Posts Tagged ‘Darrius Heyward-Bey’

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April 27th, 2009 | 11:26 am

The Waiting is the Hardest Part…

There was a late flurry of Terp action in yesterday’s NFL Draft.

After Darrius Heyward-Bey came off the board Saturday and Kevin Barnes was selected early yesterday, several Terps had some tense moments before earning phone calls from drafting teams.

It was more than eight hours into yesterday’s portion of the Draft before Moise Fokou (230th), Jaimie Thomas (236th) and Dan Gronkowski (255th) found out they were being taken with three of the final 26 picks.

Fokou said he didn’t want much to do with the early part of the Draft after hearing he’d probably go somewhere between the fourth and seventh rounds. But once he sat down in front of the TV during the fourth round, he had to wait a while before seeing his name flash across ESPN’s bottomline as the newest Philadelphia Eagle.

“It was long and it was gruesome,” Fokou said last night. “You get nervous. Once that seventh round comes around, you start thinking, ‘Oh my goodness. I’m not going to get drafted.’ But I’m so happy I got picked up by the Eagles.”

Gronkowski, who went to the Detroit Lions, was taken just one pick ahead of South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop, who as the final pick gets a pretty lavish ceremony in California for being “Mr. Irrelevant.”

Fokou said he knew what Gronkowski was going through as the Draft wound down but guessed that all his drafted teammates feel the same way as he does now that the Draft is done.

“I’m ready to go back to practicing and strap those cleats on to play football again,” Fokou said. “This has been a long process, and I’m glad it’s over.”

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March 25th, 2009 | 10:48 am

Flacco whacko for DHB?

In case you didn’t peer around the construction surrounding Byrd Stadium on Monday and catch a glimpse of it, one of the strongest armed quarterbacks in the NFL was whipping passes to one of the fastest wide receivers in college football.

Soon they could be teammates.

According to this report on the Ravens’ team site, second-year quarterback Joe Flacco made the trek down I-95 on Monday to privately work out Darrius Heyward-Bey for team personnel, including director of player personnel Eric DeCosta.

The Ravens, who hold the 26th pick in April’s Draft, may be in the market for a bigger, explosive receiver like the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Heyward-Bey as their top two receivers from last season (Pro Bowl-alternate Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton) are both 5-foot-10.

It remains to be seen if Heyward-Bey, whose 4.3 40-yard dash was the fastest at the NFL Combine, will be around when the Ravens select, but by bringing their stud quarterback of the future down to College Park, it shows a major committment to being as familiar as possible with the local talent.

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February 23rd, 2009 | 01:31 pm

Terps at the Combine

There’s still two days left at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but Darrius Heyward-Bey has already made his presence felt. The 6-foot-2 wide receiver impressed scouts yesterday by posting the top 40-yard dash time among wide outs (4.30 seconds). Heyward-Bey may have cemented his status as a first-round pick by leading a group of pass catchers that featured four players who topped the 4.4 second mark. Heyward-Bey’s run currently stands as the top 40-yard dash so far, but that could change when defensive backs run tomorrow.

Heyward-Bey also fared well in other aspects of the workout. According to www.nfl.com, Heyward-Bey finished ninth among receivers by bench pressing 225 pounds 16 times. More predictably, the former high school track star also finished in the top five at his position in vertical jump (38.5 inches) and broad jump (10-feet-6-inches).

The other Terp standing out at his position is tight end Dan Gronkowski. Gronkowski, who dropped weight before this season to improve his speed, ran his 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds. He also finished third among tight ends with 26 reps in the bench press. He also showed his athleticism by finishing at least tied for second in the 20- and 60-yard shuttles, 3-cone drill and broad jump. Gronkowski struggled with drops towards the end of his senior season, but his performance in Indianapolis should strengthen his case to get a look in the League.

I haven’t been able to find a lot of information about the performances of the other four Terps at the combine (cornerback Kevin Barnes, guard Jamie Thomas, center Edwin Williams and linebacker Moise Fokou). But Thomas, weighing in at 323 pounds, probably helped his stock by running his 40-yard dash in 5.22 seconds.

Here is www.nfl.com’s list of all the top performances at the combine.

UPDATE: Moise Fokou and the linebackers did most of their testing on Monday. While the big news was injuries to highly-rated USC linebacker Rey Maualuga, Fokou put up some impressive workout numbers. Fokou, who once challenged former Terp tight end Vernon Davis to a race and lost by a hair, needed to showcase his speed and athleticism to impress scouts. His 40-yard dash time (4.76 seconds) ranked tenth among linebackers. He also tied for third in broad jump and finished behind only Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry in the 60-yard shuttle.

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February 12th, 2009 | 08:29 pm

The Road to the Combine

The Terp football team just graduated a Friedgen-era high 30 seniors. Naturally, several of them have aspirations of continuing their career at the next level.

To prepare, center Edwin Williams, guard Jaimie Thomas, defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre and linebacker Moise Fokou are training in the Atlanta-area with Chip Smith at Competitive Edge Sports, which has trained NFL Pro Bowlers such as Albert Haynesworth and Asante Samuel, according to its website.

