Alvin Hill has put on football cleats plenty of times. But when he went to buy shoes for ballet class at Maryland this fall, he was way out of his comfort zone.

He had to go to a store that specifically sells ballet shoes. As a 6-foot, 200-pound football player, it was an awkward experience.

“I tried to make myself feel a little bit masculine, but the more I walked in, I started deflating,” Hill told reporters Wednesday.

Hill made his time in the shoe store short. “Lemme get the shoes,” he said. He got a black pair, and headed out.

He’s far from the first football player to take ballet. Barry Sanders and Lynn Swann are a few NFL legends who come to mind.

Hill’s uncle was the first to suggest he take ballet. So the cornerback dug into the subject a little.

“I took it and ran with it,” Hill said. “And I started looking up some things.

“They said Barry Sanders took ballet.”

Bryce Bevill, the team’s director of player development, handed him video showing how ballet could help him jump “higher, faster, quicker” and prevent injuries. Hill took a yoga class last spring, and when the same teacher offered ballet this fall, he went for it.

His mom didn’t think much of it, but his younger sister teased him. When he got to his first class, the other students were taken aback.

“They were shocked. I’m, like, a lot bigger than everybody,” he said. “I got some balance though. I take it serious. You gotta respect that.”

Hill isn’t the only one on his team to take a dance class at Maryland. Quarterback Perry Hills and defensive end Roman Braglio both took an interpretive dance class.

“I don’t know, I was doing a bunch of weird stuff,” Hills joked. “A lot of good NFL players have been in ballet classes, so hopefully he can find something that helps him out.”

The Maryland football team opens its season this Saturday against Howard, and the team has finally released its first depth chart under new head coach DJ Durkin.

Durkin announced on Wednesday that Perry Hills is the team’s starting quarterback, but has been coy for the most part about naming starters this preseason. There are some obvious ones here and some surprises.

Via Maryland athletics

Caleb Rowe isn’t listed on the two-deep behind Hills at quarterback, but true freshmen Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager are.

With Wes Brown suspended for the first three games of the season, Ty Johnson is Maryland’s starting running back. The Terps will surely employ a rotation at the position, but Johnson, a sophomore, beat out graduate transfer Trey Edmunds and freshmen Lorenzo Harrison and Jake Funk.

The team’s offensive line shakes out like this: Michael Dunn at left tackle, Mike Minter at left guard, Brendan Moore at center, Maurice Shelton at right guard and Damian Prince at right tackle. True freshman Terrance Davis is listed on the two-deep behind Shelton at guard.

D.J. Moore and are listed as starting wide receivers, with DeAndre Lane and Will Likely listed in competition for the third spot. There’s a whole lot of other guys on the two-deep, and they’re all going to get time in an offense that moves as fast as Maryland’s will.

As expected, Jesse Aniebonam is starting at the BUCK, and Roman Braglio are starting at defensive end. Inside, Keiron Howard is an upset at starting tackle, getting the spot over David Shaw Azubuike Ukandu, and Kingsley Opara has the other starting tackle spot.

Jermaine Carter Jr. obviously has middle linebacker locked down, Jalen Brooks listed as the SAM and with Shane Cockerille and Brooks both listed at the WILL.

Denzel Conyers starting at safety is a bit of a surprise, as Josh Woods seemed to have the inside track on his spot, but the rest of the secondary turned out as we expected. Likely, JC Jackson and Alvin Hill are at corner and Darnell Savage Jr. is the team’s starting safety. Also of note: Tino Ellis and Jake Funk are both listed on the two-deep at defensive back.

Maryland football signed four players from DeMatha Catholic High School in the class of 2016, and now they have their first verbal commitment from the local powerhouse in the 2017 class.

Four-star offensive tackle Marcus Minor announced his commitment to play at Maryland on Comcast SportsNet Sunday night. Maryland beat out a couple local schools and some national powers to land him. He previously listed the Terps in his top seven, along with Auburn, Florida, Miami, Michigan State, Virginia Tech and Rutgers.

