Randy Edsall and the Terrapins welcome head coach Danny Rocco (who happens to be one of Edsall's former colleagues) and the Richmond Spiders to College Park for their 2015 season opener on Saturday at Byrd Stadium.
Here are 4 things to know as you get ready for the game:
1) Perry Hills takes his place under center
It was an open quarterback competition in camp and redshirt junior Perry Hills won it outright. Now he starts his first game since he was thrown into the fire as a true freshman. He’s a different kind of underdog and there are some questions that will begin to be answered against Richmond.
“I think people never thought he had a chance to be the quarterback and it’s the great thing about sport," Edsall said. "It’s the great thing about life that don’t believe what other people say."
How much will read-option be a part of this offense with Hills under center, as opposed to the run-oriented C.J. Brown last season? Will there be a greater reliance on the running backs? Will tight ends occupy a larger part of the offense?
2) Unveiling the 4-3
Maryland was 77th in the nation against the run, measured by yards per carry by opponents, last season. For that reason, with new defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski comes a switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3.
Look for players like Yannick Ngakoue and Jesse Aniebonam to have their hands in the dirt more now, with the hope that they can use their athleticism to rush the passer and stuff the run.
"One week you're against the power run game the next week you're going to be in spread," Dudzinski said. "There's always going to be tweaks and things you have to do. Right now we've got some young guys who are still learning to play some good fundamental techniques."
Read more below on the biggest threats to that defense on Saturday.
MORE TERPS: CAPTAINS, UNIFORMS, MORE VS. RICHMOND
3) Changes to Richmond’s offense
Last season, Richmond routinely gained over 400 yards and worked often out of the spread. During a radio appearance this week, Maryland head coach Randy Edsall said he expects more dropback looks under new offensive coordinator Charlie Fisher.
Richmond sophomore quarterback Kyle Lauletta begins his first season under center, aided by talent at the skill positions, including running backs Seth Fisher (who is a large man) and Jacobi Green, as well as wide receivers Reggie Diggs and Brian Brown.
"Their guys that have really great length, they have athleticism and they have speed," Dudzinski said. "Hopefully with Sean [Davis] at corner he can help us because he's got great length and hopefully he'll play physical there. Then Will [Likely] has to step up and play long."
4) A crucial stretch
It seems odd and premature to call the first three games of the season a crucial stretch, but it is for Maryland. Starting out the season with three home games -- all of which are winnable non-conference matchups -- will help to dictate whether or not this team ends up eligible for a bowl.
If they can come out 3-0, then a series of tough toss-up games are on the horizon that will ultimately determine how this season turns out (at West Virginia, vs. Michigan, vs. Penn State).
Edsall is a "one game at a time" kind of coach, so he didn't acknowledge much more than that on Tuesday.