Next week, Williams, Thomas and Fokou will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. (They’ll be joined by former teammates Darrius Heyward-Bey, Kevin Barnes and Dan Gronkowski.)

I caught up with Williams, projected as the draft’s seventh-best center by www.draftcountdown.com, to get a few thoughts as he prepares.

Williams, who went to Atlanta from the East-West Shrine Game where he was on the victorious East squad, said he has been working out about four hours per day. That includes two hours of running and two hours of lifting, in addition to one pool workout a week.

“I’m just trying to get myself as light as I possibly can for athleticism, so I can just get at it,” Williams said. “That’s what the combine is. As far as the drills go, it’s all running around, fast-twitch muscles and flexibility. I’m just trying to get on top of my game. It’s going to be interesting, though.”

Williams has been clocked at 5.40 in the 40. He’s hoping to best 5.30 in Indianapolis.

That will be the hard part for the always affable Williams, who was consistently the star of the team’s Tuesday press lunches. Williams said he talked to some NFL personnel at the Shrine game and has been getting coaching at Competitive Edge Sports, but he’s confident in his interviewing skills.

“It’s really being myself,” Williams said. “It’s gotten me this far. I don’t see why I should change now.”

It’s all pretty exciting for Williams, who admitted he was a bit star struck when he arrived at the training facility. He’s currently living with players from Ohio University and Wisconsin, and training alongside players like former Oklahoma and Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar and former Oklahoma wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias.

“People aren’t out there being cut-throat,” Willaims said. “Everyone’s helping each other out, being positive. Everyone knows that really it’s out of our hands right now.”

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January 26th, 2009 | 12:07 pm

Terps hand out hardware

According to an official release that came into my inbox, the Terp football team “officially capped the 2008 football season” at its annual awards banquet Sunday.

There were a few interesting things to glean from this usual mix of on and off field awards, although there were few surprises. (Who but fifth-year quarterback Jordan Steffy could have taken home the C.P. “Lefty” McIntosh Public Service Award?)

Darrius Heyward-Bey took home offensive MVP honors for the second striaght season. It’s a little surprising considering Heyward-Bey’s numbers were down a little in his last season as a Terp, and he missed the season finale at Boston College. Da’Rel Scott, who was named most improved offensive player, more than likely could’ve taken this honor if he didn’t miss significant portions of three games with injuries and a benching.

Linebacker Alex Wujciak was the defensive MVP, which was about right as he led the team in tackles. Few would’ve predicted Wujciak would take the title as leading tackler on a team that returned a veteran linebacking corps, but he was the most consistent part of an inconsistent defense. Moise Fokou was the only player in the ACC with at least 75 tackles and five sacks and could’ve made a strong case here as well.

On a team that featured the most seniors in the Friedgen-era (30), senior defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre took home the Ray Krouse Award for Most Valuable Player. Navarre made the move from end to tackle this season to help the team and had a fine season despite being a little undersized. Center Edwin Williams, a 3-year starter, received the Terrapin Club Award, given to the senior for “the greatest contribution to football.” On this team, that’s an award Williams can feel good about.

A final interesting (and potentially comforting) note is redshirt freshman quarterback Jamarr Robinson was named the offensive scout team player of the year. Robinson, who spent time as the No. 2 QB last season, heads into next season as the back-up for Chris Turner with Steffy’s graduation and Josh Portis’ transfer.

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January 14th, 2009 | 11:27 am

2008 Season Review Top 10

As the only member of The Diamondback staff to see every minute of Terp football in person this season, I thought it would be appropriate to compile a list of the top 10 most memorable plays, moments and performances from the 2008 Terp football season. Here are the bottom five. Check back tomorrow for the rest. Feel free to disagree.

10. Da’Rel Scott’s 197 yards against Delaware on Aug. 30: In order for Scott to become the first Terp since 2002 to rush for more than 1,000 yards, he needed this coming out party in the season-opener. The Terps had more trouble than expected with the Blue Hens, but Scott’s 26 carries and tough running were major bright spots.

9. Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 63-yard TD catch against Va. Tech on Nov. 6: Down 20-3 in the third quarter, it looked like the Terps were on their way to another embarassing defeat in Blacksburg, Va. But Heyward-Bey took a screen pass from Chris Turner and quickly changed that with the last of his three 60+-yard gains this season. The Terps later had a chance to pull even with the Hokies but couldn’t complete the comeback.

8. Morgan Green’s two first half touchdowns against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 20: Green has had a tough go of it during his time in College Park trying to escape the specter of Steve Slaton. But with Scott shelved for the final non-conference game with a shoulder injury, Green got a chance to shine. Sure, Green averaged just 3.3 yards per rush against the MAC bottom-dwellers and didn’t get another carry until the bowl game, but his two first half TD’s were definite feel-good moments in a 51-24 win.

7. Scott and Heyward-Bey’s long touchdowns against MTSU on Sept. 6: Many Terp fans would rather forget about the early-season trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn., but the final score would have been even more lopsided without a pair of huge plays. After the Blue Raiders marched down for an opening score, Scott took the Terps’ second play from scrimmage for a 63-yard touchdown. Heyward-Bey kept the Terps close, taking a screen pass for an 80-yard score in the 24-14 loss.

