This is part of a series of 2009 Maryland football commitment Q&As leading up to Signing Day on Feb. 4. All answers are provided by the featured player. Click here for previous entries in the series.

Name: Nick Ferrara
Birthdate: April 24, 1991
Birthplace: Syosset, N.Y.
Hometown: Hicksville, N.Y.
Nicknames: Nicker the Kicker (“It wasn’t really by choice.”)
Height: 6’1
Weight: 195
Position: Kicker
High School: St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) High School
Senior statistics: 14 of 16 field-goal attempts (including a 47-yarder) and 46 of 48 extra points
Rankings: Rivals.com -- Two stars. Scout.com -- Two stars.
Bench max: 245
40-yard dash: 4.9
Other schools considered: Michigan, Tennessee, South Carolina, Rutgers, Syracuse, Georgia, LSU
Favorite NFL player: Adam Vinatieri (“That guy’s automatic.”)
Favorite NFL team: New York Jets (“It’s been rough.”)
Favorite all-time Terp: Nick Novak
Favorite music: “Billy Joel, Rascal Flatts, P. Diddy. Pretty much everything.”
Favorite book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Favorite movie: Billy Madison
Favorite TV show: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Favorite food: Chicken cutler with mashed potatoes
Favorite high school class: Western civilization
Favorite thing about College Park: “Pretty much the environment. Coming from a city atmosphere [in New York] and [College Park being] between D.C. and Baltimore [is a plus]. So I kind of get that feeling that I’m in the city.”
Other high school sports: None
Hobbies: Water sports, pickup basketball, watching movies
Intended major: Business marketing
Something that not many people know about you: “I don’t get rattled easy. My friends and family know that. From a football aspect, I stay laidback at all times. Nothing really gets to me. Another thing is that I’m very big into helping out kids with special needs. My cousin, he’s got autism and I really like helping out.”
Best football moment: “[It was the] championship game last year, down by four and a snap went over my head to the goal line. Our snapper snaps like 50 yards over my head, so I had to run back, juked out some guys and punted it for 60 yards to get us back in the game.”
Role model: “Probably my dad. He’s always teaching me how nothing ever comes easy and you always have to work for something in order to get it. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him.”
Why Maryland? “It’s like a family environment. My sister goes to Towson ... so I’m really close to my family. Also I just like how the coaches treated me when I got on campus. When you’re a kicker, you’re not exactly the top prospect on the list. But when I got to Maryland they made me feel like I was like [any other top recruit], so that was good. Also my recruiter, coach [Dave] Sollazzo, he’s one of the best guys I know. He’s awesome.”

• Click here for a recap of Ferrara's senior season.