PRESS RELEASE

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Head coach Randy Edsall and the University of Maryland football team announced its 2015 recruiting class Wednesday, featuring some of the top young talent from the local and national landscape.

Showcasing nine student-athletes from the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia metropolitan area, Edsall declared the signing of 18 student-athletes, including 17 who signed national letters-of-intent on Wednesday. One signee, Oseh Saine, enrolled at the university for the spring semester.

“I’m thrilled about this group – it’s a great group,” head coach Randy Edsall said. “When you get a chance to meet this group in the summer I think you’ll be very impressed with them and then when you see them on the field I think you’ll be impressed. It’s a great group and we’re happy that they are a part of our family. These kids are great because they’re so humble and they’ve been working and want to continue to work. It’s a great group and one that’s going to be very successful here at the University of Maryland in every phase.”

Edsall and the coaching staff added nine offensive players and eight defensive players, in addition to one specialist. Focused on building from the inside out, the Terps signed eight linemen – three of which are four-star student-athletes.

Included among those linemen are signees Adam McLean, the consensus top-ranked defensive lineman in Maryland, and Quarvez Boulware the top-ranked offensive lineman in Washington, D.C. according to Rivals.

A consensus four-star recruit, McLean garnered numerous accolades as a star defensive lineman at nearby Quince Orchard HS. Ranked the 12th best defensive tackle in the nation according to Rivals, he was a two-time All-Met selection by the Washington Post and earned Under Armour All-American status.

McLean is joined by fellow defensive lineman, Keiron Howard, a native of Fort Washington, Md. The Potomac High School product and Washington Post All-Met honoree racked up 52 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a senior.

Boulware, ranked the third overall player in Washington, D.C., received Washington Post All-Met honors after a standout career on the offensive line at Friendship Collegiate Academy. Donahue helped guide Linganore High School to a 23-3 record over the last two seasons, and earned all-state honors en route to being selected for the Big 33 Game.

Also joining Boulware on the offensive line are highly touted local signees E.J. Donahue and Ellis McKennie, who both garnered all-state honors during their high school careers.

Edsall also added inside linebacker Isaiah Davis, brother of defensive back Sean Davis, to complete his third set of brothers on the current roster (Brandon Ross/Jarrett Ross; Levern Jacobs/Taivon Jacobs). Davis starred on both sides of the ball at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, garnering first team all-state honors.

Maryland further bolstered its offensive skill positions with the signing of wide receivers D.J. Moore and Jahrvis Davenport, in addition to running back Ty Johnson. A Philadelphia, Pa., native, Moore had a phenomenal senior season, totaling 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns on just 35 receptions, while Davenport is a three-star recruit from Tampa, Fla.

Johnson had a sensational career at Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, Md., totaling 4,851 all-purpose yards, 65 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The 5-10 running back carried the ball for 3,633 rushing yards (14.7 yards/carry) and 43 touchdowns throughout his career.

Bios of each signee are attached.

2015 Maryland Recruiting Class

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.-Elig. Hometown (High School/Previous School)

Quarvez Boulware OL 6-2 280 Fr.-HS Washington, D.C. (Friendship Collegiate Acad.)

Jahrvis Davenport WR 5-10 185 Fr.-HS Tampa, Fla. (Robinson HS)

Isaiah Davis ILB 6-1 210 Fr.-HS Temple Hills, Md. (St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes)

EJ Donahue OL 6-5 320 Fr.-HS Monrovia, Md. (Linganore HS)

Keiron Howard DL 6-4 280 Fr.-HS Fort Washington, Md. (Potomac HS)

Ty Johnson RB 5-10 173 Fr.-HS Cumberland, Md. (Fort Hill HS)

Gus Little ILB 6-3 225 Fr.-HS Fredericksburg, Va. (Massaponax HS)

Will McClain OL 6-5 290 Fr.-HS Middletown, Md. (Middletown HS)

Ellis McKennie OL 6-3 305 Fr.-HS McSherrystown, Pa. (McDonogh School)

Adam McLean DL 6-3 280 Fr.-HS Gaithersburg, Md. (Quince Orchard HS)

D.J. Moore WR 5-10 185 Fr.-HS Philadelphia, Pa. (Imhotep Charter HS)

Nicholas Rubinowicz P 6-3 210 Fr.-HS Wellington, Fla. (American Heritage School)