Minor got a little emotional before making his big decision and paused while bringing out a Maryland hat.

Minor is the No. 5 player in Maryland and the No. 28 tackle in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite. Four-star McDonogh tackle Jordan McNair and three-star Gonzaga center Johnny Jordan are the other offensive linemen the team has committed so far in the class of 2017.

Two of Minor’s DeMatha teammates, five-star defensive end Chase Young and four-star running back Anthony McFarland, are some of Maryland’s top targets left in the class. Young committed to Ohio State in July, but the Terps have undoubtedly not given up on flipping him.

His commitment isn’t set in stone until he puts pen to paper on National Signing Day in February, but should Minor end up at Maryland, he’ll reunite with former DeMatha teammate Terrance Davis, who could see playing time at guard for the Terps as a true freshman in 2016.

As a rookie head coach at Maryland, DJ Durkin hired a couple of former head coaches to help him out. Then he hired Walt Bell.

The Terps’ 31-year-old offensive coordinator comes from Arkansas State full of bright ideas, and brings a totally new, fast-paced offense to College Park. He’s not afraid to tweet out his excitement when Maryland receives favorable recruiting news, and is committed enough to the program that he sleeps in his office a few days a week just so he doesn’t have to sacrifice time commuting.

Testudo Times caught up with Bell Tuesday at Maryland football media day to talk about a range of subjects, including his style of offense and his social media presence. Here’s our conversation, lightly edited for clarity:

TT: How has the transition to College Park been for you personally? I know you just packed up your bags and came right over here.

Bell: Yeah, I took the job the day after [Arkansas State’s] bowl game, and packed a duffle bag. I came home for Christmas, packed an even bigger duffle bag, the moving company moved stuff. I’ve been here basically since the day after Christmas and haven’t left. I work enough where, and I don’t want to ruffle feathers, College Park has really been wonderful, but you honestly get to a point where you’re here so much, that you honestly don’t know what’s going on. Whether it’s Jonesboro, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Stillwater, Oklahoma; all the places I’ve been, they’re all great places, and I see [the football complex] more than I see what’s going on in the community.

Testudo Times: You’ve been one of the staff’s most vocal coaches on social media. One thing people have noticed is the turtle gif you often tweet out. What’s behind that, and were you on Twitter before you were a coach?

Bell: No, (*laughs*). I’m old enough, I became a graduate assistant the day I got out of college. When Twitter got big, I was a graduate assistant so I’ve always been on Twitter. In terms of how much thought? Not really. Growing up as a kid, I watched ninja turtles, G.I. Joe, Transformers, I was in the heyday, the mid-to-late eighties, for cartoons in America, so everything I need to know in life I learned from one of those three shows (*laughs*). But no, it doesn’t take a lot of effort. It’s just something I do. I think the most important thing on social media is to just be authentic. Be yourself. I’m going to do what makes me laugh, what makes me smile. But it’s part of our world now, not only branding for your program but branding for yourself. Also any time you can get in a kid’s pocket, any time he’s scrolling his timeline and your face shows up, that’s a good thing.

TT: What’s it been like adjusting to Maryland?

Bell: It’s not really an adjustment for me, because it’s all that I know. But for the players, the pace of practice, the expectation level, I am as Type A and in the worst sense of the word, a perfectionist, and that’s typically not a good thing, and there’s a lot of areas where that’s not a good thing, but it kind of suits me well for this job. The expectation level for the kids, the pace at which we play, how long it takes you to get playing effectively and efficiently at that pace — and there’s a giant learning curve — I think the best way to compare it is from the first practice of spring to the first practice of fall camp. I mean it is night and day. They’ve had an incredible summer, a lot of retention from the spring, and also things that got added in the summer. In the practices they had on their own, you could tell they got a lot of work done. Our kids have done a great job, not only from improving from spring one to fall one, but in terms of general, in the eight months we’ve been here, buying in, trying to do what we’re asking them to do, showing up every day with the attitude to put the work in.

