Maryland linebacker Dave Philistin has been named to the watch list for the 2008 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, making him one of 88 players under consideration for the award given to the nation's top defensive player.

Philistin is one of 10 athletes from the Atlantic Coast Conference on the list. The others are: Everette Brown and Myron Rolle of Florida State; Aaron Curry and Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest; Michael Hamlin of Clemson; Victor Harris of Virginia Tech; Vince Oghobaase of Duke; Clint Sintim of Virginia; and Brian Toal of Boston College.

Philistin, a senior from Manchester N.H., ranked fourth in the conference with 124 tackles last season.

LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey won the award in 2007.

Click here for the complete list.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Maryland offensive lineman Edwin Williams was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list today, becoming one of 42 players under consideration for the award given to the nation’s top center.

Williams, a fifth-year senior from Washington DC, started all 13 games at center for the Terps in each of his last two seasons. His 26 straight starts is tops among UM’s returning starters on offense.

Click here to see the complete Rimington Trophy spring watch list.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The folks at Disney found an eighth team -- Georgetown -- to replace Memphis in next season's Old Spice Classic.

If you're a Maryland fan, do you want the Terps to play the Hoyas in the Thanksgiving week event in Orlando?

Given that Maryland is one of three teams in the field not to play in last season's NCAA tournament, it seems likely that the Terps will be matched up with Georgetown, Michigan State or Tennessee.

The Hoyas lost Roy Hibbert and Jonathan Wallace, and also saw Vernon Macklin announce his plans to transfer, but are bringing in two quality big men in Greg Monroe and Henry Sims (Mount St. Joseph).

Just from a standpoint of a good local story, I would love to see Maryland play Georgetown, something that hasn't happened during the regular season since 1994.

That's when the Terps were supposed to get run over by Othella Harrington and the Hoyas at the Cap Centre. You know the rest of the story. Joe Smith introduced himself to the college basketball world, and the Terps won.

Too bad Gus Gilchrist won't be eligible for a similar coming-out party.

Editor's note: Vernon Macklin was misidentified when this post was first published.

Posted by Don Markus at 2:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

Terps forward Shane Walker has decided to transfer, Maryland coach Gary Williams announced in a release today.

Walker, who was a freshman last year, will finish the spring semester at Maryland.

"We wish Shane the best of luck in the future and will assist him in his transition this spring," Williams said.

Walker played in 24 games during the 2007-08 season, averaging 5.3 minutes, one rebound and less than one point per game. His season-high for playing time came on Jan. 5 when he logged 13 minutes in a 76-72 win over Charlotte.

Meanwhile, an athletic department spokesman confirmed that Greivis Vasquez will return for his junior season. See the post below for more details.

Posted by baltimoresun.com at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Many questioned Greivis Vasquez's decision-making as the point guard for the Maryland basketball team last season.

Apparently, Vasquez has made a smart choice when it comes to his future career -- an athletic department spokesman confirmed that Vasquez will be returning for his junior season in College Park.

Those familiar with the decision say that Vasquez thought it was not the right time to test the waters in the NBA pre-draft camps. I'm sure some of it had to do with the competition he would face from others coming out, but the fact that Vasquez listened to those who told him he wasn't ready shows some maturity that many thought he lacked.

Some Maryland fans might be happy with the fact that Vasquez will be driving them crazy again next winter, as you know he will with his high-risk, high-reward (sometimes) game.

Though Vasquez wants to prove he's a point guard, it's probably best if coach Gary Williams can find someone to share the responsibilities -- including on the defensive end -- that seemed to fall on Vasquez's shoulders last season.

Do you think it's a good move by Vasquez?

Do you think it's good for the Terps?

Posted by Don Markus at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (26)
                    

For those anxiously awaiting Greivis Vasquez's decision whether or not to apply for the NBA draft, I talked briefly last night with his former coach at Montrose Christian, Stu Vetter. The two will sit down today to help Vasquez come to a decision. If he applies for early eligibility, it will likely be without an agent so that he can return to College Park.

Vasquez-haters out there might be surprised to hear that the sophomore guard who led Maryland in scoring -- and the ACC in both assists and turnovers -- is held in pretty high regard by some NBA scouts who feel he might be better in the pros than in Gary Williams' system. That doesn't mean Vasquez is coming out. My guess is that he'll return for his junior year to raise his stock and then come out after next season.

Vasquez has until Monday to file papers with the NBA.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Don Markus at 1:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
                    

For those Maryland fans clamoring for a few morsels of opinion from spring football, here goes:

The quarterback situation is a mess.

Based on what I saw Saturday at Byrd Stadium, something is going on with Chris Turner and the coaching staff. Either Turner's not a good fit for new coordinator James Franklin's system, or Ralph Friedgen feels some loyalty to Jordan Steffy. How else do you explain Steffy playing for both teams and Turner being relegated to sending in plays during the second half for Jamarr Robinson, who apparently has about as much chance to get on the field as either you or I do this season. (OK, maybe not me, but you.)

Then there was the way Josh Portis was used. Either the Florida transfer still has no grasp of the offense or Friedgen and Franklin didn't want to show much to any potential spies infiltrating the Red and White game. For all the hype this kid brought to Gainesville before Tim Tebow arrived, and for all the hype Portis brought with him to College Park, this has the makings of one of the biggest busts in recent college football history.

The running backs might be better than what they showed.

For all the concern about replacing Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, Da'Rel Scott and Morgan Green put on a pretty nice show. Scott, who showed some glimpses of stardom last season between long stints in the training room, had a 75-yard touchdown run called back. Green showed the ability to get tough yards, albeit coming against his own teammates. If the veteran offensive line can stay healthy, Scott and Green could be a pretty good combination.

Special teams needs some work.

New special teams coach Danny Pearman probably didn't sleep too well last night. Returning placekicker Obi Egekeze had a particularly rough afternoon, getting a field goal blocked, missing an extra point and having another field goal make it through after hitting an upright. There was also a muffed return on a punt.

The Terps will start up again in early August in preparation for the season opener Aug. 30 against Delaware.

At least Joe Flacco won't be playing for the Blue Hens.

Posted by Don Markus at 1:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)