Oseh Saine DL 6-4 270 Fr.-HS Worcester, Mass. (Worcester Academy/Lincoln)

Darnell Savage, Jr. DB 5-11 160 Fr.-HS Newark, Del. (Caravel Academy)

Gage Shaffer QB 6-7 205 Fr.-HS Short Gap, W. Va. (Frankfort HS)

Mbi Tanyi OLB 6-2 260 Fr.-HS Houston, Texas (George Bush HS)

Brett Zanotto ILB 6-0 210 Fr.-HS Murrysville, Pa. (Franklin Regional HS)

Mason Zimmerman OL 6-5 285 Fr.-HS Whitehouse, Ohio (Anthony Wayne HS)

Pronunciation Guide

Quarvez Boulware – Kwa-vez

Jahrvis Davenport – Jarvis

Keiron Howard – KEY-ron

Nicholas Rubinowicz – Roo-bin-oh-witz

Oseh Saine – O-say sane

Mbi Tanyi – EM-bee TIE-yan

Brett Zanotto – Zuh-NOT-o

2015 University of Maryland Football Signee Bios

Quarvez Boulware

Offensive Lineman

Fr.-HS, 6-2, 280

Washington, D.C. (Friendship Collegiate Academy)

At Friendship Collegiate Academy: A consensus four-star recruit…named the third best player and top offensive lineman in Washington D.C. by Rivals, ESPN and 247 Sports…also ranked as the 15th-best guard in the nation by Rivals…received Washington Post All-Met second team honors…after starting as a tackle, moved to guard for his senior season…coached by Mike Hunter.

Jahrvis Davenport

Wide Receiver

Fr.-HS, 5-10, 185

Tampa, Fla. (Robinson HS)

At Robinson High School: Starred at Robinson High School…two-time first-team All-Western Conference selection…a consensus three star prospect…as a senior, caught 24 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns while only playing in eight games…during his junior campaign, totaled 39 receptions 667 yards and eight touchdowns…coached by Shawn Taylor.

Isaiah Davis

Inside Linebacker

Fr.-HS, 6-1, 210

Temple Hills, Md. (St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School)

At St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School: First team all-state and team captain as senior…named All-IAC as junior and senior…rushed for 1,206 yards and 11 touchdowns during 2014 season as senior…also wrestled at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, placing seventh at states as a junior…brother of current Maryland football player Sean Davis…coached by Bernard Joseph.

EJ Donahue

Offensive Line

Fr.-HS, 6-5, 320

Monrovia, Md. (Linganore HS)

At Linganore High School: Earned first team All-State and garnered All-Frederick County accolades while helping lead Linganore to a 23-3 combined record as a junior and senior…selected to represent Maryland in the Big 33 Game…ranked as a four-star recruit by Scout and a member of the Scout 300…also ranked as the second-best offensive tackle in the state of Maryland by Scout… an honor roll student…also a member of Linganore’s lacrosse and wrestling teams…coached by Rich Connor.

Keiron Howard

Defensive Line

Fr.-HS, 6-4, 280

Fort Washington, Md. (Potomac HS)

At Potomac High School: Lettered all four years at Potomac High School…racked up 52 tackles, 7.5 sacks and one interception in senior season…received Washington Post All-Met second team honors…named first team All-State… received a nomination for the 2014 US Army All-American game…selected to play in the Crab Bowl…played in the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American game…selected to play for Maryland in the Big 33 Game…a consensus three-star prospect…ranked 13th-best player in state of Maryland by Rivals…also lettered in basketball… coached by Ronnie Crump.

Ty Johnson

Running Back

Fr.-HS, 5-10, 173

Cumberland, Md. (Fort Hill HS)

At Fort Hill High School: A three-year varsity starter on defense, offense and special teams…finished high school career with 4,851 all-purpose yards, 65 touchdowns and 17 interceptions…totaled 3,363 career rushing yards (14.7 yards/carry) and 43 touchdowns…ranked as the number one running back in Maryland by Scout…named 2014 Maryland Consensus All-State…helped lead Fort Hill to a 37-3 record in three seasons, including back-to-back 14-0 state championship seasons as a junior and senior…notched 1,733 rushing yards (14.9 ypc) and 22 touchdowns during senior season…also had 11 receptions for 371 yards and eight touchdowns… on defense, registered 38 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes broken up during his senior campaign… selected to play for Maryland in the Big 33 Game…coached by Todd Appel.

