D1scourse.com

Maryland's Stocked Fridge: No. 40 Da'Rel Scott

Sizing up Da'Rel Scott's place in Maryland football lore as he enters his senior season:

* 308 carries (20th in school history)

* 1,693 yards (15th in school history)

* 5.5 yards per carry (third in school history)

* 12 rushing touchdowns (tied for 20th in school history)

* 6 games of 100+ yards rushing (tied for fifth in school history)

It'll be a lot easier to place Scott among the top contributors of the Ralph Friedgen years after his senior season is through.

Assuming he can stay healthy --- which he did not as a junior --- he'll probably rise into the top 10 of most categories. He might even join Charlie Wysocki as the only players in Terrapin history to roll up a pair of 1,000-yard seasons.

Certainly, some of his star turns as a sophomore --- including the 174-yard outburst in the second half of the Humanitarian Bowl --- warrant plenty of respect. His two fourth-quarter touchdowns earned him the game's MVP award.

Yet in some ways, his most impressive feat was averaging 5.0 yards as a junior behind a struggling offensive line. By comparison, the rest of the team averaged 2.6 yards a carry. With sacks removed from the equation, Maryland still managed just 3.8 yards a carry when Scott wasn't rushing.

Scott already has a first-team all-conference season to his credit. If he puts together a full season this fall, his ranking among the top players of Friedgen's tenure would skyrocket as a result.

Maryland's Stocked Fridge: No. 41 Aaron Thompson

It was bound to happen eventually during the rundown of the top Maryland football players of the Ralph Friedgen era: The need to answer the question of how to deal with the seniors on his first team.

These guys, after all, played a large role in the only ACC champion team the program has produced in the last quarter-century. Many of them had ridiculously good years in 2001, and earned plenty of honors along the way.

They also played just one season during the stretch under discussion.

Ultimately, the best way to handle it is to evaluate that single season as the priority, with probably a subconscious bump for winning slightly outweighing the fact the first few seasons of a guy's career will be looked past.

That's not favorable for Aaron Thompson, a four-year starter at linebacker who enjoyed his best statistical seasons under Ron Vanderlinden. He had 111 tackles (17 for loss) as a sophomore in 1999.

Still, he was really good in '01, even if he was overlooked in all-conference voting. It's understandable why that happened, since E.J. Henderson emerged as a star in the middle. But Thompson was still one of the more valuable members of a defense that held opponents to less than 100 yards a game and forced 34 turnovers en route to a 10-1 regular season.

Thompson provided not just solid numbers (60 tackles, 10 TFL, 4.5 sacks) as a senior, but he was also a prominent source of perspective to help bridge the close-but-not-quite Vanderlinden years and Friedgen's supernova debut.

Just as importantly, he was the guy who famously looked Friedgen in the eye during the latter's interview process and asked "What are you going to do to make us win?"

Part of the plan was to have Thompson lead what proved to be a particularly talented defense as a senior. Turns out it wasn't a bad idea.

Maryland's Stocked Fridge: No. 42 Moise Fokou

Run on walk-ons!

Much like today's earlier entry (No. 43 Joey Haynos), linebacker Moise Fokou came to Maryland in a completely unheralded manner and left as a guy the Terrapins received a strong return on for a modest investment.

Fokou played a year at Division III Frostburg State, starting all 10 games as a freshman. But he wanted to see how he'd fare at a higher level and transferred to College Park.

He eventually got on scholarship before the 2007 season and proceeded to start 25 straight games (and 26 overall) as Maryland's strong side linebacker. He ranked third on the team in tackles both seasons, rolling up 161 tackles (19 for loss) and seven sacks over the final half of his career.

While Alex Wujciak enjoyed a fine season (133 tackles) in 2008, there's a case to be made Fokou was the Terps' most valuable defensive player that season. With 12 tackles for loss and five sacks --- both team-highs --- he was the most disruptive option Maryland had to deploy that fall.

There might not be a defining play or moment that really sums up Fokou's career, but just the fact he went from a scout team player who happened to catch coaches' attention on a regular basis to a polished enough talent to earn a seventh-round nod in the NFL Draft is a big enough deal by himself.