TT: Has it been different coaching the freshmen who haven’t played in any college systems before?

Bell: Oh, absolutely. I think the biggest thing for them is how little process time you get. Just because, the pace we play, they have to say “signal, hey, are you lined up?” and process, and especially for those guys, especially when they’re really not there yet mentally — they don’t really know. They kind of know, but they don’t really know — those guys typically struggle. The good news is, the first few days, we had split practices. So we had practice the first few days with just the young guys. They had own individualized time planned, but still had portions of practice integrated in with the whole group. They were a whole lot more apt to get in there and actually be productive as opposed to just thinking all the time. That’s typically a huge adjustment for them. Not only the speed of the game, the change from high school to college, but the mental side of the game. At the pace we play, not only is there a large learning curve mentally, but now all of a sudden you have to process it in six, eight, 12 seconds, and that’s tough.

TT: One thing [defensive end] Melvin Keihn talked about was how players have to be able to make decisions when they’re tired, and how that was a big part of what the coaches were talking about. How important is that, to be able to make decisions when you’re tired at the end of games?

Bell: That’s what our whole offense is built around, is the back half of the second quarter and the back half of the fourth quarter, and we hope that we’re in a lot better shape than they are. But the only way to get that done is in practice. You have to continually put your kids in the most trustful environment that you can. Whether that’s mentally, whether that’s figuratively, from a conditioning standpoint, whatever that may be, so we’re going to teach them how to be comfortable being uncomfortable. And eventually they’ll be comfortable with that. And eventually, they’ll find solace in the that, because it’s a great feeling to know that you’re in better shape, you’re better prepared for this moment because of how bad it feels, and you know you can execute.

TT: Another thing you’ve mentioned is how decision-making is going to be a little simplified for the quarterbacks. Why is that?

Bell: Because at the end of the day, I’m going to be judged on how 18-to-22-year-olds execute for three hours on a Saturday. Not what happens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, but for a three-hour period on Saturday in front of a bunch of people. I’m only judged on that three-hour window of how they execute. The easiest way to better their execution skills is: do less. The more repetitions you get at something, the better you’ll be. There’s no substitution for repetition in anything you do in your life. If you want to be the best kite-flyer on the planet, go fly kites. You want to be the best weight-lifter. Go lift weights. We’re going to do 10, 12, 14 things over and over and over and over and over, so for those three hours on Saturday, we can execute them at a high level. It doesn’t matter what I know. It doesn’t matter how good I am. It’s “what can they execute for three hours on a Saturday.” It’s not just for the quarterbacks, it’s for everyone to mentally lighten their load but at the same time increase their volume of repetition. Not only physically, but mentally, they’ve got this library of repetitions they can draw from.

TT: I’ve never heard an offense explained quite like that. Your offense has six tailbacks this season. Is it hard at all to juggle so many players at one position?

Bell: No, and Wes Brown is a senior, Kenny Goins is a senior, Trey Edmunds is a senior. They’ll be three of them gone in a year and we’ll be back to balance in terms of the backfield, so that was a little more preparatory for the exodus that we’re about to have. But the best guy is going to play and it’s as simple as that.

And No. 1, running back, physically, is one of the more demanding positions to play because you’ve got 11 guys on the other side trying to knock his face off every play. So that’s a very violent position to play in terms of the amount of collisions you’re going to be involved in and the amount of snaps you’re going to play, those guys are going to get beat on. It typically takes three or four guys per game, maybe four to five to make it through a season, so the depth will be needed. So the best guy is going to play. He’ll get the lion’s share of the carries, but there will be two or three other guys that are in there helping and will be counted on to be productive.

TT: There seems to be a lot of competition at wide receiver, with at least six or seven guys who could get to play. Do the same things apply there?

