D.J. Durkin continues to make moves.
According to a report from Football Scoop, Arkansas State’s Anthony Tucker has been hired as the running backs coach. Tucker is the second hire in the last three days after Syracuse’s Chris Beatty was brought on board as the wide receivers coach.
Tucker will replace Terry Richardson, who coached Maryland’s running backs under Randy Edsall during the 2015 season.
Tucker spent the last two seasons coaching the Red Wolves’ tailbacks under new Terrapins offensive coordinator Walt Bell. Bell left Arkansas State to come to College Park in December.
He also spent time with Colorado and Idaho State before joining the Arkansas State staff.
Tucker was a wide receiver at Fresno State, and started during his last two seasons with the Bulldogs. He caught 44 passes for 648 yards (14.7 yards-per-catch) and five touchdowns during the 1996 and 1997 campaigns.
Tucker will inherit a very young group of running backs at Maryland. The former Red Wolves assistant coach won’t have Brandon Ross in his back pocket as Ross will be graduating. The future of Wes Brown is also uncertain after the former four-star recruit was suspended indefinitely for violating the student athlete code of conduct.
Maryland’s backfield will include sophomore Ty Johnson and incoming freshmen Jake Funk (Damascus) and Lorenzo Harrison (DeMatha). Johnson will likely carry a large chunk of the load after a successful freshman season.
Johnson carried the ball 35 times for 250 yards (7.1 yards-per-carry) and three touchdowns. Two of his touchdowns came in the season finale against Rutgers where he broke off runs of 44 and 43 yards.
Maryland has filled some vacancies on the staff, but the staff still is missing some key position coaches including linebackers and the offensive line.