Gus Little

Inside Linebacker

Fr.-HS, 6-3, 225

Fredericksburg, Va. (Massaponax HS)

At Massaponax High School: Three-time all-conference and all-area linebacker…Max Preps First-Team All-State as junior and senior…named conference’s defensive player of the year in 2014…twice named team captain…amassed 133 tackles, five tackles for loss, five sacks and one fumble recovery as a senior…also tallied 13 receptions for 240 yards (18.5 avg.) and one touchdown in the 2014 season…ranked as a three-star recruit by Scout and Rivals…named the second-best inside linebacker in Virginia by Scout…coached by Eric Ludden.

Will McClain

Offensive Lineman

Fr.-HS, 6-5, 290

Middletown, Md. (Middletown HS)

At Middletown High School: Named first team all-state as a senior…helped lead Middletown to three-consecutive state championship seasons (2011-13)…a consensus three-star recruit… ranked the fourth-best offensive guard in Maryland by Scout…selected to represent Maryland in the Big 33 Game…honor roll student…coached by Kevin Lynott.

Ellis McKennie

Offensive Lineman

Fr.-HS, 6-3, 305

McSherrystown, Pa. (McDonogh School)

At McDonogh School: Helped lead team to back-to-back MIAA Championships during his junior and senior years…selected first-team All-Met by the Washington Post and was a consensus first-team all-state selection…selected to represent Maryland in the Big 33 Game…rated as the second-best guard in Maryland by Scout and the 34th in the nation at his position by Rivals.. a consensus three-star recruit…an eight-time Honor Roll student…received the Ludlum Michaux Leadership Award…also competed in the shot put on the track & field team…coached by Dom D’Amico.

Adam McLean

Defensive Lineman

Fr.-HS, 6-3, 280

Gaithersburg, Md. (Quince Orchard HS)

At Quince Orchard High School: A two-time consensus all-state performer and Under Armour All-American at Quince Orchard HS…named first-team All-Met by The Washington Post in 2013 after finishing the season with 47 tackles and seven sacks during his junior campaign…a consensus four-star recruit…rated the best defensive tackle and number two overall player in the state of Maryland by Rivals…ranked the 12th best defensive tackle and 83rd overall in the nation by ESPN…coached by John Kelley.

D.J. Moore

Wide Receiver

Fr-HS, 5-10, 185

Philadelphia, Pa. (Imhotep Charter HS)

At Imhotep Charter High School: Earned Pennsylvania Class AAA All-State honors while totaling 35 receptions for 1,012 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior…served as a team captain…tallied 39 receptions for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns during junior season…selected to the 2014 Offense-Defense All-American Game and The Big 33 Game…ranked as a four-star recruit and the best wide receiver in the state of Pennsylvania by Scout…a member of the National Honor Society…coached by Albie Crosby.

Nicholas Rubinowicz

Punter

Fr.-HS, 6-3, 210

Wellington, Fla. (American Heritage School)

At American Heritage School: Averaged 44.3 yards per punt as a senior while earning Florida 3A first-team all-state honors…also handled kicking duties at American Heritage School…selected for the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game as a senior…earned second-team all-state honors as a junior… an Honor Roll student and member of the National Honor Society…also member of the Spanish Honor Society and a College Board AP Scholar.

Oseh Saine

Defensive Line

Fr.-HS, 6-4, 270

Worcester, Mass. (Worcester Academy/Lincoln HS)

At Worcester Academy: Spent a post-graduate year at Worcester Academy in 2013… saw action at linebacker and on the defensive line…recorded 26 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks, in just three games…played for Tony Johnson.

At Lincoln High School: Earned All-Rhode Island first-team honors as a senior at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, R.I. in 2012…named Defensive MVP at Lincoln High School played for Dave Waycott.

Darnell Savage, Jr.

Defensive Back

Fr.-HS, 5-11, 160

Newark, Del. (Caravel Academy)

At Caravel Academy: Played offense and defense, earning Delaware All-State honors… helped lead Caravel to the 2013 state championship…posted 1,298 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior…also added 54 tackles…a consensus three-star recruit…rated the second-best player in Delaware by Rivals…an Honor Roll Student and member of the Headmaster’s List…coached by John Reed.

