The Next Level: LaQuan Williams shines for Terps
Maryland wide receiver LaQuan Williams (Poly) headlines the Week 9 edition of The Next Level after an all-around performance in the Terrapins’ 62-14 victory over Wake Forest.
Williams made the most of limited action on offense, hauling in a 24-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter for his only catch of the day. On special teams, Williams made three tackles and blocked a first-quarter punt that led to a Maryland field goal. Williams’ efforts on both sides of the ball makes him this week’s Next Level Player of the Week.
A crew of other Maryland natives also made plays in Saturday’s Terps-Demon Deacons matchup, including sophomore defensive lineman A.J. Francis (Severn native, Gonzaga graduate), who registered four tackles and 1 ½ sacks for a total of 13 yards. Junior linebacker Nick Peterson (Broadneck) assisted on four tackles and blocked a second-quarter punt that led to Maryland’s third touchdown of the afternoon. Freshman linebacker David Mackall (Edmondson) recorded three tackles, while defensive backs Eric Franklin (Archbishop Curley) and Matt Robinson (Atholton) both had one stop.
For Wake Forest, redshirt freshman Michael Campanaro (River Hill) had three receptions for 38 yards and returned three kickoffs 54 yards. Freshman cornerback Kevin Johnson (River Hill) collected three tackles and redshirt sophomore linebacker Joey Ehrmann (Gilman) assisted on two.
• Last week’s Next Level Player of the Week, North Carolina junior linebacker Zach Brown (Wilde Lake), had another standout defensive performance for the Tar Heels. Brown registered five tackles and intercepted his second pass of the season on the final play of the game to seal a 21-17 victory over William & Mary.
• Senior tailback Raynard Horne (Overlea) rushed for 29 yards on two carries in Virginia’s 24-19 win over Miami. Junior defensive tackle Nick Jenkins (Westminster native, Good Counsel grad) recorded three tackles for the Cavaliers.
• In Big East action, Glen Burnie native Ryan Clarke (DeMatha) had a Friday to forget in West Virginia’s 16-13 overtime loss at Connecticut. Clark fumbled twice while running for 42 yards on 10 carries, including a costly overtime drop that was recovered by the Huskies and allowed kicker Dave Teggart to boot the game-winning field goal. Sophomore wide receiver Tavon Austin (Dunbar) caught five passes for 41 yards and rushed for 13 yards on his only carry. Mountaineers sophomore Terence Garvin (Loyola) registered seven tackles, forced one fumble and broke up one pass.
Redshirt sophomore safety Jerome Junior (Archbishop Curley) made seven tackles, including one for a 4-yard loss for the Huskies, while freshman Leon Kinnard (Loyola) returned one kickoff 24 yards.
• Syracuse sophomore wide receiver Alec Lemon (Arundel) had two receptions for 27 yards and suffered a 2-yard loss on his only carry in a 31-7 victory over Cincinnati.
• East Carolina freshman defensive lineman Derrel Johnson (Cardinal Gibbons) assisted on one tackle in the Pirates’ 49-35 loss at Central Florida.
• Baltimore native Matt Brown – a sophomore from the Peddie School (N.J.) – rushed for 69 yards on 13 carries in Temple’s 30-0 drubbing of Akron. Brown averaged 5.3 yards per carry and recorded one reception for three yards.
• Redshirt freshman defensive back Leron Eaddy (River Hill) make one tackle in Central Michigan’s 17-14 loss to Bowling Green.
• In Kansas State’s 24-14 loss to Oklahoma State, Wildcats senior offensive lineman Kenneth Mayfield (Randallstown) recovered a fumble by running back Daniel Thomas during his team’s first drive of the game.
• Penn State junior Jon Rohrbaugh (Howard) registered two tackles in the Nittany Lions’ 41-31 victory over Michigan.
• Navy senior linebacker Jerry Hauburger (Eastern Tech) made six tackles, including four solo stops in a 34-31 loss to Duke.
• Junior defensive end Wayne Dorsey (Southwestern) had two tackles, including one for a 13-yard loss in Mississippi’s 51-31 loss to Auburn.
• Shaky Smithson (Douglass) was quiet by his standards in Utah’s 28-23 victory over Air Force. The senior wide receiver returned one kickoff for eight yards and made two catches for 20 yards.
• New Mexico defensive back Emmanuel McPhearson (Columbia native, DeMatha graduate) recorded two tackles, including one for a loss in the Aggies’ 56-42 loss at Nevada. McPhearson also returned three kickoffs for a total of 67 yards.
• San Jose State junior cornerback Brandon Driver (Parkville) made nine tackles and forced a fumble in the Spartans’ 29-27 loss at New Mexico State.
• Remember, this list only focuses on natives of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County who appear on NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters. Feel free to post updates in the comment section below on any other player from the state of Maryland.
Mike Miller is an intern at The Baltimore Sun. He will be providing updates each Monday for Recruiting Report on former local high school football standouts who now play for FBS schools. Mike can be reached at xcxmmiller@baltsun.com.
Photo: LaQuan Williams (3) celebrates his touchdown reception with Torrey Smith on Saturday / AP photo by Nick Wass / Oct. 30, 2010
