Mad dash
University of Maryland redshirt sophomore C.J. Brown rolled with the punches in his first year as a starter and emerged as a more confident quarterback.
Brown, a 2009 Seneca Valley graduate, made five starts for the Terrapins this past season.
Seeing action in 10 games, Brown passed for 842 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. As was the case in high school, he was a threat on the ground as well, rushing for 574 yards, the most ever in a season by a Maryland quarterback.
The Terrapins struggled to a 2-10 record, but Brown grew as a collegiate signal caller.
“When it comes to leadership and experience, I made a lot of progress this year,” he said. “The more you're out on the field with the guys and communicating with them, the more comfortable you get. That's when things start clicking.”
Brown began the year as Maryland's backup quarterback, but after a 2-3 start to the season, he replaced starter Danny O'Brien. The former had seen action in Maryland's fourth and fifth games against Towson State and Georgia Tech, respectively.
In a 21-16 loss to No. 13 Georgia Tech, Brown rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown.
“I provided a spark, took advantage of the opportunity,” said Brown. “The coaches felt I should start that next game.”
That chance came Oct. 15 in a home game against 8th-ranked Clemson.
Despite 339 total yards and four combined touchdowns from Brown, the Terps fell 56-45.
“We were up big (35-17 in the third quarter), but did not pull out the win,” he said. “That game was on national TV and my family was there. I'll always remember that.”
Brown turned in an historic rushing effort against Clemson, gaining 162 yards on the ground. It's the most ever in a single game by a Maryland quarterback and just the eighth time an ACC signal caller has rushed for as many yards.
“Your first start, you're going to be nervous,” he added. “After that first hit, everything settles down and you just play. Even though we lost, I was a lot more confident as a quarterback after that game.”
Brown started the next two games against Florida State and Boston College, but O'Brien started versus Virginia and Notre Dame, though Brown saw action in both of those contests.
“The coaches wanted both of us to get some work in,” said Brown. “It's not our decision to make who plays at quarterback. We both just want what's best for the team.”
Against Notre Dame, O'Brien broke his left arm and the quarterback duties fell solely to Brown for the last two games against Wake Forest and North Carolina State.
Brown threw for 352 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in those games, both defeats. He added a combined 187 rushing yards and two scores.
O'Brien finished the season with 1,648 passing yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was much less of a threat running the ball, gaining just 57 yards.
For Brown and his teammates, closing the season was frustrating, knowing no bowl game awaited the Terps.
“At the end of the year, we were playing for pride,” said Brown. “I know I'm going to be judged on wins and losses. We're just going to work hard in the =
@Normal=[S"","Normal","Normal"]@Jump Header=[S"","","Jump_Text_Bold\:"]offseason. We'll bounce back.”Brown's goal is to be on the field for Maryland's resurgence.“(O'Brien and I) both had a meeting with Coach (Randy) Edsall after the season,” he said. “He told us that the starting job is open and will come down to a competition in the spring between the two of us.”Mike Locksley was hired Thursday as Maryland's offensive coordinator, taking over for Gary Crowton, who was let go after the season.Most recently, Locksley was the head coach at the University of New Mexico.