As Ralph Friedgen often said, Fokou was a guy with "no stars" coming out of high school. It turned out he was one of the better players plugged in to Chris Cosh's defense during the coordinator's three-year stint. What that reflects about the program can be argued, but it also demonstrates Fokou earned his way into the discussion of the top Maryland football players of the Friedgen era.

Can any recently lopsided ACC series be reversed this year?

There are 15 conference series (out of 66) in the ACC with one team owning an active streak of at least four victories.

A quick look:

16: Florida State over Duke

10: Wake Forest over Duke

9: Virginia Tech over Duke

6: Clemson over N.C. State
6: Georgia Tech over Duke
6: Miami over Duke
6: Miami over Wake Forest
6: North Carolina over Duke
6: Virginia Tech over Virginia

5: Virginia Tech over Clemson
5: Virginia Tech over Maryland

4: Boston College over Virginia
4: Florida State over North Carolina
4: Georgia Tech over Clemson
4: Virginia over North Carolina

No one should be surprised Duke takes a prominent spot on the list. But it is worth wondering how many (if any) of these could be wiped off the list before season's end.

Some are unlikely candidates since there are no regular-season games between the teams this year. Those include Florida State-Duke, Miami-Wake Forest, Virginia Tech-Clemson and Virginia Tech-Maryland.

So knock those out and it's down to 11. What's the likelihood of a snapped streak? Sounds like ranking time to me.

1. Georgia Tech-Clemson (Oct. 23): The Yellow Jackets have won 12 games in this series since 1990. The total victory margin in those dozen games: 45 points. Clemson might not snap its latest skid against Georgia Tech, but it is certainly going to have the chance to do so.

2. Wake Forest-Duke (Sept. 11): Consider the Demon Deacons' 10-game run against the Blue Devils in a conference context for a moment. Wake owns a winning streak half that long against just one other ACC school (six straight against Clemson between 1942 and 1947). With the Demon Deacons facing quarterback questions, this is a good chance for the Blue Devils to end this streak.

3. Florida State-North Carolina (Nov. 6): If not for last year's ridiculousness in the second half, this wouldn't still be on the list. Nonetheless, a great offense and a great defense opposing each other make the rematch a tossup, even if it is in Tallahassee.

4. Virginia-North Carolina (Oct. 16): If ever there was a year for this streak to be snapped, it is 2010. But the Tar Heels have lost 14 straight in Charlottesville, and weird things happen in this rivalry. As a result, this game gets knocked down a couple spots as a precaution.

5. North Carolina-Duke (Nov. 27): It is a rivalry game, even if the Tar Heels have taken 19 of 20. The last five meetings have been decided by a combined 31 points, so it's not like it's an annual blowout anymore. Plus, it's anyone's guess exactly where the Tar Heels will be at that point given the the existing off-field circus.

6. Clemson-N.C. State (Nov. 6): The Wolfpack hasn't won in Death Valley since 2002, and Clemson has played especially well against Tom O'Brien's team in recent years. The Tigers might also particularly need this one, given their rough schedule.

7. Miami-Duke (Oct. 16): The Hurricanes collected fairly comfortable victories against the Blue Devils in the latter half of Thaddeus Lewis' career. A similar result wouldn't be a surprise, but Miami does draw Duke off its bye.

8. Boston College-Virginia (Nov. 20): Yes, BC got a scare in Charlottesville last season. But the Eagles are better and the Cavaliers ... well, they're probably about the same. Look for a wider margin this time as the scene shifts to Chestnut Hill.

9. Virginia Tech-Duke (Oct. 23): The Hokies get Duke at home after visits from Central Michigan and Wake Forest. The Blue Devils will be a week removed from dealing with Miami's surplus of talent. It's an unpleasant 1-2 punch for Duke.

10. Georgia Tech-Duke (Nov. 20): The Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings 27-0 and 49-10. That's a big divide for the Blue Devils to make up.

11. Virginia Tech-Virginia (Nov. 27): The Hoos winning in Blacksburg at the end of a rebuilding season? Two words: Not happening.

Maryland's Stocked Fridge: No. 43 Joey Haynos

Joey Haynos found himself bombarded with questions just before the 2006 season about replacing Vernon Davis.

