Today we profile a walk-on quarterback.

Troy Jones, Freshman, Quarterback

Stats:

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 186

Ratings: N/A

40-yard dash time: 4.5

High School Stats (Senior Year): 1,953 yards passing and 20 touchdowns, eight rushing touchdowns

High School: St. Paul’s School (Reistertown, Md.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Troy Jones went to a small school outside Baltimore, and excelled as one of the better quarterbacks in the Baltimore area. In 2009 (as a senior), he was named first team all-league and second team small school all-state. How he’s ended up as a freshman at Maryland after being a senior in high school in 2009 is kind of a mystery, but we know he went to prep school.

We also know he was at Maryland last year, but apparently he’s still a true freshman. Yet another mystery.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile one of the newest additions to Maryland’s roster.

James Joseph, Freshman, Quarterback

Stats:

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 200

Ratings: N/A

40-yard dash time: 4.6

High School Stats (Senior Year): 1,072 yards passing and eight touchdowns

High School: Bishop McNamara High School (Hyattsville, Md.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

James Joseph was a successful quarterback in the WCAC, which gives him pretty solid credentials to begin with. At Bishop McNamara, he was a two-time all-conference player (honorable mention as a junior, second team as a senior), and led the Mustangs to a 8-3 season in his senior year.

Joseph then enrolled at Bowie State, where he redshirted a season before transferring to Maryland. He was recruited by Duke and Penn State out of high school, but was not offered by either.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile a coach most recently removed from a conference rival.

Andre Powell, Running Backs Coach

Stats:

Date of Birth: 09/29/1966

Hometown: Lockhart, S.C.

College: Indiana ’89

How’d He Get To College Park?

Andrew Powell played two years of Division II football as a fullback at Lees-McRae University before transferring to Indiana in 1986. The Hoosiers played in two bowl games during his time there, and during his senior season he was the lead blocker for Anthony Thompson, who ran for over 1,000 yards.

After three years as a Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant at Indiana and South Carolina, Powell coached inside linebackers at Army for a year before going to VMI to coach running backs. After a year there, he spent two years as the running backs coach at Rhode Island and one year as the running backs coach for Army.

After that, Powell got his first long term job. From 1996-2000, he was an assistant coach with Virginia, coaching running backs for two years and receivers for three. He was then hired by North Carolina as a running backs coach, where he remained through 2006, and he was then hired by Clemson, who had him as a running backs coach and special teams coordinator until the Terps snagged him away.

He has coached a number of pro players, including Tiki Barber, Thomas Jones, Willie Parker (although that hardly counts, as he didn’t really ever play at North Carolina), C.J. Spiller, and James Davis. Sounds like our top five list.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile Maryland’s starting running back.

Davin Meggett, Senior, Halfback

Stats:

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 215

Ratings: Three stars, #16 in Maryland by Rivals; two stars, #151 RB by Scout; unranked by ESPN; #9 running back in 2012 draft class by NFL Draft Scout

40-yard dash time: 4.49

High School Stats (Senior Year): 169 rushes for 1,784 yards and 27 touchdowns, nine receptions for 410 yards and six touchdowns

High School Stats (Junior Year): 156 rushes for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns

College Stats (through three seasons): 314 rushes for 1,515 yards and 14 touchdowns, 29 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown

High School: Surrattsville High School (Surrattsville, Md.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

The son of two-time Pro Bowler Dave Meggett, Davin started playing football at nine before becoming a three-year starter at Surrattsville. After earning all-county, all-league, all-state, and all-Met honors after his senior season, he committed to Maryland (the only FBS school to offer him a scholly). He was also recruited by Notre Dame and Rutgers and offered by FBS schools like James Madison.

Since then, Meggett has played in every single Maryland game. No redshirt, no injuries, no rest. He started in two games his freshman year and four during his sophomore campaign, so this will be his first chance as a real every-down back. He set career highs in most every category last season despite not starting a game, rushing 126 times for 720 yards (tops on the team) for four touchdowns.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile one of the players suspended for the opener against Miami.

D.J. Adams, Sophomore (RS), Halfback

Stats:

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 220

Ratings: Four stars, #17  in Georgia, #29 running back by Rivals; three stars, #62 RB by Scout; four stars, #16 in Georgia, #16 running back by ESPN, #29 running back in 2014 draft class by NFL Draft Scout

40-yard dash time: 4.48

High School Stats (Senior Year): 257 rushes for 1,584 yards and 14 touchdowns

High School Stats (Junior Year): 204 rushes for 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns, 12 receptions for 95 yards and two TDs

College Stats (through one season): 67 rushes for 239 yards and 11 touchdowns

High School: Norcross High School (Norcross, Ga.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

D.J. Adams takes the title as most-hyped Maryland running back still on the roster (the transferring of Caleb Porzel makes this one easy). A four-star prospect out of Norcross, he was offered by Clemson and Notre Dame, among others, and was recruited by Auburn and Florida.

A bruiser of a running back, he was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior, and redshirted his first year on campus at Maryland. Last season, however, he really broke out.

Although he was only third on the team in rushes and rushing yards (behind Da’Rel Scott and Davin Meggett), Adams solidified himself as the goal-line option for the Terps, leading the team with eleven rushing touchdowns, good for tenth all-time among all Maryland running backs and most ever by a Terp freshman.

