The Maryland football team has experienced up-and-down play under center in recent years.
On Monday, ESPN unveiled their question marks for each Big Ten East squad and quarterback play made the list for the Terrapins.
Perry Hills has graduated after playing in parts of four seasons, including starting 26 games during that time. Hills completed a Big Ten-leading 61.9 percent of his passes while throwing a career-high 12 touchdowns.
Still, Hills was unable to still healthy over a 12-game schedule. The Pennsylvania native missed two full games and parts of three more.
ESPN’s Dan Murphy had this to say about Maryland’s quarterback situation:
"“North Carolina transfer Caleb Henderson appears to be the frontrunner from the outside, but there is no shortage of options. Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager both got some experience as true freshmen last year. Kasim Hill just recently arrived on campus, but he was a strong enough prospect to be considered a part of the competition this summer.”"
Sophomores Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager both have one start apiece under their belt and that’s the most of the group. North Carolina transfer Caleb Henderson is likely going to start in the season opener at Texas, but he only has two collegiate games of experience.
In those contests, Henderson has only thrown one pass.
Maryland fans have yet to see Henderson on the field. Henderson was supposed to play in the Terrapins’ Red-White Spring Game in April, but a minor ankle injury kept him on the sidelines.
Instead, Bortenschlager and Pigrome got the majority of the snaps. Bortenschlager completed 7-of-16 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown while Pigrome went 6-of-14 for 70 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Both benefitted from a wide receiver group that hauled in 14 receptions for 241 yards and three touchdowns.
It’s certainly going to be an interesting battle as the summer progresses.
Henderson is definitely the frontrunner based on his performance during spring practice, but Bortenschlager and Pigrome do have some experience running Walt Bell’s offense. After all, Pigrome appeared in 11 of Maryland’s 13 games and proved to be a dynamic threat on the ground.
The dark horse to watch is true freshman Kasim Hill. Hill was a four-star prospect at St. John’s College (D.C.) and has the pedigree of a big-time college signal caller.
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Maryland is likely going to rely on their running game and star wide receiver D.J. Moore. If the Terps can get consistent production from Henderson, Hill, or Pigrome or whoever lines up under center, they could make some noise in the Big Ten this year.