There were no good responses at that stage. Davis was a first-round pick. Haynos was a former walk-on with one career reception.

Turns out he did all right for himself at Maryland --- and even beyond.

Haynos ranked second on the Terrapins in receptions in each of his last two seasons. In that stretch, he caught 67 passes for 687 yards and three touchdowns.

He was especially strong as a junior, with heroics that prompted a cottage industry of "Haynos Is My Homeboy" t-shirts. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach found Haynos to be a particularly reliable target, and the local product (he attended Gonzaga in D.C.) wound up as a honorable mention all-conference pick. Despite passing the eyeball test (6-foot-8, 260 pounds) for a blocking tight end, Haynos was actually more effective as a receiver.

Another highlight: Hauling in a touchdown pass to open the scoring in the Champs Sports Bowl against Purdue that December.

With Hollenbach graduating and Maryland relying on shorter passes the following season, Haynos wasn't quite the same factor. Still, he did have back-to-back seasons with 30 receptions, something even Davis didn't pull off.

Haynos eventually latched on with Miami in the NFL, catching 21 passes and three touchdowns over the last two years. 

Just as significantly, his departure created a few questions about how the Terps would replace his production, something thoroughly appropriate for someone who handled following a first-team All-America pick as capably as he could.

Yeatman could be "a factor" for Terps

Football coaches are often hesitant to proclaim they immediately anticipate great things from incoming freshmen.

Expecting something from a transfer is another matter.

And so it is that Maryland tight end Will Yeatman was mentioned during the ACC Kickoff. Yeatman, who played in 25 games at Notre Dame in 2006 and 2007, is again playing football this fall. He was part of Maryland's lacrosse team the last two years.

"I've been pleased with him as far as his weight lifting and his conditioning," coach Ralph Friedgen said. The kids tell me he's a pretty big factor both in the passing game --- now, he tells me he's a heck of a blocker, [but] I haven't seen that yet. I told him he couldn't use a stick. But he's an impressive looking kid. He really is."

Yeatman was highly regarded as a multi-sport star out of San Diego, but wound up primarily a blocking tight end during his time at Notre Dame. He had six receptions and 37 yards as a sophomore.

He's listed as a backup --- fifth-string, actually --- at Maryland's blocking tight end spot. But that is as much a function of having not gone through spring practice and a two-year absence from the game as anything else.

"He's going to help us this year --- as both," linebacker Alex Wujciak said. "He can play. He's done well. He's been working hard. I'd say his strength isn't 100 percent back to where he was, but he's going to help us a lot this year."

D1scast VII now posted

This week's D1scast is up over at WNST.net.

There's plenty of ACC media day talk, a look at Maryland's quarterbacks for the coming season and a few random asides.

So be sure to check that out whenever your workday grinds to screeching halt.

Finding the ACC influences on football staffs across the country

The highlight of Tuesday --- beyond simply landing more than 10 minutes early on the return flight to Baltimore --- was a knock at my front door.

Granted, it interrupted a nap (which was needed after working late for a couple days at the ACC Kickoff), but the arrival of Blue Ribbon's preseason football yearbook meant the Walt Kowalski-style reaction would have to be shelved for something a little friendlier.

One of the things Blue Ribbon makes easier than any preview mag is sorting through coaching staffs throughout major college football. So while this isn't quite as intriguing as the annual Joe Giglio "The ACC in the NFL" production you'll certainly see in another six weeks or so, it's something some fans of the conference could be intrigued by.

So, with a hat tip to Blue Ribbon for compiling all the info in one book, a listing of ACC products now serving as coaches at the 120 schools in the awkwardly named bowl subdivision.