Adams scored three touchdowns against Virginia and four against East Carolina in the Military Bowl, becoming the first Maryland running back with multiple three touchdown games in a season since Chris Downs in 2002. Points to you if you guessed that.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile a converted cornerback.

Jeremiah Wilson, Freshman (RS), Halfback

Stats:

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 185

Ratings: Three stars, #28 in Virginia by Rivals; three stars, #70 CB by Scout; three stars, #123 athlete by ESPN

40-yard dash time: 4.5

High School Stats (Senior Year): 95 rushes for 926 yards and 12 touchdowns, 20 tackles and one interception

High School Stats (Junior Year): Around 1,500 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns, 80 tackles and five interceptions

High School: Handley High School (Winchester, Va.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Jeremiah Wilson was a star running back and cornerback at Handley, earning all-region selections over his last two years of high school ball. Maryland was the only school to offer him a scholarship, but he also received interest from Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Duke.

Wilson also ran track and played basketball at Handley. Last season, he redshirted as a cornerback, switching to running back before this past spring.

Wilson does have some experience as a running back in College Park, however – last season, he acted as Noel Devine on the squad team for the preparation for the WVU game.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile one of the stars of camp.

Justus Pickett, Freshman, Halfback

Stats:

Height: 5’10″

Weight: 175

Ratings: Three stars, #10 all-purpose back, #19 in North Carolina by Rivals; three stars, #70 RB by Scout; three stars, #26 RB by ESPN

40-yard dash time: 4.4

High School Stats (Senior Year): 2,429 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns

High School: Ardrey Kell High School (Charlotte, Nc.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Justus Pickett was a late gift to Maryland’s 2010 recruiting class, signing with the Terps after signing day. One of the top running backs in the state of North Carolina, he was one of the most productive players in the history of Mecklenburg County. During his senior year, he posted the third-most yards ever by a player in the county and ninth-most touchdowns.

Pickett was named conference offensive player of the year following his senior campaign and was named to multiple all-state teams. He was recruited to the Terps by Lee Hull, choosing them over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina, Stanford, and West Virginia among others.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile one of two incoming freshman halfbacks.

Brandon Ross, Freshman, Halfback 

Stats:

Height: 5’11″

Weight: 195

Ratings: Two stars by Rivals; three stars, #95 RB by Scout; two stars, #144 RB by ESPN

40-yard dash time: 4.4

High School Stats (Senior Year): 181 carries for 1,172 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, 19 catches for 287 yards and four touchdowns

High School Stats (Junior Year): 179 carries for 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns

High School: Charter School of Wilmington (Wilmington, Del.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Brandon Ross played halfback at a small school in Delaware, leading the Force to a program-best 7-3 year last season after a 2-8 record during his junior year. As a freshman, he was the school’s backup running back and then held the starting job for the last three years of his high school career.

The Terps invited Ross to a camp in College Park, and he impressed enough to merit a scholarship offer. He accepted basically on the spot.

Ross was also offered by Army and Delaware State, and was recruited by Boston College and Rutgers, among others. He was a second-team all-state selection following his senior campaign. 

More after the jump.

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Today we profile the likely starter at fullback for this season.

Rahsaan Moore, Freshman (RS), Fullback

Stats:

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 230

Ratings: Three stars by Rivals; two stars, #13 FB by Scout; three stars, #102 FB by ESPN

40-yard dash time: 4.59

High School Stats (Senior Year): 74 carries for 461 yards and 15 touchdowns, two receptions for 27 yards, 37 tackles (23 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, one sack, and one interception

High School: Wise High School (District Heights, Md.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Called by his high school coach as the best player on one of the best defenses in Maryland (one that included fellow Terp Titus Till), Rahsaan Moore was a top-tier defensive end at Wise. Recruited by New Mexico and then a host of FCS schools, Maryland was the biggest school to offer Moore a scholarship, and he was brought to College Park by James Franklin.

No one has ever doubted Moore’s skill, but what held him back from some bigger offers was his lack of elite defensive end or even fullback size. He was previously a tight end in high school, but really lacked the size needed there, so switched to fullback to gain some FBS interest. It worked, as Maryland offered him a scholly.

Moore was honorable mention All-Met as a junior and honorable mention All-State following his senior year. Wise made the state championship game his senior year.

More after the jump.

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Today we profile an walk-on transfer from Bowie State.

Jeff Hernandez, Junior (RS), Fullback

Stats:

Height: 5’11″

Weight: 235

Ratings: N/A

40-yard dash time: N/A

High School Stats (Senior Year): N/A

College Stats (through two seasons at Bowie State): Ten tackles

High School: John F. Kennedy High School (Silver Spring, Md.)

How’d He Get To College Park?

Jeff Hernandez was a two-sport star at local Kennedy high school, earning honorable mention all-state honors in football two years in a row and putting together a 73-9 varsity record on the wrestling team.  He then joined Bowie State’s football team as a defensive tackle, putting together ten tackles in seventeen games.

After his sophomore year at Bowie, he transferred to Maryland as a fullback, joining high school teammates Clarence Claiborne and Kwabena Ofori as Terrapins. He served on the scout team offense last season, earning a redshirt season in the process.

More after the jump.

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