Gage Shaffer

Quarterback

Fr.-HS, 6-7, 205

Short Gap, W. Va. (Frakfort HS)

At Frankfort High School: Started three seasons at Frankfort High School, leading the Falcons to a 30-7 record…finished senior campaign completing 132-of-241 passes for 2,037 yards and 24 touchdowns…earned first-team 2A All-State honors…amassed 48 touchdown passes in high school career…selected to first team all-area team three times…a three-time All-Potomac Valley Conference selection…a consensus three-star recruit…coached by Kevin Whiteman.

Mbi Tanyi

Outside Linebacker

Fr.-HS, 6-2, 260

Houston, Texas (George Bush HS)

At George Bush HS: Named District 23-5A first-team All-District…earned Most Valuable Player honors as a senior while compiling 26 tackles (15 solo), seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks…served as a team captain…rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN and Scout…coached by Allen Aldridge.

Brett Zanotto

Inside Linebacker

Fr.-HS, 6-0, 210

Murrysville, Pa. (Franklin Regional HS)

At Franklin Regional High School: Named first team all-state, AAA Greater Alleghany County First-Team and all-conference for both offense and defense…as a senior served as a team captain and led defense with 107 tackles, including 11 TFLs…also gained 908 yards on 125 carries (7.3 ypc) and 17 touchdowns on offense… played in the Blue-Grey All American Bowl… broke the Franklin tackle record as a junior with 157…a Honor Roll student…a consensus three-star recruit…also ranked as the second-best inside linebacker in Pennsylvania by Scout…coached by Greg Botta.

Mason Zimmerman

Offensive Lineman

Fr.-HS, 6-5, 285

Whitehouse, Ohio (Anthony Wayne HS)

At Anthony Wayne High School: Named second-team all-state as a senior…two-time recipient of all-district and all-league honors…played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl…a member of the National Honor Society…ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN and Scout…coached by Craig Smith.

2015 University of Maryland Football Recruiting Class Breakdown

BY STATE

MARYLAND/D.C. (8)

• Quarvez Boulware

• Isaiah Davis

• EJ Donahue

• Keiron Howard

• Ty Johnson

• Will McClain

• Ellis McKennie

• Adam McLean

FLORIDA (2)

• Jahrvis Davenport

• Nicholas Rubinowicz

PENNSYLVANIA (2)

• D.J. Moore

• Brett Zanotto

DELAWARE (1)

• Darnell Savage, Jr.

MASSACHUSETTS (1)

• Oseh Saine

OHIO (1)

• Mason Zimmerman

TEXAS (1)

• Mbi Tanyi

VIRGINIA (1)

• Gus Little

WEST VIRGINIA (1)

• Gage Shaffer

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

FOUR-STAR RECRUITS (4)

• Quarvez Boulware (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• EJ Donahue (Scout)

• Adam McLean (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• D.J. Moore (Scout, Rivals)

THREE-STAR RECRUITS (12)

• Jahrvis Davenport (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Isaiah Davis (ESPN)

• Keiron Howard (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Ty Johnson (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Gus Little (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Will McClain (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Ellis McKennie (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Oseh Saine (ESPN)

• Darnell Savage, Jr. (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Gage Shaffer (ESPN, Scout)

• Brett Zanotto (ESPN, Rivals, Scout)

• Mason Zimmerman (ESPN, Scout)

BLUE-GREY ALL-AMERICAN (1)

• Brett Zanotto

OFFENSE-DEFENSE ALL-AMERICAN (2)

• Keiron Howard

• D.J. Howard

SEMPER FI ALL-AMERICAN (1)

• Mason Zimmerman

UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICANS (1)

• Adam McLean

ALL-STATE HONOREES (15)

• Quarvez Boulware (D.C.)

• Isaiah Davis (Md.)

• EJ Donahue (Va.)

• Keiron Howard (Md.)

• Ty Johnson (Md.)

• Gus Little (Va.)

• Will McClain (Md.)

• Ellis McKennie (Md.)

• Adam McLean (Md.)

• D.J. Moore (Pa.)

• Nicholas Rubinowicz (Fla.)

• Oseh Saine (R.I.)

• Darnell Savage, Jr. (Del.)

• Gage Shaffer (W. Va.)

• Brett Zanotto (Pa.)