BOSTON COLLEGE (5)

Jerry Petercuskie (N.C. State special teams)
Mike Reed (N.C. State defensive backs)
Mike Siravo (Boston College defensive backs)
Jason Swepson (N.C. State running backs)
Jim Turner (Texas A&M offensive line)

CLEMSON (7)

Rickey Bustle (UL Lafayette head coach)
Mike O'Cain (Virginia Tech quarterbacks)
Danny Pearman (Clemson assistant head coach/TEs/OTs)
Jeff Scott (Clemson wide receivers)
Willie Simmons (Middle Tennessee passing game coordinator/RBs)
Justin Watts (Middle Tennessee wide receivers)
Ron West (Illinois outside linebackers)

DUKE (2)

Derrick Jackson (Akron defensive line)
Steve Spurrier Jr. (South Carolina wide receivers)

FLORIDA STATE (14)

Jeff Beckles (Troy running backs)
Brent Brock (Middle Tennessee inside receivers)
James Coley (Florida State offensive coordinator/TEs)
Lawrence Dawsey (Florida State wide receivers)
Manny Diaz (Mississippi State defensive coordinator/LBs)
Dan Disch (Illinois inside linebackers)
Ron Dugans (Louisville wide receivers)
Greg Frey (Michigan offensive line)
Odell Haggins (Florida State defensive tackles)
Dick Hopkins (Florida Atlantic defensive backs)
John Palermo (Middle Tennessee defensive line)
Rick Smith (South Florida defensive backs)
Rick Stockstill (Middle Tennessee head coach)
Todd Stroud (Colorado State tight ends)

GEORGIA TECH (5)

Steve Davenport (UAB running backs)
George Godsey (Central Florida running backs)
Brent Key (Central Florida offensive line)
Mike MacIntyre (San Jose State head coach)
Ted Roof (Auburn defensive coordinator/LBs)

MARYLAND (3)

Ralph Friedgen (Maryland head coach)
Lamar Owens (Georgia Tech A-backs) --- played at Navy but completed degree at Maryland
Jim Panagos (Central Florida defensive line)

MIAMI (12)

Mike Archer (N.C. State defensive coordinator)
Michael Barrow (Miami linebackers)
Hurlie Brown (UL Lafayette secondary)
Rubin Carter (New Mexico defensive line)
Bernard Clark Jr. (Pittsburgh linebackers)
Mario Cristobal (Florida International head coach)
Clint Hurtt (Louisville defensive line)
Greg Laffere (Florida International tight ends)
Willie Martinez (Oklahoma defensive backs)
Kevin Patrick (South Florida defensive tackles)
Jeff Popovich (Florida International secondary)
Randy Shannon (Miami head coach)

NORTH CAROLINA (7)

Ron Burton (Air Force defensive line)
Billy Hite (Virginia Tech running backs)
Randy Jordan (Texas A&M running backs)
Allen Mogridge (North Carolina tight ends)
Chad Scott (Texas Tech running backs)
Tommy Thigpen (Auburn safeties)
Kevin Wilson (Oklahoma offensive coordinator/TEs/FBs)

N.C. STATE (3)

Rick Logo (Vanderbilt defensive tackles)
Buddy Green (Navy defensive coordinator)
Clayton White (Western Kentucky defensive backs)

VIRGINIA (9)

Derek Dooley (Tennessee head coach)
Tyree Foreman (Temple running backs)
Jim Grobe (Wake Forest head coach)
Al Groh (Georgia Tech defensive coordinator)
Mike Groh (Louisville quarterbacks)
Shawn Moore (Virginia wide receivers)
Anthony Poindexter (Virginia special teams/safeties)
Mike Sewak (Georgia Tech co-offensive line)
Jon Tenuta (N.C. State linebackers)

VIRGINIA TECH (8)

Bobby Allen (Arkansas defensive tackles)
Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech head coach)
Shane Beamer (Virginia Tech special teams coordinator/spurs/strong safeties)
Chris Cosh (Kansas State co-defensive coordinator)
Todd Grantham (Georgia defensive coordinator/LBs)
Torrian Gray (Virginia Tech defensive backs)
John Latina (Akron offensive coordinator/TEs)
John Papuchis (Nebraska defensive ends)

WAKE FOREST (5)

Gunter Brewer (Oklahoma State wide receivers)
Tom Elrod (Wake Forest quarterbacks)
Jerry McManus (Kent State running backs)
Napoleon Sykes (Navy secondary)
Brad White (Air Force defensive assistant)

Your preseason all-ACC cheat sheet

Rather than a post all about the inclusion of Torrey Smith (wideout and kick returner) and Alex Wujciak(linebacker) making the preseason all-ACC team announced this morning, how about something more ... inclusive?

