Though the most troubling thing on Maryland fans’ minds is the NBA decision of Melo Trimble that looms in the coming days, football season is right around the corner.

The most popular word in College Park when discussing football is “transition.” This season looks to be a transitional season under new head coach D.J. Durkin, a year that won’t yield the best results but should give a glimpse of what Terps fans can hope for in the coming years.

Though most players on the Maryland roster were recruited by Randy Edsall and his staff, Durkin has to make the most of what he’s got. One thing he can use to his advantage is a stable of capable running backs at his disposal, something that can hopefully offset the quarterback issues that almost always come out by mid-season at Maryland.

Among those running backs is sophomore-to-be Ty Johnson. Last season, as a freshman, he was seen as a surplus to requirements with Brandon Ross and Wes Brown seen as a pair who could shoulder the load. Though Ross proved that, Brown’s disciplinary issues opened up a slight opportunity for Johnson, and the freshman didn’t disappoint. In limited game time, the speedster managed 250 yards on just 35 carries, averaging an outrageous clip of 7.1 yards per carry. He also added three touchdowns, and even though he didn’t get too many touches, Johnson showed exactly what he is capable of.

This impressive run by Johnson was his most noteworthy play all season, and highlights the speed he brings to the table as Maryland looks to use an up-tempo spread offense.

This season, Brown could be back, and he will be joined by Virginia Tech transfer Trey Edmunds. The two are both entering their senior year, and are both bruisers. Each running back is over six feet tall and 200-plus pounds, while Johnson is just 5’10” weighing 184 pounds. Brown and Edmunds will be expected to gain tough yards, but Johnson is the ideal candidate for a change-of-pace back–a role he can make his own and possibly integrate more into Walt Bell’s offense.

The native of Cumberland, Maryland, doesn’t possess the size to be the bell cow for an offense, especially in the incredibly physical Big Ten. But, he can bring a new dimension to Bell’s offense, something that will fit in perfectly with a kind of “smash-and-dash” philosophy that can alleviate pressure on the quarterback position. Bell, 31, is one of the younger, more innovative coordinators in college football, and he loves to push the tempo on offense. Johnson’s attributes (speed, shiftiness, vision) should allow for him to fit in perfectly.

Johnson was given a nice hole to run in here, but again his breakaway speed allowed for him to steal the show in Maryland’s spring game. Expect Bell to look to Johnson to make game-changing runs like this.

What we may see from Maryland is a running back committee rather than a running back competition. Brown and Edmunds bring the physicality and Johnson brings the speed while early-enrollee Jake Funk is seen as a wild card factor in the Terps’ backfield. Again, this is why Johnson is such an important factor, because of the different style of running the ball he can bring to Maryland.

While he didn’t set the world alight in the receiving category, gathering just two receptions for 30 yards. But, his speed and the way he fits into a spread offense should see those numbers rise. With Bell’s fast-paced spread attack, if Johnson isn’t handed the ball he’ll often be available in the flat where his open-field ability will be on display. Whether he runs the ball or catches it out of the backfield, Johnson will be dangerous.

Depending on how Durkin, Bell and the rest of the coaching staff adapt to their squad, we may see the more reliable every-down backs receive the bulk of the carries. But, Johnson will certainly be called upon this season, and Big Ten defenses should be on high alert.

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