defensive lineman Isaiah Ross and linebacker Kenny Tate have been approved for medical hardship waivers, the school announced today. “It was great news to hear that each of them gained another year,” Terps coach Randy Edsall said in a news release. “We're looking forward to having all four of these young men healthy for 2012.” The decision was relayed to Maryland by the Atlantic Coast Conference office today.

Junior defensive tackle Joe Vellano was honored as Maryland's MVP Sunday night at the Terps' annual football banquet at the Stamp Student Union. Vellano, who also was named best defensive player and top lineman, finished his junior season with 94 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. The Rexford, N.Y., native was a first-team All-ACC pick and a second-team Walter Camp All-American. Here are the rest of the award winners from Maryland's banquet: Top Special Teams Performer: Austin Walker A.V. Williams Award for Outstanding & Conspicuous Sportsmanship: Trenton Hughes George C. Cook Memorial Award for the senior with the highest GPA: Andrew Gonnella George Boutselis Memorial Award for letterman with the highest GPA: Ryan Schlothauer Alvin L. Aubinoe Award as the unsung hero: Tim Downs C.P. “Lefty” McIntosh Public Service Award sponsored by Don & Terry Wilson: Andrew Gonnella James M. Tatum Award for Lineman of the Year: Joe Vellano Dr. John E. Faber Award for Iron Man: Kevin Dorsey Most Valuable Offensive Player: Davin Meggett Most Valuable Defensive Player: Joe Vellano Ray Krouse Award for Most Valuable Player: Joe Vellano Distinguished Contributor Award: Larry and Cheryl Grabenstein Captains Award: Andrew Gonnella, Davin Meggett, Kenny Tate, Joe Vellano ...

First-year Maryland football coach Randy Edsall , whose team has lost six of seven games, said he remains as confident as ever that his methods are working and that his players are firmly on board. "No question," Edsall said at his weekly media availability when asked if players trusted in his system. Edsall said players' work habits were on display at practices, which are closed to the media. Asked if he could provide assurances to fans about the ultimate success of his program, Edsall, who has a six-year contract, replied: "The only thing I can tell you is that each and every day we're just going to go out and continue to work.