Bell: When you’re going to play anywhere from 70 to 80 plays a game at the effort level we require them to play, it’s going to take six to eight guys per game. And then you’re competing for reps. It’s who gets 55 reps, who gets 35 reps. Who gets 60, who gets 20. You’re competing for reps, is really what you’re doing. It takes a whole big group of kids, and we do that by design. No. 1, we keep them fresh so the effort level can stay high over time, and two, we develop depth. So when you lose a Levern Jacobs, a Malcolm Culmer, that next year there’s somebody who’s been in the fire and played meaningful reps.

TT: I saw last week you tweeted a picture of your mattress in your office. Are you actually sleeping on it?

Bell: Yeah, I sleep here every night during camp, and typically Sunday, Monday, Tuesday during the year. It saves me 40 minutes. As soon as I get up, I can roll over, go downstairs, work out, come right back, bang, I’m here. Instead of having to write on a yellow notepad, if I have some idea by the nightstand or have some eureka moment — which are few and far between — but if one of those does happen, I’m right in front of my computer, we can make that change. I don’t do anything in moderation very well. This is definitely one of the most positive addictions you can have. I love this game, and it is a small price to pay to hopefully be good.

TT: Did you know coach Durkin at all before he called you?

Bell: Not one bit. I think Larry [Fedora], when he had an open coordinator position at North Carolina, had interviewed DJ, they’d spent some time together, and I think DJ called Larry because I think they had built a friendship, and Larry suggested me. And it was really quick after that. It was one phone call. We talked for a couple hours. It happened really fast.

TT: What was his pitch to you?

Bell: Oh, he didn’t have to pitch me on anything. Just sitting in a room, we figured out that we’re like-minded, we believe in the same things, and, do we have the same sense of program? How do we treat people, how do we treat the athletes? Is he going to let me do what we do? All those things you have to weigh professionally, he checked every box. He’s as good as there is, and I’m excited to be here.

TT: Durkin obviously has a background as a defensive coach. How involved is he in the offense?

Bell: Everything we do, he knows. He’s involved in everything we do, and in a positive way. So many people see that as meddling, but everything is positive. Sometimes it’s “Hey, you guys know that when you do this, we know that, right?” The biggest thing is, schematically, they’re tough to deal with. They provide problems every day in practice, pressure packages are great, multiple fronts, multiple on the back end, they do a great job every day and it’s just going to make us better.

Maryland football starts its season in 48 days. Until then, we’re profiling every player on the roster.

Antwaine Richardson, defensive back

Height: 6’0

Weight: 168 pounds

Year: Freshman

High school: Atlantic Community HS (Fla.)

Jersey No.: 20

How he got to College Park

A three-star prospect out of Florida, Richardson was rated the No. 84 cornerback in the Class of 2016 and the No. 120 player in his home state, according to the 247Sports Composite. He received a couple of big offers, from schools like Michigan, Miami, and West Virginia, but a knee injury caused him to miss his senior season.

Richardson committed to Michigan last June but later left the program, stating that he wanted to "explore my options to better my future academically and athletically." Reports suggest that Michigan’s interest in him declined and he decided to follow Durkin, one of the coaches who recruited him, to Maryland as an early enrollee. Here’s the tweet that announced his decision:

He enrolled at Maryland days later and spent the spring rehabbing from his knee injury.

High school highlights

2016 prospectus

When Durkin was in Florida last June, he noticed Richardson continually fighting to take on some of the area’s top talent over and over again. If he were to show the same tenacity in training camp, Richardson is sure to draw Durkin’s attention again.

Competitiveness is one of the four things Durkin says he looks for in a recruit and Richardson’s high school coach has spoken very highly about his qualities.

Via the Carroll County Times:

“He’s a competitor,” said T.J. Jackson, Richardson’s coach at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, Fla. “He wants to win every jump ball. He wants to win every 1-on-1 matchup. He wants to win every play... He’s not going to let anyone outwork him.”

Will Likely and Darnell Savage are the probable starters at cornerback this year, but with Likely getting more snaps on offense, Durkin could call on Richardson’s number early. As long as the corner is healthy, that is.

