Md.'s Quarterback Battle Unsettled

Turner, Steffy Appear to Have Lead, but Questions Remain After Spring Game

There were more questions than answers that came out of the Maryland football spring game yesterday, not the least of which was, who will start at quarterback in the fall?

Chris Turner and Jordan Steffy appear to be the top two candidates for the job, and Josh Portis remains in the mix. But on this warm, sunny afternoon at Byrd Stadium, the three contenders did little to distinguish themselves.

"I really didn't think any of them had the day I was hoping," Coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I'm looking for some guy to separate, and I really can't see that right now. I wish it was that easy. I'm hoping I've got [a starter]."

Turner seems to be the front-runner for the job after starting the final eight games of last season. The 6-foot-4 junior took snaps with the first-team offense, directing three first-half drives. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 91 yards. He had no touchdown passes and was sacked once.

"I thought I had a pretty good first half," Turner said. "I thought I managed the game. . . . I felt like things were moving. We had penalties. We kind of got knocked back a little bit, but overall I was happy."

Steffy, a 6-foot-1 senior, began last season as the starter, but a concussion knocked him out of the lineup. He spent the most time on the field yesterday of any of the quarterbacks, leading either the first- or second-team offense on seven series. He threw for 155 yards and one touchdown on 14-of-23 passing. He was sacked three times.

"I hadn't played at least decent ever at a spring game so it felt good to at least put some points on the board and stuff like that," Steffy said.

Portis, a 6-foot-4 junior transfer from Florida, sat out his first two seasons in College Park. He led four drives, completing 3 of 6 passes for nine yards. He was sacked once. Jamarr Robinson, a 6-foot freshman, was on the field for three series. Robinson threw for 69 yards and a touchdown pass on 7-of-7 passing. He also was sacked once.

Even though the noncontact scrimmage made sacking the quarterback relatively easy, Friedgen was irked that this signal-callers were sacked six times. "We're holding the ball way too long," Friedgen said. "We've got to get the ball out of our hands. We can't just sit there and wait. If it's not there, throw it away, or run the football. That's my biggest concern right now. The ball is not coming out of there, and it needs to come out of there with all three of them."

The highlight of the game, which the White team won, 27-3, was a run by 5-11 sophomore running back Da'Rel Scott that was called back. Showing a burst of speed, Scott broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run that was negated by a penalty on wide receiver Torrey Smith.

"My line just blocked everybody that they were supposed to and I just beat the safeties," said Scott who rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on six carries. The penalty "was a little frustrating, but that's a learning experience. It's spring game."

Though a couple players were banged up during the game, no one was seriously hurt.

"I think we came out of it healthy," Friedgen said. "That may be the best part about the spring game."