Perhaps a rundown of where four preview magazines pegged the media's choices for the 25 preseason all-conference picks?

Yeah, figured that would be slightly more interesting.

For purposes of the next three charts, the following abbreviations are used: A-Athlon; L-Lindy's; PS-Phil Steele; and SN-Sporting News. The number reflects which team each player was assigned to by each magazine. Sporting News had one team, Athlon and Lindy's had two teams and Phil Steele had four teams.

PRESEASON ALL-ACC OFFENSE

Player	A	L	PS	SN
QB Christian Ponder (FSU)	1	2	1	1
RB Ryan Williams (VT)	1	1	1	1
RB Montel Harris (BC)	1	1	1	1
WR Donovan Varner (DU)	1	1	1	---
WR Torrey Smith (UM)	2	2	2	1
TE George Bryan (NCSU)	2	1	1	1
T Anthony Castonzo (BC)	1	1	1	1
T Chris Hairston (CU)	1	1	2	1
G Rodney Hudson (FSU)	1	1	1	1
G Thomas Claiborne (BC)	2	2	1	---
C Sean Bedford (GT)	1	1	1	1

PRESEASON ALL-ACC DEFENSE

Player	A	L	PS	SN
DE Robert Quinn (UNC)	1	1	1	1
DE Allen Bailey (THE U)	1	1	1	1
DT Marvin Austin (UNC)	1	1	1	1
DT Jarvis Jenkins (CU)	1	1	1	1
LB Alex Wujciak (UM)	1	1	1	1
LB Quan Sturdivant (UNC)	1	1	1	---
LB Luke Kuechly (BC)	1	1	1	1
CB Kendric Burney (UNC)	1	1	2	1
CB Brandon Harris (THE U)	1	1	1	1
S DeAndre McDaniel (CU)	1	1	1	1
S Deunta Williams (UNC)	1	1	1	1

PRESEASON ALL-ACC SPECIALISTS

Player	A	L	PS	SN
KR Torrey Smith (UM)	1	---	1	---
K Matt Bosher (THE U)	1	1	1	1
P Matt Bosher (THE U)	1	1	2	1

Among the players mentioned as first-teamers by the magazines but not the writers:

QB

Joshua Nesbitt, Georgia Tech (Lindy's)

WR

Leonard Hankerson, Miami (Athlon, Lindy's, Phil Steele)
Bert Reed, Florida State (Sporting News)

TE

Zack Pianalto, North Carolina (Athlon)

OL

Andre Datko, Florida State (Athlon, Lindy's)
Orlando Franklin, Miami (Phil Steele, Sporting News)

LB

Mark Herzlich, Boston College (Sporting News)

CB

Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (Phil Steele)

RETURNER

Dyrell Roberts, Virginia Tech (Lindy's)

PUNTER

Ryan Quigley, Boston College (Phil Steele)

*****

In short, it's mostly a consensus team. There's little disagreement on the defensive side, and while there are a couple picks that are far from unanimous (Smith as a wideout, BC's Claiborne on the offensive line), today's announcement pretty much reflects what was available on newstands for the better part of two months already.

William & Mary returning to Maryland for 2012 football visit

BALTIMORE --- Maryland will play host to William and Mary in football in 2012, Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said at the CAA 's football media day.

It will be the schools' first meeting since the Terrapins collected a 27-14 victory in the 2006 season opener.

"The reason we play those kind of games --- the money is the money, but that's not the reason," Laycock said. "The reason to me is it's part of the players' college football experience when you come to William & Mary. We talk to them [about] getting a great education, you'll compete for a championship and one week you're going to line up in a big stadium in a big game and compete on that level. "

The Tribe did more than compete a year ago, dispatching Virginia 26-14 en route to an 11-3 season that included a trip to FCS (formerly Division I-AA) semifinals.

"I've talked to our players when they come back in 10, 15 years and those are the games they remember," Laycock said. "Obviously, the ones this year will always remember the Virginia game. But those are the kind of things they do and I think it's great for our guys to do."

Maryland, which has played a team from the sport's second division in each of the last four years, has meetings set with Morgan State (2010), Towson (2011) and Rhode Island (2013) as well.