What a dream season would look like

Richardson gets noticed by the coaches during training camp due to his competitive nature and sheer work ethic and regularly starts taking snaps for Maryland in 2016 due to Likely’s expanded role on offense. Also, with Likely entering his last year, it isn’t unrealistic for Richardson have a big role by the time he’s a sophomore.

Next in the series

Our next subject is a local talent who lettered in basketball in high school, was selected to play in the Crab Bowl, and redshirted last season.

Standings

Reborn579-8

PeachesTerp-6

Testudbson24-5

Scaletta-4

jayman88-3

Murderlandboy-3

jgoldy17-3

terpcommenter-2

ImFromMarylandAndNobodyCanBeatMe-2

amaymon27-2

ezra2141-1

Mr. Papageorgeo-1

RedTurtle-1

Carolina-1

PMatt-1

EricPat-1

Cyfi98-1

Maryland's football season starts in 60 days. Until then, we're doing a player-by-player preview of the entire roster.

Mbi Tanyi, outside linebacker

Height: 6’1

Weight: 280 pounds

Year: Sophomore

High school: George Bush High School (Houston, Tex.)

How Tanyi got to College Park

Tanyi came to the Terps as a three-star recruit from Houston. He committed to Maryland in June 2014, choosing the Terps over Houston, Washington and Air Force, among other schools. He is one of two Texans on Maryland’s roster.

With Abner Logan and Jefferson Ashiru each lost for the season to injury, Tanyi got to see some game action as a true freshman. He made four tackles in seven games in 2015.

A career highlight

Making two tackles in the Terps’ loss to Michigan.

2016 prospectus

Tanyi should receive some looks at linebacker this season, but a healthy Abner Logan and eligible transfer Melvin Keihn could make it hard for him to carve out a significant role in the team’s rotation.

What a dream season would look like

Tanyi carves out a role for himself on special teams, and gets some occasional looks on defense early during the cupcake portion of Maryland’s schedule. He shows DJ Durkin and Andy Buh enough that he is in the running for a starting spot in 2017.

The next player in the series

Won the Zellner Award as a high-schooler. (No, you're not supposed to know what that is.)

Standings

Testudbro-5
PeachesTerp-5
reborn579- 4
apgibson24-3
jayman88-2
terpcommenter-2
ImFromMarylandAndNobodyCanBeatMe- 2
jgoldy17-2
amaymom27- 2
Murderlandboy- 2
Scaletta- 2
ezra2141-1
Mr. Papageorgeo-1
RedTurtle-1
Carolina-1
PMatt-1
EricPat

The Maryland football program is a top-10 choice for DeMatha Catholic running back and receiver Anthony McFarland, one of the top players in the class of 2017.

TOP 10 .. pic.twitter.com/9LxHX4jgxf

— MaccⓂ️ (@AnttMacc_) June 21, 2016

Testudo Times spoke with McFarland in April, and the impression given then was that Maryland and Alabama were the two likeliest suitors for him. The Tide want McFarland to be their lightning bolt in a backfield that's sure to have a lot of thunder, and Maryland wants him to contribute in a bunch of ways as a critical member of the class.

Aside from Maryland and Alabama, McFarland's top group includes Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Florida. He's the sort of prospect who will essentially have his pick of the national litter, so DJ Durkin and his staff will need to do a terrific recruiting job to get him to sign.

McFarland has excellent speed and route-running ability, and those combined with his 5'9 stature suggest he might have a future as a slot receiver and a change-of-pace running back, rather than as an every-down ball carrier. But he's so skilled in so many ways that some team's going to be through the roof when it gets him.

McFarland is teammates with Chase Young, who's either the best or second-best defensive end in the country. (The other is five-star Maryland commit Joshua Kaindoh.) Young is considered an Ohio State lean, with Maryland also very much in the picture.

Maryland football cornerback commit Travon Stott will not enroll at the university and will not join the Terps’ class of 2016, he announced Friday night on Twitter.

