Dill released from scholarship, will leave Terps

The list of departures from the Terrapins football team this offseason has grown to three, as right tackle R.J. Dill announced yesterday he has been granted a release from his scholarship and will transfer.

"Today I regret to inform the Terrapin faithful that my family and I have decided it would be best for me to move on with both my academic and athletic endeavors," Dill wrote in an email to The Diamondback yesterday.

With Dill's departure, the Terps lose their most experienced lineman. The junior had started since his freshman year for the Terps, making 33 total starts in his career.

The redshirt junior from Mechanicsburg, Pa., has one year of eligibility remaining and could play next season if he transfers to a program offering a graduate program not offered at this university.

Dill joins defensive end David Mackall and running back D.J. Adams as the first of what many expect to be several more departures from the program after a 2-10 record in coach Randy Edsall's first season. Dill declined to comment further as to where he might transfer.

"This year was not what we all expected or hoped for, but it has been truly educational and I leave here with no regrets of my time at this great university," Dill wrote. "I wish the Maryland football program nothing but the best. … I will always bleed red, white, black and gold, and, most of all, I will always be a Terp."

In a statement released late last night, Edsall said he wished Dill well "in his future athletic and academic pursuits."

"We appreciate the commitment and effort R.J. has given to the Maryland football program," Edsall said in the statement.

cwalsh@umdbk.com