William & Mary @ Maryland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2006 ) William & Mary 14, Maryland 27

Maryland coach Randy Edsall was hoping to move forward with an experienced quarterback after a difficult first season, but Danny O’Brien transferred to Wisconsin and C.J. Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. True freshman Perry Hills was named the starter last week for the season opener against William & Mary. The Terrapins are a work in progress on offense with former New Mexico head coach Mike Locksley taking over as offensive coordinator, though they can lean on a defense that returns 10 starters. The Tribe are also revamping their offense with the graduation of all-time rushing leader and All-American Jonathan Grimes. William & Mary, which missed the FCS playoffs for the first time in three years in 2011, has a lot of talent in the defensive backfield primed to take advantage of Maryland’s inexperience.

TV: 3 p.m. EST, ESPN3. LINE: None

WILLIAM & MARY (2011 record: 5-6, 3-5 CAA): The Tribe struggled last season, primarily due to an offense that averaged only 18 points per contest. Grimes, who finished his career with 4,541 yards rushing and almost 8,000 all-purpose yards and is currently with the Houston Texans, will be replaced by a committee. They will need more consistent play from quarterbacks Brent Caprio, named the starter against Maryland. The return of wide receiver Ryan Moody, who suffered through an injury-plagued 2011 season, should help that cause. Corner B.W. Webb, safety Brian Thompson and linebacker Dante Cook are players to watch on defense.

MARYLAND (2011 record: 2-10, 1-7 ACC): Hills has shown good poise so far and he will have some experienced wide receivers to throw to in Kevin Dorsey and Kerry Boykins, who combined for 82 receptions in 2011. Even after the loss of Davin Meggett -- also with the Texans -- the Terps have a stable of promising running backs. Maryland’s talented defense is led by second-team All-American tackle Joe Vellano. First-year defensive coordinator Brian Stewart also has linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield and safety Eric Franklin, who each had over 100 tackles in 2011. The Terps lost sophomore defensive end Andre Monroe, a freshman All American, for the season with a knee injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Maryland sports 18 freshmen on its two-deep depth chart.

2. Navy transfer Keith McBride is the leading returning rusher for the Tribe with 281 yards.

3. Maryland beat the Tribe in 2006 (27-14) and 1905, while William & Mary won in 1945 and 46.

PREDICTION: Maryland 20, William & Mary 14.