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Terps football begins spring practice

Posted at 8:33 PM, Mar 05, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-05 23:34:38-05

The offseason is a long one after a you go 4-8. For the Terps the offseason is finally over. 

“Getting back to football after long winter workouts, it always feels good,” said Terps defensive lineman Mbi Tanyi. “We’re just happy to be back on the field, back with our teammates and stuff like that.”

Maryland kicked off spring practices on Monday. Head Coach DJ Durkin, now in his third year as head coach, has a new offensive coordinator. Matt Canada comes over from LSU. He replaces Walt Bell, who left for Florida State.

“He’s very talented in being able to adapt what he does to the personnel, what the strengths are with our team. I think it’s exactly what we need,” said Durkin about Canada.

“You think of the strength of our offensive line, I think that’s where it always starts is up front. I think we’ve got a lot of depth at running back,” added Canada as he talked about the team he inherits.

Senior running back Ty Johnson is loving what his new coach brings to the table.

“The blocking schemes with the offensive line, the gaps have been the biggest I’ve ever seen while being here at Maryland,” said Johnson. “I just think it’s going to be a real effective offense and we’re going to make big plays.”

Before September rolls around the Terps need to get their quarterbacks healthy. Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill are both sitting out spring practices. Each are recovering from ACL surgery.  

They also want to develop their receiving corps. Gone is D.J. Moore, who is off to the National Football League.  The Terps need to find a new number one.

“I don’t know, how do you replace a guy like that? I don’t know,” said Durkin. “Guys are going to have the opportunity to go do that. You take a guy like Taivon Jacobs, who I think just got better and better every week as the season went on, obviously he wants to lay claim to being that guy. He’ll have every right to do that.”

Monday was the first of 15 spring practices. The last one is the annual red-white spring game on April 14. 

Follow Shawn Stepner on Twitter @StepnerWMAR and Facebook