• Mason Zimmerman (Ohio)

• Keiron Howard

BY POSITION

OFFENSE (9)

Quarterback (1)

• Gage Shaffer

Running Back (1)

• Ty Johnson

Wide Receiver (2)

• Jahrvis Davenport

• D.J. Moore

Offensive Linemen (5)

• Quarvez Boulware

• EJ Donahue

• Will McClain

• Ellis McKennie

• Mason Zimmerman

DEFENSE (8)

Defensive Linemen (3)

• Keiron Howard

• Adam McLean

• Oseh Saine

Linebacker (4)

• Isaiah Davis

• Gus Little

• Mbi Tanyi

• Brett Zanotto

Defensive Backs (1)

• Darnell Savage, Jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS (1)

Punter (1)

• Nicholas Rubinowicz

PRESS RELEASE

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland junior forward Jake Layman earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday. This marks the second conference honor for Layman, who garnered co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors on Dec. 22.

Layman, who averaged 17.5 points and 12.5 rebounds, led No. 14 Maryland (17-2, 5-1 B1G) to a pair of wins over Rutgers and Michigan State last week. A junior from Wrentham, Mass., Layman posted a career-best 13 rebounds and added 12 points in the win over the Scarlet Knights and followed with a season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds against the Spartans. For the season, Layman is averaging 14.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and has a team-best four double-doubles. He is currently tied for second in the Big Ten with 8.7 rebounds per contest in conference play.

The Terps have won three Big Ten Player of the Week honors (Layman, twice) and freshman guard Melo Trimble, who earned that distinction on Dec. 1. In addition, Trimble earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Dec. 1 and was co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 15.

Maryland will face Indiana on Thursday, Jan. 22. at 9:00 p.m. EST on ESPNU.

PRESS RELEASE

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Senior guard/forward Dez Wells sustained a broken bone in his right wrist and is expected to miss four weeks, head coach Mark Turgeon announced Friday.

Wells, who suffered the injury during Maryland’s 72-63 win over No. 13 Iowa State at the CBE Classic, had surgery Friday morning in Baltimore.

“Dez has been playing at a very high level and we will certainly miss our team leader,” Turgeon said. “I am extremely disappointed for Dez because I know how hard he has worked in the offseason to prepare for his senior season.”

Wells has averaged a team-best 16.2 points and added 4.8 rebounds per contest en route to leading the Terps to a 5-0 start. Wells was selected to the CBE Classic All-Tournament team as he averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists while leading the Terps to wins over Arizona State and the aforementioned 13th-ranked Cyclones.

PRESS RELEASE

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Former Maryland men’s basketball head coach Gary Williams will be enshrined in the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2014 this Sunday.

Williams, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in August, is the first coach to be inducted in both hall of fames in the same year.

Williams and the Class of 2014 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City as part of a three-day celebration of college basketball.

The enshrinement events will have extra meaning for Terrapin fans, as the Maryland men’s basketball team is scheduled to participate in the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City Nov. 24 and 25. Maryland will take on Arizona State Monday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU, and will face either Iowa State or Alabama Tuesday on ESPNU or ESPN2.

As head coach of the Terrapins from 1990-2011, Williams led the team to 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1994-2004), a national championship in 2002, an ACC tournament championship in 2004 and was enshrined into the University of Maryland Sports Hall of Fame and University of Maryland Alumni Hall of Fame.

Williams was also named Coach of the Year from Basketball America, Playboy, CBSsportsline.com, District and the ACC during his career. He compiled an overall coaching record of 668-380 (.637) and led his teams to seven 25-win seasons and 22 appearances in postseason play.

Joining Williams in the Class of 2014 are All-Americans and NCAA champions Grant Hill of Duke and Darrell Griffith of Louisville, along with two-time national player of the year and All-American Shaquille O’Neal of LSU. Former NAIA star Zelmo Beaty of Prairie View A&M, NCAA Final Four coach Dale Brown and contributors Howard Garfinkel and Glenn Wilkes, Sr. also join the class.

The Hall of Fame is located in the College Basketball Experience (CBE), a world-class entertainment facility adjacent to Sprint Center in Kansas City. The CBE Hall of Fame Classic will take place November 24-25 at Sprint Center.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Returning from their latest bye since the 2001 season, the Ravens hope a week of rest is the perfect tonic to propel them to the postseason for the sixth time in seven years under head coach John Harbaugh.

