COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- With a Rimington Trophy candidate at center, a key senior tackle returning and an emerging star at the other tackle position, Maryland’s offensive line is looking to thrive in offensive coordinator Walt Bell’s up-tempo scheme this season.

Sophomores Brendan Moore (center) and Damian Prince (tackle) are a year older and more mature, and upperclassmen like seniors Michael Dunn (tackle) and Maurice Shelton (guard) as well as junior JaJuan Dulaney give the Terps a great core of leadership on the offensive front.

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While Maryland has several other young, talented offensive linemen waiting in the wings, Prince, who was a local five-star recruit in 2014, looks to be primed for a breakout year and could bring the Terps’ blocking to greater heights.

“I’m really impressed so far,” Dunn said when asked at fall camp Aug. 12 to give his thoughts on how Maryland’s offensive line is coming along. “We still have a lot of work to do. It’s only day five [of fall camp], we have however many days until Howard, but I’m happy with our progress and we just keep getting better.”

Maryland’s offensive line isn’t a group that is looking to replace many starters from last season, but it is a unit that is learning to play in an entirely new offense that is perhaps hardest for the biggest players on the Terps roster to adapt to.

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Bell’s offense requires its blockers to get up field and get set quickly after plays. Maryland’s offensive front has taken on the challenge and has embraced the change of pace.

“I’m really excited about Coach Bell’s offense and every single thing that he brings to our offense,” said Moore, who was selected to the 2016 Rimington Trophy Watch List in July. “Our fast tempo is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a fast-tempo offense. Us bigger guys in the beginning had a harder time getting used to it, but we’re getting used to it in the heat, just running at a high-tempo at all times. I love how we’re going. Every single day we’re getting better. Practicing in this heat has gotten us in really good shape for when the season comes.”

Practicing in the heat has helped Maryland’s offensive get in better shape, but the Terps blockers mostly credit Maryland’s strength and conditioning coach, Rick Court, for their collective physical transformation since last season.

“I think Coach Court is the best strength and conditioning coach to walk the Earth,” Moore said. “He’s amazing. He’s always juiced up.” We’re gaining strength. We’re gaining speed, we’re staying the same weight and we’re going to be faster.”

Because of the rigorous offseason training the Terps offensive line has done, many of the blockers, including Dunn and Moore, have said they feel like they’re in the best shape of their life.

“The amount of work we’ve done since January has been incredible and I’m feeling great,” Dunn said. “I don’t know how I would feel last year after going through these practices but I feel good. I still feel like I could go again almost. How fast we’re going right now, I don’t know if we would have been able to do this last year.”

So far in fall camp, it has been clear to Maryland’s offensive line that Court’s training has also been working for the defensive front. Moore said the Terps are in better shape on both sides of the trenches and that it has made for better competition in practice.

“We’ve obviously lost some people [on the defensive line] but they’ve just made ridiculous strides,” Moore said. “They’re extremely strong and extremely fast thanks to Coach Court and they’re great to go against. I love going against great competition and that’s what they’re giving me.”

The overall culture change for Maryland football that the new coaching staff has brought to College Park has been well-received by the Terps offensive line, including the intense, physical nature of one of head coach D.J. Durkin’s practices.

“It’s kind of difficult to not be physical with how intense these coaches are,” Dunn said. “They just make you want to go hit somebody. So it’s really not a problem for me or any of my fellow offensive linemen to go out there and be as physical as we can.”