New Terrapin special teams/tight ends coach Charles Bankins has worked at Terp summer football camps since 2000. The Maryland native replaced current Terp offensive coordinator James Franklin as wide receivers coach at James Madison University in 1998. So unlike new defensive coordinator Don Brown, the former Massachusetts head coach who met coach Ralph Friedgen during the interview process, Bankins had plenty of Terp ties.

Bankins, who initially talked to Franklin about the special teams opening at the American Football Coaches Association Convention in January, came to College Park to interview on Friday. By Sunday, the former Richmond assistant had a job offer.

Terrapin Trail reached Bankins earlier today by phone from his new office in the Gossett Team House.

Terrapin Trail- You’re going to be the third guy they’ve had in for this position in three years. What do you think you can bring to this position?
Charles Bankins- I’ve known [Ray Rychleski, Terp special teams coach from 2001-2007,] for a while, and I’d followed what he’d done. He did a lot of great things here. You know, coach [Danny] Pearman was only here for one year. I just think I bring a lot of enthusiasm, and I’m going to bring some of the pro schemes we used at the St. Louis Rams [in 2005]. I’m going to try to implement some of those things. Most places I’ve been we’ve been pretty good as a return team. And I want to still follow in coach [Rychleski’s] footsteps in not giving up any blocked punts.

TT- Is that streak, [no blocked punts since 1999], something you’re going to take great pride in to try to keep that legacy going?
CB- No doubt. The foundation’s been set. Right now I’m the torch bearer. I’ve just got to keep it rolling.

TT- Now you’re going to lose the kicker [Obi Egekeze], but you’re returning an All-ACC punter [Travis Baltz] and a guy who set the conference record for return yards [wide receiver Torrey Smith]. The cupboard is certainly not bare. What excites you about the special teams unit here?
CB- I’m always excited about special teams. It takes special players to play special teams, and we’ve got a lot of special players here. We’ve always had the next man up mentality. No matter who is here, we’re going to expect people to ‘Fear the Turtle’ when it comes to special teams.

TT- I know you’re a Maryland native. Was coming home something that interested you?
CB- No doubt. My parents live in southern Maryland, and my brother is in D.C. 15 minutes from campus. In fact, during the camps, I would stay with him. To be able to be around and near your former coaches, guys you played against, and your parents, that’s a special feeling.

TT- At Richmond, you got to work with Tim Hightower. To be able to see what he did this season and especially in the playoffs, how special was that for you?
CB- He’s the third kid I’ve coached who had the chance to be in the Super Bowl. I kinda felt bad he didn’t get to win one, but it’s always special to see the guys that you coach be able to come in as a rookie and perform at that level. You kinda feel like you had something to do with that…

TT- Coming in at the middle of February, spring practice is coming up. What do you want to see out there?
CB- First and foremost, I’m a fundamentalist. We’re going to make sure we’re sound on all the fundamentals. Once you get the fundamentals down, you can plug them into any scheme. If you have fundamentals, you can play fast and get after people. We’re going to be fast, physical and furious. We’re going to get after people around here.

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