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Maryland Football Countdown: No. 86, Russ Weaver

By Chris Bengel

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Nov 15, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; The Maryland Terrapins take the field prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

With just 39 days until the Maryland opens the season on Sept. 5, TerrapinStationMD continues our series based on past Terrapins with Russ Weaver. We’ll continue to look at the most talented and/or popular player to wear the number and analyze their time in College Park. If you think of a player that had a big impact and is also associated with that number, leave a comment below.

One of the more talented tight ends of the 1990s took an unsual path to College Park.

Russ Weaver only had one year of high school football experience before he moved onto the collegiate level. Weaver turned down Division I-AA and II scholarship offers to attend John Carroll University in Ohio.

In 1990, Weaver missed the entire season with viral meningitis then transferred to Maryland and began his Terps career in 1992. During his sophomore campaign with the Terps, he only caught four passes for 60 yards.

However, his junior season proved to be his most productive. In 1993, the Pennsylvania native recorded 69 receptions for 606 yards and two touchdowns. His 69 receptions ranked second in the ACC while his 606 yards ranked seventh in the conference.

His 69 receptions actually beat out star teammate and former Baltimore Ravens wideout Jermaine Lewis, who had 52 during the 1993 season. That campaign ranks third all-time in program history in terms of receptions in a single season.

The Monroeville, Pa. native also led the ACC in receptions-per-game with 6.3, which was 10th in the entire country.

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His best game in 1993 came against Wake Forest (a 33-32 Maryland win) when Weaver caught 14 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. His 14 receptions tied a single-game record for the Terps. The record was broken the following season by wideout Geroy Simon, who caught 16 passes against Florida State.

Weaver finished up his Maryland career in 1994 when he caught 47 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns. He was fifth in the ACC in receptions and 10th in touchdowns.

During his career at Maryland, Weaver was aided by the strong play of quarterback Scott Milanovich. Milanovich threw for a career-high 26 touchdowns during the 1993 season and completed 64.7 percent of his passes.

Maryland has had a strong fraternity of tight ends that have come through the program, including Vernon Davis, Matt Furstenberg, and Frank Wychek. However, Weaver is definitely one that has flown under the radar.

He may not have taken the easiest path to get to a big stage in the collegiate ranks, but the talent was undeniable.

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