For as bad as Maryland was last year en route to a 3-9 record, the Terps averaged 200.7 yards per game on the ground and 5.5 yards a carry with a lot of the same personnelthey have now, including quarterback Perry Hills, running backs Ty Johnson, Wes Brown and Kenneth Goins, and much of the offensive line.
The ingredients for a solid running game were present when head coach DJ Durkin and his staff took over the Maryland program. The results so far, however, have outpaced what even the most optimistic fans could have expected. Through four games, the Terps are averaging 300 yards rushing a game and 6.5 a carry. The Terps ran for 400 yards against Purdue Oct. 1, and five players have at least 100 yards rushing on the season.
Maryland (4-0) visits Penn State (3-2) Oct. 8, and the Terps' rushing attack will get another test against the Nittany Lions. Penn State is allowing about 217 yards rushing per game and 4.9 per carry, so on paper it looks like another opportunity for Maryland's rushing attack to produce.
