COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -Jordan Steffy was picked to start at quarterback for Maryland in the season opener against Delaware by coach Ralph Friedgen on Monday.
Steffy lost his starting job last season when he left the fifth game of the season, against Rutgers, with a concussion. Chris Turner took over, guided the Terrapins into the Emerald Bowl and entered summer practice as the favorite to beat out Steffy and Josh Portis.
But Steffy, a fifth-year senior, impressed the coaches in practice enough to start in the Aug. 30 opener. Friedgen made his choice after holding a lengthy discussion with his coaching staff.
“It was a hard decision,” Friedgen said. “We talked about it for a long time last night. We looked at every statistic that we kept, from pass completions, yards per catch, yards after catch, interceptions, percentage of drives scoring, good practices and bad practices. We even consulted with some of the players.
“Really, when you look at all the data, Jordan Steffy has earned the spot. He was ahead in almost every category.”
Friedgen said Turner will serve as the No. 2 quarterback, and that Portis also will have a role with the offense.
“We rotated the quarterbacks with all the teams for the last nine practices, so everybody had an equal shot with every team,” Friedgen said. “I think there’s a credibility thing here. If you don’t reward kids for practicing well, then I don’t know what you can base your decision on. What made it hard is that Chris played well in the games. But based on not only fall practice, but I even went back to spring practices, (Steffy) was far and away ahead in all the statistics.”
Friedgen didn’t dismiss the idea of using all three quarterbacks over the course of the season.
“I think they’ll all end up playing throughout the year, to be honest with you,” Friedgen said.
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