The three-star Good Counsel (Md.) product committed to Maryland in April of 2015, and signed his national letter of intent this past February. Maryland was the only team to offer Stott, who told Testudo Times, "Keandre Jones is my best friend, so when he committed there, it was like ‘Woah we may have a possibility of playing together for four more years,’" before he committed to Maryland. Jones was one of the Terps’ highest-rated commits in the 2016 class before he flipped his commitment to Ohio State in January.

Stott was the Terps’ 12th-highest rated recruit in the class of 2016. He was the No. 106 cornerback in the class of 2016 and the No. 30 player in Maryland, according to the 247Sports Composite.

He was one of six defensive backs in the class. Maryland’s secondary is full of question marks entering the season, as corner Will Likely is the unit’s only returning starter.

Maryland's football season starts in 85 days. Until then, we're previewing the entire roster. Up next:

Adam McLean, defensive tackle

Height: 6'2

Weight: 313 pounds

Year: Freshman

High school: Quince Orchard (Md.)

How McLean got to College Park

Adam McLean was a two-time consensus all-state performer and Under Armour All-American; he was named first-team All-Met by The Washington Post in 2013, after finishing his junior season at Quince Orchard with 47 tackles and seven sacks. In the state of Maryland, McLean was rated the best defensive tackle and number two overall player by Rivals. In his class, he was also ranked the 12th best defensive tackle and 83rd overall in the nation by ESPN.

McLean was recruited early and given offers by some big names including Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan State, and Florida State, among others. Although Penn State failed to crack his top five list in January of 2014, McLean announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions via Twitter in April. However, in a surprising twist, McLean decommitted the following November and by next February, he was a Terp.

Additionally, McLean helped to spark the #DMVtoUMD movement, encouraging local recruits to come to Maryland and make it a football powerhouse in the Big Ten. In the past, Maryland has consistently lost out on blue-chip talent to other programs, notably Penn State, Ohio State, and West Virginia. The Capital News Service analyzed that over the last five years, Maryland only retained on average 20 percent of its four- and five-star prospects. McLean recognized his potential and jumped at the opportunity:

"I knew that I had the power to get other guys interested, even though I committed a little bit later in the recruiting process," McLean said. "...Everyone wants to be a part now, everyone wants to help re-establish the program."

McLean's Maryland career hit a snag back in September when he had to un-enroll from the university due to an "eligibility issue" - the initial announcement from the University had worried fans but McLean quickly put them at ease with a couple tweets.

He was indeed on the line come springtime.

Some video:

A career highlight:

He has yet to play a single down for the Terps (besides the spring game), but McLean made waves last year by flipping his commitment from Penn State to Maryland. He has been very active on social media since and continues to play a role in helping Maryland seal local recruits for the future.

2016 prospectus

Even if McLean had remained at Maryland last September, he was highly expected to redshirt his freshman season due to an ACL injury from his senior year at Quince Orchard. In fact, his goal last summer was to be healthy by spring.

This year, he’ll team up with redshirt sophomore David Shaw and look to build a partnership before incoming five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh gets in the mix, along with tackle Cam Spence. McLean is already one of Mike London’s most talented players, and in the right defensive scheme, he could hit the ground running.

What a dream season might look like

Fans of Maryland football have been waiting for a long time to watch McLean play seeing as he was Edsall’s top recruit in the class of 2015. We got a glimpse when the defensive tackle saw some springtime action and recorded a few tackles, including one for a loss. Hopefully, London figures out a way to take advantage McLean’s abilities and he makes an instant impact on the field.

If Mclean and Shaw complement each other well, they can lay the foundation for the next couple years - and Kaindoh will slot right in next year. Look for McLean to lock up his starting spot as early as this year.

Next in the series...

Our next player caught Maryland’s attention during his senior season after leading his school to an upset win over local rivals Gilman in the state title game back in 2013.

Standings

PMatt is on the board.

