Maryland had less than 48 hours to deal with stunning circumstances last week. Right tackle Pete DeSouza broke both his legs in a traffic accident, and the Terrapins needed someone to take his place.
At the time, it seemed like shifting a freshman into a tackle spot would likely occur. In retrospect, Maryland went with what made the most sense.
After all, there might not be a situation senior Paul Pinegar has not faced in College Park.
"I guess this week is basically another chapter in my career," Pinegar said. "As I've seen people put it, it's been a very nomadic career. It's just another step."
Pinegar's career hasn't just meant roaming Maryland's offensive line; it's also an unexpected bonus for a program that endured its share of recruiting misfires in that unit in recent years.
In 2006 and 2007, Maryland brought in eight scholarship linemen. Bruce Campbell is now playing in the NFL. The other seven guys are either out of the program, had their careers end because of injury or moved to another position. They combined for four career starts.
As for Pinegar? The former walk-on has started at four positions --- the most of any Maryland offensive lineman since at least 1997 --- and owns the longest active starting streak among Maryland's offensive players at 19 games.
"He hasn't started at right guard?" coach Ralph Friedgen asked. "We can probably fix that."
And Pinegar could probably handle it. He began last year at right tackle, slid over to left tackle when Campbell dealt with a series of injuries and finally landed at left guard when the Terps' inexperienced options there fizzled.
It was off to center to start this season, and it seemed Pinegar would be the steady man in the middle for the Terps in his final season. But with DeSouza injured, it was back to right tackle, where he held up well despite having little time and no practice work at the position.
"I think he's the most valuable guy on the team, from a lot of aspects," Friedgen said.
It's a long way from where Pinegar began four years ago. At the time, Maryland's roster was populated by young linemen likely to stick around for a while, with plenty more on the way. Playing time was likely to be scarce, as it usually is for walk-on linemen at this level.
Even Pinegar's initial expectations for his first season were tempered.
"When I was a freshman, my goal was just to make the travel team," Pinegar said. "Coming in, I never would have thought I would have started at four different positions. It's been a real big journey, but I tried to think of it as doing whatever I can to help the team win."
That possibility eventually grew. As a redshirt freshman, injuries to Andrew Crummey, Jaimie Thomas and Scott Burley opened playing time late in the season. By last year, he was constantly on the go, shuttling around to wherever the Terps' tissue-thin line needed him.
The 24-21 defeat of Boston College, though, was arguably Pinegar's defining moment. He watched film and took full advantage of his mental reps in a walkthrough to reacquaint himself with right tackle. Besides a few game-specific wrinkles to deal with Mark Herzlich --- details Friedgen said Pinegar "wasn't privy to" before the game --- Pinegar held up thanks to his cerebral and technically sound play.
Valuable indeed; the win moved Maryland within a victory of bowl eligibility with five games remaining.
"I think I would have to agree. If you have a guy who can play all five spots on the line, he's probably the most valuable guy you have," said Bennett Fulper, who replaced Pinegar at center and has started three positions in two seasons. "Physically, that's hard, but mentally, with the offense we run it may even be tougher than it is physically. I think it's pretty amazing he can do that."
Pinegar is a contrast to some of his more boisterous linemates. The history major is insightful but quiet, and he wields a dry sense of humor appropriate for a man who plugged away until he got his spot on the travel roster. And then a place on the depth chart. And then a scholarship. And finally a fluid starting position.
He's also established a reputation for toughness and dependability the Terps crave --- particularly from an offensive lineman over the last two years.
"Is he a great football player? No, he isn't," Friedgen said. "But he maximizes his potential because of his diligence to do the right thing and to know the right thing and he gives everything he has."
(He also is undeniably the veteran on the line. He is the only senior scholarship offensive lineman, and the Terps have only one junior on scholarship as well. When Pinegar discussed his career this week, he gingerly eased into a chair in the auditorium of Maryland's team house and then exhaled.
"I'm aging, getting old," Pinegar said.
Added Fulper: "If he falls down at practice, he'll get up slow and everybody will give him a little bit of crap for that. I think in the back of everybody's mind, he's a fifth-year senior so he's been here a while. I think he deserves to move slow at some times.")
Pinegar's consistency pops up in many ways. Only Alex Wujciak and Adrian Moten have started more consecutive games than Pinegar. On offense, Torrey Smith and Da'Rel Scott are the only guys with more career starts.
Maybe it's easy not to notice a lineman always on the move. But Friedgen, a former offensive line coach himself, does --- which was a bit of a surprise to Pinegar.
"Offensive line is such an unglorified position," Pinegar said. "On offense, you always hear about Danny O'Brien throwing three touchdown passes in his first start, Torrey Smith making two catches against West Virginia, Da'Rel Scott breaking a 71-yard receiving touchdown, all those things. You don't hear too much about how an offensive lineman could be the MVP."
In some ways, though, Pinegar's versatility could help save Maryland's season. The Terps still harbor ACC title hopes, but reaching a bowl game can at least provide a more immediate payoff. A loss last week would have reduced Maryland's margin for error, but Pinegar stepped in to allow the Terps to play their five best available linemen in some alignment.
One more win, and Pinegar can add another line to his flexible football resume: The lone senior starter on an offensive line that reached the postseason.
"He's a very bright kid, and I would say he's a very unselfish kid," Friedgen said. "I've never seen him complain. 'Coach, what do you need me to do?' and he's going to go do it as best he can, 100 percent. Really, what else can you ask of someone?"
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