At 6-4, Baltimore finds itself in the thick of the AFC playoff race, but next Monday’s trip to New Orleans will be a challenge for a team that’s just 2-3 on the road in 2014. Harbaugh hopes the late-season bye will allow the Ravens to finish strong as four of their final six games come against teams with records of .500 or better and that’s not including the 4-6 Saints who possess the NFL’s second-ranked offense.

“We’re going to have our hands full, and we better be ready to go,” Harbaugh said. “I like to believe that our guys understand that, but we’ll find out Monday night. I believe they do understand that.”

Players were off Tuesday through Sunday while Harbaugh gave his assistant coaches Thursday through Sunday to recharge for the final six games of the regular season. The Ravens are 5-1 in games returning from their bye week in the Harbaugh era and have won 10 of their last 12 post-bye games since the 2002 season.

Harbaugh hopes history is on their side as well as the benefit of a later bye as the Ravens are currently chasing first-place Cincinnati, who improved to 6-3-1 with an impressive win over the Saints on Sunday. Baltimore ranked ninth in the AFC playoff chase as a result of Pittsburgh’s Monday night win to conclude Week 11.

“You don’t realize how exhausted you are until you get a chance to take a deep breath and relax,” Harbaugh said. “The next thing you know, you’re like, ‘Wow, this has really been helpful.’ Everybody gets a bye week. We had ours this week, and we hope to make the most of it going forward for the rest of the season.”

Harbaugh doesn’t question penalty for Coffman

Asked about the NFL’s decision to fine Chase Coffman $30,000 for his malicious sideline hit on assistant coach Tony Coaxum in Week 10, Harbaugh chose to take the high road about the league not suspending the Tennessee Titans tight end.

The Ravens coach said he was told the collision wasn’t intentional, but it’s no secret that the organization was very unhappy about what happened late in the fourth quarter of the 21-7 win over Tennessee. Coaxum was not injured, but the FOX Sports video below leaves little debate about Coffman’s conduct.

“It’s really difficult to have a response to the level of punishment,” Harbaugh said. “I know the league has protocols, and they have standards and histories and things like that that they look really hard at. We don’t ever really question that part of it. That’s in their purview.”

Ravens wanted to keep Sunday night star Gray

Former practice squad running back Jonas Gray became the toast of the NFL Sunday night with his 199-yard, four-touchdown performance in the New England Patriots’ 42-20 win over Indianapolis.

Gray spent the 2013 regular season on the Ravens’ practice squad before electing to sign a reserve-futures contract with New England last offseason. Asked about the Michigan native rushing for a single-game high in the NFL this season, Harbaugh mentioned their respective in-state ties as a springboard to a good relationship, even mentioning that Gray’s mom brought food to the team during their Week 15 game in Detroit last December.

“We were disappointed to lose Jonas last year when we lost him. We really thought he had a lot of upside,” Harbaugh said. “He felt like that was an opportunity that he wanted to pursue, and obviously, it’s paid off for him. I wish him nothing but the best, but I was happy for him [Sunday] night to see him do that. That was great to see.”

Of course, no one could have predicted Gray’s breakout performance as even New England stashed him on the practice squad for a large portion of this season, but you do wonder if the Ravens regret not giving him a look last season while they were experiencing such drastic woes with the running game.

Conflicted coach

Harbaugh’s strong ties to the University of Michigan are no secret, making for a fun moment Monday when he was asked to predict the winner of this Saturday’s Maryland-Michigan game in Ann Arbor.

Neither team is exactly fighting for a Big Ten title this year as there has been plenty of debate about the future of Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke. Harbaugh paused and smiled before providing his answer to the question about who would prevail.

“May the best team win,” he said while laughing. “How’s that?”

Practice squad changes (again)

The Ravens made their latest change to their practice squad Monday, signing tight end Allen Reisner and cutting tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi.

Reisner is in his fourth NFL season and has spent time with Jacksonville, Minnesota, and New England. He has registered seven catches for 58 yards in 15 career games split between the Jaguars and Vikings.

PRESS RELEASE

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Head coach Mark Turgeon and the Maryland men’s basketball staff welcome guard Jaylen Brantley to the Terps for the class of 2015.