Testudbro- 3

PeachesTerp- 2

amaymon27- 1

apgibson- 1

ezra2141- 1

Murderlandboy- 1

Mr. Papageorgeo- 1

RedTurtle- 1

Carolina- 1

reborn579- 1

PMatt- 1

Maryland football starts its season in 87 days. Until then, we are profiling every player on the roster.

After redshirting during the 2014 season, Brett Kulka made his Maryland debut against Richmond in 2015. He appeared in 11 games and finished the season with four tackles. This year he will look to take another step forward.

Brett Kulka, defensive lineman

Height: 6’4

Weight: 254 pounds

Year: Redshirt sophomore

High School: General McLane High School

How Kulka got to College Park

Kulka was just a two-star recruit and the no. 63 player in Pennsylvania, according to the 247 Sports Composite. Maryland was the only Power 5 school he received an offer from, and he committed on Jun. 24, 2013. At General McLane High School, Kulka was an all-region player as an offensive and defensive lineman and was named all-state by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers and the PA Football News.

One career highlight so far

Kulka played in eleven games last season, and his best outing was against West Virginia, when he recorded two tackles and broke up a pass.

2016 prospectus

Kulka looks to be fighting for playing time again 2016. Maryland has holes in its defensive line after losing Yannick Ngakoue and Quinton Jefferson to the NFL Draft and will be looking for players to step up and fill the gaps. It’s tough to see Kulka earning a starting job, as he has to compete with Azubuike Ukandu and David Shaw, who both started last season, as well as Malik Jones and former blue-chip recruit Adam McLean. If he wants to earn more playing time this year, Kulka will have to separate himself from the herd.

What a dream season might look like

Kulka earns a starting job on the defensive line. He plays a big part in stopping the run and drawing double teams to allow Roman Braglio and Jesse Aniebonam to wreak havoc on the quarterback.

Up next in the series…

This Maryland native was the Terps highest rated recruit in the class of 2015.

Standings

Testudbro is back in the lead.

Testudbro- 3

PeachesTerp- 2

amaymon27- 1

apgibson- 1

ezra2141- 1

Murderlandboy- 1

Mr. Papageorgeo- 1

RedTurtle- 1

Carolina- 1

reborn579- 1

Maryland football starts its season in 87 days. Until then, we're profiling the entire roster.

Isaiah Davis, linebacker

Height: 6'1
Weight: 225 pounds
Year: Sophomore
High school: St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Va.)

How Davis got to College Park

Davis was a two-way player in high school, but colleges all saw him as a linebacker. He was a consensus three-star recruit and the No. 46 prospect in Virginia by the 247Sports Composite.

His older brother Sean was a starting safety for the Terps while Isaiah was still in high school, and the younger Davis committed to Maryland in August of 2014. Many expected Isaiah to choose NC State, but instead he stayed in the DMV.

No career highlights yet

Davis was named the defensive scout team player of the week before the Iowa game last fall, but didn't play a single down in his freshman season.

2016 prospectus

Davis is part of a crowded but unproven bunch of linebackers for the Terps. Other than Jermaine Carter, there really aren't any certainties in the group. Perhaps his most direct competitors are fellow sophomores Brett Zanotto and Tyler Burke.

What a dream season might look like

Davis secures a hefty dose of playing time for a decent Terps defense.

Next in the series ...

Our next subject wears the same shirt under his pads during every game as a superstition.

Standings

Testudbro- 2

PeachesTerp- 2

amaymon27- 1

apgibson- 1

ezra2141- 1

Murderlandboy- 1

Mr. Papageorgeo- 1

RedTurtle- 1

Carolina- 1

reborn579- 1

The Maryland football program's rescheduled game against Florida International in September is officially set for a nighttime kickoff, the Terrapins announced on Tuesday.

The Terps' game against the Panthers was initially slated for Saturday, Sept. 10, before it was moved to Friday. Now the game's scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, and you'll be able to watch it on the CBS Sports Network.

