'Wild Terp' could be in the works

In the week leading up to his Virginia football team traveling to College Park, Cavalier coach Al Groh admitted he made a mistake in not recruiting Terrapin wide receiver Torrey Smith when he was in high school.

Had he foreseen Smith’s star potential earlier, “he would be returning kicks for Virginia,” Groh said. “Regardless of what the circumstances were in the past, he is a superior college football player.”

Saturday, Groh’s sentiments were evident on the field.

The Cavalier defense played up on Smith, bumping him before he could burst downfield. They also played back, containing him and eliminating the chance for a big play. On special teams, Virginia didn’t even give Smith a chance for another one of his signature big runs, instead squibbing the ball on the ground.

Smith has broken out, the brightest star in a largely bleak season. He leads the nation in all-purpose yards, thanks largely to his kick return yardage on the plethora of opportunities opponents have afforded him after scoring touchdowns. His abilities as a receiver have stood out from the rest of his teammates, as well, accounting for more than one-third of the Terps’ total offense through the air.

Opponents are starting to catch on. Against Wake Forest two weeks ago, the Demon Deacons chose to double-team Smith often, limiting his big plays despite 10 catches.  Virginia took it a step further in denying Smith returning opportunities.

With the intent of ensuring Smith his touches, offensive coordinator James Franklin mapped out a form of the “Wildcat” offense for his playbook, having Smith line up as the quarterback for one play against Virginia.

How the Terps will go forward with the “Wildcat” — dubbed the “Wild Turtle” by one reporter — is still unclear. Popularized by then-Arkansas coach Houston Nutt with former star running back Darren McFadden taking snaps, the set would likely be used primarily for designed run plays.

But fellow wide receiver Ronnie Tyler said Smith has a very strong arm, and his experience as a high school quarterback could come into play.

“We tried to do it last year with [running back Da’Rel Scott], but Da’Rel just didn’t have the same type of presence, and he wasn’t loud enough — guys were jumping offside,” Franklin said. “When we put [Smith] back there, he was really pretty natural with it.”

When talking about the “Wildcat” offense, offensive players pointed out any way of getting the ball in Smith’s hands is a good idea. With Scott out until at least mid-November with a broken wrist, Smith is clearly the Terps’ most explosive weapon.

Wide receivers coach Lee Hull compared Smith, who runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, to former Terp Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.

“Everybody now knows that he’s our playmaker. Obviously, they’re going to do something to stop him,” Hull said. “I think, really, teams are concentrating a little bit more on Torrey right now than they did Darrius.”

Smith is on pace to catch more passes this season than Heyward-Bey did in any of his three years as the Terps’ top receiving threat. He’s also averaging 25.4 yards per kick return, including one touchdown. Now, he’s adding to those duties, though the extent remains shrouded in mystery.

“We’ve got some wrinkles,” Smith said. “Can’t tell the secrets yet.”

Franklin, grinning, broke it down in equally vague specifics: “We’ll probably run it. If it works, we’ll probably run it again. And, you know, if it works that time, we’ll probably run it one more time.”

ajoseph@umdbk.com