CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Maryland preview

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Maryland Terrapins

Jordan rules, but Terps still have questions

College Football: The New Century

'99: 5-6, 2-6 in ACC

Coach

Ron Vanderlinden (fourth season, 10-23)

Key offensive players

LaMont Jordan, RB, Sr.
Assuming he is eligible to play -- summer school was not kind to Jordan -- he can be one of the nation's top offensive weapons and a legitimate Heisman hopeful.

Calvin McCall, QB, So.
Missed the last two games of the season after a severe knee injury; must prove he is fully healed before he regains control of the offense.

Guilian Gary, WR, Jr.
The top returning receiver with 24 catches for 257 yards last year.

Key defensive players

Marlon Moore, LB, Jr.
Started every game as a sophomore and finished second in the ACC with 130 tackles.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Randy White, DT, 1972-74
"Still the measuring stick for ACC inside linemen."

Brightest Moment: During Jim Tatum's nine-year career at Maryland (1947-55), the coach compiled a 73-15-4 record that included a stretch of 19 consecutive victories.

Lowest Moment: Poor Mark Duffner. He might have been an offensive genius at Holy Cross, but the defense he put on the field for the Terrapins in 1993 was one of the worst in college football history, allowing 553 yards in total offense and 43.5 points per game.

Kevin Bishop, LB, Jr.
Hopes to recover from a torn ACL suffered in the ninth game last season and regain the form that allowed him to notch 20 tackles against Clemson.

Key newcomer

Michael Whaley, DE, Fr.
After a year of prep school and a redshirt season, the hotshot from Lexington, S.C., is ready to produce for a defense that can use some serious help up front.

Throwback player

Like workhorses of old, LaMont Jordan can put his teammates on his shoulders and carry them where ever they need to go.

21st century player

The Terps' quarterback of the future, Chris Kelley, has the rocket arm Vanderlinden needs to open up the offense.

Fast fact

Maryland's 10-year bowl drought (1990 Independence) is the ACC's longest.

Outlook

The Terps will live and die by Jordan again this year, even though Vanderlinden has vowed to open up the passing game a little more. However, McCall will have a fight on his hands at quarterback and no one on the team caught more than two dozen passes last year. Jordan, if he is around, is the best offensive option. On defense, the three junior linebackers form one of the best corps in the conference, but the Terps need someone to provide pressure up front. An easy early schedule will have Vanderlinden singing the Terps' praises, but smart poll voters won't be fooled, even when the coach whines about not getting any respect. The true test for the Terps will come in late September when Florida State comes to town, beginning a month's worth of games against bowl teams.

-- Tim Peeler