“Jaylen has high character and his personality will fit what we are building here at Maryland,” said Turgeon. “He’s a great facilitator with outstanding vision, and he’s also a very talented shooter. Jaylen wanted to be at Maryland, and we’ve very excited to welcome him to our program.”

A 247sports.com four-star recruit out of high school, Brantley was ranked the 12th JUCO Player in America by Next Up Recruits.

“I’m going to have the opportunity to work with a great coaching staff and attend one of the best universities in the country,” said Brantley. “Coach Turgeon is a great person – very honest and upfront. He wants to put his players in the best position to be successful. Coach Turgeon and the coaching staff made me feel very welcomed. There’s great trust between us and I also really connected with all the guys on the team.”

The 5-foot-11 Springfield, Mass., native comes to Maryland from Odessa (Tex.) Community College. Brantley will have three years of eligibility at Maryland.

“We recognized early on that Coach Turgeon and the University of Maryland would be a great fit for Jaylen,” said Angela Cayode, Brantley’s mother. “I could see that Coach Turgeon would really invest in Jaylen’s future. He believed in Jaylen as a person, a player and a student-athlete. Coach Turgeon is not only a great coach, but he’s a great man. Jaylen felt he could contribute to Maryland immediately and that he would thrive and respond well to playing under Coach Turgeon. Our whole family is very excited that Maryland has welcomed Jaylen with open arms.”

Brantley played AAU basketball for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club alongside current Terp forward Jake Layman. Brantley helped BABC to two AAU national championships, and he was also a member of the 2011 Elite Youth Basketball League championship team.

“I’ve known Jake Layman for a long time and we played together,” said Brantley. “He’s been like family to me. Maryland felt like the perfect place for me.”

JAYLEN BRANTLEY (5-11, 175, PG, Springfield, Mass.)

Leo Papile, Boston Amateur Basketball Club: “Jaylen’s a throwback. He gets the ball in the right people’s hands and he has a high basketball IQ, which leads to winning. He’s a productive point guard and a threat from three-point range. He has a great pace to his game.”

Tra Arnold, Odessa Community College: “Jaylen has great character and is a really hard worker. He will be a great addition to the University of Maryland. Jaylen helps teams win. He’s been a consistent winner throughout his high school career, and he does all the things a leader needs to do to win on and off the floor.”

Jerry Mullen, Mullen’s Roundball Review: “Jaylen’s a great selection for Maryland. He can score if he needs to, but he doesn’t have to score to be effective. He’s got the ability to get others involved and has the ability to make his other teammates better. I envision him as a combo guard who can make the right decisions and is also a talented shooter.”

Already facing the reality of playing Michigan State without the suspended Stefon Diggs, Maryland could be without its star wide receiver for the rest of the season.

According to multiple outlets, Diggs suffered a lacerated kidney in the win over Penn State on Nov. 1 that will likely keep him sidelined for at least the remainder of the regular season. The 6-3 Terps have three regular-season games remaining and already have bowl eligibility for the second straight season.

Diggs was injured in the fourth quarter against Penn State, but the junior returned to the game. The junior wideout had already been suspended one game by the Big Ten for his role in a pre-game scuffle with the Nittany Lions, so head coach Randy Edsall and the Terps were already planning on being without him for Saturday’s game against Michigan State.

In his third year with the Terps, Diggs has made 52 catches for 654 yards and five touchdown catches.

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior Jake Layman scored a game-high 18 points and added seven rebounds as Maryland defeated Bowie State 89-47 in its final exhibition contest Saturday at XFINITY Center.

The Terps shot 58 percent from the field and limited Bowie State to a 22 percent clip. Maryland posted a stout 45-29 advantage on the boards.

Freshman Dion Wiley scored 13 points and senior Dez Wells added 11, including a tomahawk dunk with 10:16 remaining to give Maryland a commanding 69-32 lead. Senior Jon Graham, who earned a starting nod, was two-points shy of a double-double, recording eight points to go along with a team-best 11 rebounds.

The Terps led from start-to-finish with the signature moment of the first half coming on a Wells’ cross-court pass to a streaking Layman for a transition dunk to give Maryland a 30-7 lead with 8:07 to play in the period.

