2008 Woodie Awards
Trio scrambling for starting quarterback spot
Kate Yanchulis
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
For the second year in a row, the Terrapin football team has three quarterbacks vying for the starting job. But the circumstances could not be more different.
Last year, none of the three had started before. Now, two have starting experience, and the third has been highly touted by the coaching staff.
"It's a nice problem to have," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "It's better than the other one. I'm not opposed to playing more than one quarterback if it works."
Redshirt junior Chris Turner is the leading candidate for the job right now after starting the last eight games of the 2007 season. But he does not have any job security.
"He'll go in No. 1, but it's still a wide-open situation," Friedgen said. "I think that competition is still going to take place, especially in this learning stage."
Turner is competing against redshirt senior Jordan Steffy and redshirt junior Josh Portis, who was ruled ineligible last season.
"It's the same every year," Turner said. "You've got to compete. I know if I just do my thing like I have done it will work out."
Last year, Turner lost the starting job competing against these same two teammates. But after replacing the injured Steffy in the sixth game of the season against No. 10 Rutgers and leading the Terps to victory, Turner finds now that the job is his to lose.
"For me, the biggest change is coming in as No. 1," Turner said. "It's a lot more pressure. Before I was the underdog. No one expected a lot of me. But I just need to build on my success."
Turner amassed over 2,000 yards last season and had the third-best passing efficiency ranking in the ACC and will try to continue the momentum he gained at the end of last season.
But Steffy is trying to win back the position that was his in the beginning of last year. He will start out No. 2 on the depth chart, behind Turner. He recovered from the concussion that took him out of the starting job last season and ready to compete for the starting job for his senior season.
Last year, none of the three had started before. Now, two have starting experience, and the third has been highly touted by the coaching staff.
"It's a nice problem to have," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "It's better than the other one. I'm not opposed to playing more than one quarterback if it works."
Redshirt junior Chris Turner is the leading candidate for the job right now after starting the last eight games of the 2007 season. But he does not have any job security.
"He'll go in No. 1, but it's still a wide-open situation," Friedgen said. "I think that competition is still going to take place, especially in this learning stage."
Turner is competing against redshirt senior Jordan Steffy and redshirt junior Josh Portis, who was ruled ineligible last season.
"It's the same every year," Turner said. "You've got to compete. I know if I just do my thing like I have done it will work out."
Last year, Turner lost the starting job competing against these same two teammates. But after replacing the injured Steffy in the sixth game of the season against No. 10 Rutgers and leading the Terps to victory, Turner finds now that the job is his to lose.
"For me, the biggest change is coming in as No. 1," Turner said. "It's a lot more pressure. Before I was the underdog. No one expected a lot of me. But I just need to build on my success."
Turner amassed over 2,000 yards last season and had the third-best passing efficiency ranking in the ACC and will try to continue the momentum he gained at the end of last season.
But Steffy is trying to win back the position that was his in the beginning of last year. He will start out No. 2 on the depth chart, behind Turner. He recovered from the concussion that took him out of the starting job last season and ready to compete for the starting job for his senior season.
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