6. Chris Turner’s near flawless performance to blow out Wake Forest on Oct. 18: The Terps put together a complete game in a 26-0 dismantling of the Deamon Deacons, but Turner’s performance stood out. He led the Terps’ fifth straight win against a ranked opponent by completing 28-of-41 passes for 321 yards and a score. He completed 11 of those passes to Heyward-Bey and overcame three fumbles by Scott. Later in the season Turner had games with more yards, attempts and touchdowns, but this game can serve as a blue print for Turner at his best.

Check back for the rest of the list tomorrow…

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January 7th, 2009 | 06:51 pm

Heyward-Bey Will Enter Draft

Terp wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey will bypass his senior season to enter the NFL Draft, he announced today.

Heyward-Bey, an honorable mention All-ACC selection this season, declined to make his possible jump to the NFL a story throughout the season despite speculation that this would be his last in a Terp uniform. But with the January 15 decision deadline looming, Heyward-Bey announced his decision in an afternoon conference call.

“After talking to my mom and Coach [Ralph] Friedgen, we kind of came together and decided that was the best decision for me to make right now in my life,” Heyward-Bey said.

The speedster finished the season with 42 receptions for 609 yards and five receiving touchdowns, all team highs. He also rushed 15 times for 202 yards and a score.

Heyward-Bey’s junior season was marked with the inconsistency that plagued the Terps throughout the season. He found the endzone in the Terps’ first four games before scoring just two touchdowns in the last nine games, including two appearances in which he failed to record a catch. The fourth-year player missed the team’s season-ending loss at Boston College with a calf injury before returning for the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 30.

However, his combination of speed and size should make him an attractive draft candidate despite lacking the numbers of some underclassmen who have already declared, such as North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks and Rutgers’ Kenny Britt.

Heyward-Bey said his decision was not based on the choices of other players across the nation. He declined to get into the specific feedback coach Ralph Friedgen had gathered since the Terps’ season wrapped up with a Humanitarian Bowl win. But he said he was satisfied with what he heard.

“If it wasn’t positive, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation right now,” said Heyward-Bey, who will not be enrolled in classes this semester as he prepares for the Draft but hopes to get his diploma in the near future.

Friedgen, whose team must replace its top two wide receivers in Heyward-Bey and graduating senior Danny Oquendo going into next season, said the decision was not taken lightly by the receiver he views as having the most potential of any he has coached.

“[Heyward-Bey]’s done it the right way,” Friedgen said. “And obviously, I feel like it’s the best thing for him. He has my blessing.”

January 15 is the deadline for underclassmen to enter their names for the April 25-26 draft. He is the second Terp in as many seasons to forego his senior season. Linebacker Erin Henderson declared after last season and was not selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.

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November 29th, 2008 | 04:39 pm

INJURY REPORT

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey is out for today’s game at Boston College.

Heyward-Bey was listed as questionable on the injury report and is on the Terp sideline in his jersey and sweat pants.

The Terps’ leading receiver was originally hurt last week against Florida State but his injury was not addressed by coach Ralph Friedgen before his name appeared on the injury report on Thursday.

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November 27th, 2008 | 09:07 pm

Football Injury Report

Figured I’d take a break from the turkey-eating and Terp-basketball watching to note this development that just popped into my e-mail in-box.

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (leg) and linebacker Trey Covington (back) are both listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at Boston College. Neither has had an injury history this season, but it will be interesting to see their capabilities Saturday.

It’s been an easy week for the Terrapin football team on the media side with no availability the last two days, and the Terps get the benefit of adding a pair of key players to the injury report this week without having to address it before game time.

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October 16th, 2008 | 01:37 pm

The Talented Mr. Smith

One of the most memorable moments from last season’s Terp loss at Wake Forest was Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith jumping in front of a Jordan Steffy pass at the goal line and taking it 100 yards for a touchdown.

Basically, it was a 14-point swing for the Demon Deacons and spurred them to the big second half comeback and a 38-31 overtime win.

Smith is back this season along with the rest of the Wake Forest secondary from last season, and they have performed very well so far. The Demon Deacons rank sixth in the nation (second in the ACC) in passing defense, giving up an average of just 151 yards per game through the air. They also lead the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Much of that success can be credited to Smith, who led the nation with eight interceptions last year and has three so far this season.

Coach Ralph Friedgen offered quarterback Chris Turner this advice for attacking the Demon Deacons.

“You better not be late with your throw,” Friedgen saiad. “And you better be careful when you’re throwing to [Smith's] side.”

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who caught one pass for 12 yards and had a 54-yard run in last season’s meeting, is excited for the opportunity to go head-to-head with one of the nation’s top cornerbacks.

“He’s a good player,” said Heyward-Bey, who has not recorded a catch in ACC play this season. “The last two years, we’ve had some interesting matches out there. It’s going to be fun going against the whole secondary. They’re pretty good.”

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