The Friday game in Florida might be a bit of a drag for Maryland, which loses a day of preparation during the week (though adds one for the next week). A Friday game also means the Terps' coaches won't be able to drop by high school games in the area on Friday night to evaluate talent, which they'd surely not have minded doing if their schedule allowed. (It's not certain they'd be up for that the night before a game, anyway.)

Yet it should be good fun for Maryland to play a night game. The other one on the schedule is at Maryland Stadium on Oct. 22, when Michigan State plays the Terps at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. The Terps didn't have a night game last year.

No TV channels or times have been announced yet for eight of Maryland's 12 games.

In other news ...

Three Maryland basketball players look like NBA possibilities for the Indiana Pacers - Testudo Times
Jake Layman, Robert Carter Jr. and Rasheed Sulaimon have all worked out for the Pacers.

Maryland women's lacrosse had a perfect season, until it didn't. What's it mean? - Testudo Times
Looking back on an incredible season that met a sad ending -- and looking ahead at what's next.

Maryland basketball ranks 1st in Big Ten average attendance, 5th nationally - Testudo Times
This seems good.

Noah Barnes joins Maryland football's growing tight end group - Testudo Times
Profiles in Terpage roll on.

Maryland basketball should expect three NBA Draft picks and an entertaining 2016-17 season - Testudo Times
Matt Ellentuck's Facebook Live segment.

Maryland soccer alum Graham Zusi scores goal for U.S. men's national team in Copa America - Testudo Times
He a Terp.

Jim Harbaugh's favorite New Jersey high school is playing a game in Michigan Stadium - SBNation.com
Probably not a coincidence.

Angry Rutgers fans vandalize field to protest Jim Harbaugh's recruiting in New Jersey - SBNation.com
Rutgers: making Maryland look like a better Big Ten addition since July 1, 2014.

And most importantly ...

Testudo Times officially supports the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final Thursday night.

Stanley Cup Final 2016: Penguins on the verge of a championship -- SBNation.com

The "Stanley Cup Final" – for hockey fans in the Washington area – is the series that decides North America's major professional hockey championship. It follows the "conference final," which might also be foreign to Capitals fans.

I'm from Pittsburgh, so I'm speaking to the wrong constituency here. But it raises a fun question: What's the least popular sports opinion you have, as a Maryland fan? Share it in the comments, and we'll call this a no-judgment zone.

(Feel free to judge me about the Penguins, though. I'll get over it when they win the Stanley Cup.)

Maryland's football season starts in 87 days. Until then, we're previewing the entire roster. Up next:

Noah Barnes, tight end

Height: 6'4
Weight: 225 pounds
Year: True freshman
High school: Auburn (Ala.)

How Barnes got to College Park

Barnes is the lone tight end signee in Maryland's incoming recruiting class. He had been committed to Memphis, but the Tigers changed coaches right around the time Maryland did. Barnes announced his flip to the Terrapins on January 24, less than two weeks before National Signing Day.

He played his high school football at Auburn (not the SEC school) in Alabama, so he's used to playing against strong competition. Barnes is rated as a two-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite.

Here's some video:

2016 prospectus

Maryland's quietly put together a fairly big tight end group. The Terps have six tight ends on their roster, of which two (Avery Edwards and Andrew Isaacs) figure to usurp most of the playing time. Derrick Hayward also has a bit of experience, and Andrew Gray and Erica Roca's been in the program for years.

It seems likely, knowing all of this, that Barnes will redshirt as a freshman. But perhaps he'll really shine in fall camp and make a push for some playing time as the year goes on.

What a dream season might look like

Barnes dominates as a scout-teamer and puts himself in position to play in the years to came, or maybe he gets some snaps as a true freshman.

Next in the series ...

If Maryland's recent football history is any indication, this player has good genes.

Standings

Testudbro- 2

amaymon27- 1

apgibson- 1

ezra2141- 1

PeachesTerp- 1

Murderlandboy- 1

Mr. Papageorgeo- 1

RedTurtle- 1

Carolina- 1

reborn579- 1