8/26/2016 football Edit

True freshman Qwuantrezz Knight in position battle at safety

Pat Donohue

Staff Writer

With Maryland’s season opener about a week away, Terps head coach D.J. Durkin spoke to reporters Aug. 26 via a teleconference and addressed several pertinent topics, including the ongoing competition for the two starting safety spots.

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“At safety, we’re still battling,” Durkin said.

Throughout fall camp, senior Denzel Conyers, junior Josh Woods and sophomore Darnell Savage Jr. have rotated between both safety positions and have all made a good case for significant playing time this season.

Conyers left practice early last week and was later diagnosed with a concussion. Durkin said the 6-foot-3, 212-pound defensive back has returned to practice and will continue to fight for a starting role with Woods and Savage. But now there appears to be another safety that has also caught the coach’s attention in practice.

“Today’s practice was not a contact practice and [Conyers] was able to work with the team,” Durkin said. “So I expect him to be here moving forward with us and full-go ready to do everything. Denzel is in competition with Josh Woods as well as Darnell Savage for the starting spots. And then Qwuantrezz Knight, who’s a true freshman, is actually doing really well and I anticipate him getting in the mix and playing, as well.”

But Knight isn't the only Terps true freshman expected to see the field in 2016. Durkin is not afraid to play his underclassmen and has seen several first-year players that could help the team this season.

“There’s going to be quite a few,” Durkin said. “To be honest with you, there’s going to be a lot of those guys. If there’s any guys that we feel can help us go win at a high level, we’re going to play them.

“And some of those guys might be involved on special teams early and will hopefully develop and be able to do more offense or defense. You’ll see several of those freshmen out there. We feel really strongly about the class and they’ve brought good competition to the team and I don’t see a reason to redshirt a guy just to redshirt him. If a guy can help us win, then we’re definitely going to play him.”

Besides Knight, former Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic standouts D.J. Turner, Tino Ellis and Lorenzo Harrison have been mentioned by Terps coaches throughout fall camp as true freshmen who could have an early impact, along with former Lanham (Md.) DuVal linebacker Antoine Brooks and Aussie punter Wade Lees.