“I enjoyed the game and I thought our kids played well,” head coach Mark Turgeon said. “Jake got us going early by making some shots and rebounding the ball and I thought Jon got us going defensively. He was terrific defensively. We played a lot of minutes, shared those minutes and played a lot of guys. Dez played well in those limited minutes, but we played the game without Dez really being a part of the rotation. It was a good sign. I thought we were much better today than we were last week on both ends of the court.”

Maryland returns to action for its first regular-season contest Friday at 7:30 p.m. when it welcomes Wagner to the XFINITY Center.

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Trimble Named to Bob Cousy Watch List

Freshman one of 35 candidates tabbed to list, honoring top point guard in college hoops

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Maryland freshman guard Melo Trimble has been named to the watch list of candidates for the 2015 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

Trimble, a 6-3 guard from Upper Marlboro, Md., was a McDonald’s All-American and the No. 1-ranked player in the state of Maryland before arriving to College Park. Trimble averaged 23.1 points at Bishop O’Connell High School as a senior and was tagged the 2014 Washington Post All-Metro Player of the Year.

The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in men’s college basketball. Over 35 candidates have been nominated for the 2015 Bob Cousy Award.

“The Hall of Fame is honored to work with Mr. Cousy and to recognize some of the nation’s top collegiate point guards,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall ofFame. “This year’s list showcases student athletes that have all of the intangibles that would make them great candidates for this prestigious award.”

“The Cousy Award has become one of the top awards in college basketball,” said Ken Kaufman, Chair of the Bob Cousy Award and former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). “We look forward to another season of watching the best point guards in college basketball compete for this elite award.”

This watch list of candidates will be narrowed down to a final 20 in early February, then final five by early March. A premier Selection Committee has been appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the candidates in contention for the nation’s top collegiate point guard award. This committee is made up of top college basketball personnel including members of the media, head coaches, media relations contacts and Hall of Famers. The Cousy Award winner will be presented the award on Championship Monday in Indianapolis at the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015 Announcement and Press Conference.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award have included Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph’s), Raymond Felton (North Carolina), Dee Brown (Illinois), Acie Law (Texas A & M), DJ Augustin (Texas), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Greivis Vasquez (Maryland), Kemba Walker (Connecticut) and last year’s recipient Kendall Marshall (North Carolina), Trey Burke (Michigan) and Shabazz Napier (Connecticut).

For more information on the 2015 Bob Cousy, log onto www.CousyAward.com.

2015 Bob Cousy Award Candidates

Olivier Hanlan – Boston College

Quinn Cook – Duke

Tyus Jones – Duke

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera – Georgetown

Kevin Pangos – Gonzaga

Siyani Chambers – Harvard

Yogi Ferrell – Indiana

Monte Morris – Iowa State

Kenneth Smith – Louisiana Tech

Cameron Payne Murray State University

Chasson Randle – Stanford

Will Cummings – Temple

Alex Caruso – Texas A&M

T.J. McConnell – Arizona

Ryan Boatright – Connecticut

Kasey Hill – Florida

Andrew Harrison – Kentucky

Tyler Ulis – Kentucky

Terry Rozier – Louisville

Melo Trimble – Maryland

Angel Rodriguez – Miami

Derrick Walton Jr. – Michigan

Jarvis Summers – Mississippi

Marcus Paige – North Carolina

Pierria Henry – North Carolina (Charlotte)

Jordan Woodward – Oklahoma

EC Matthews – Rhode Island

Isaiah Taylor – Texas

Julius Brown – Toledo

Delon Wright – Utah

London Perrantes – Virginia

Keifer Sykes – Wisconsin-Green Bay

Ryan Arcidiacono – Villanova

Briante Weber – Virginia Commonwealth

Juwan Staten – West Virginia

Fred VanVleet – Wichita State

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Senior forward Evan Smotrycz sustained a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot and will miss 4-6 weeks, head coach Mark Turgeon announced Sunday.

Smotrycz suffered the injury at the conclusion of Friday night’s practice prior to Maryland Madness. He is scheduled to have surgery later this week.

“We are really disappointed for Evan, but knowing his high character and tireless work ethic, we have full confidence he will return and finish strong in his senior season,” Turgeon said. “We have confidence that our front court players will step up in Evan’s absence.”

The Reading, Mass., native appeared in 31 games (28 starts) in his first season in College Park in 2013-14. He averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game. A transfer from the University of Michigan, Smotrycz has appeared in 100 career games, making 69 starts and posting 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game