Scouting Maryland’s Incoming QB’s

By David Wheatley
SouthernPigskin.com

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While there are concerns over their upside, Caleb Rowe and Perry Hills both possess the tools to be successful quarterbacks.

Barring injury or something unforeseen, C.J. Brown will be the starting quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins come September. After watching Brown play in 2011 and in 2012 spring practice, many college football experts do not think he is the answer for Maryland's offense. While Brown has proven he can make plays with his legs, his passing has been sub-par, and will need to improve if the Terps are going to make a run at a bowl game. Potentially making things more difficult for Brown is the fact that Maryland only returns two starters on their offensive line. Maryland also does not have any standout wide receivers (although five-star WR Stefon Diggs will join the team for summer camp), which will make throwing the ball more difficult for the Maryland QB. After being the only scholarship QB on Maryland's roster this spring, Brown will have company come preseason camp. Two QB's who are currently finishing high school are scheduled to join the team this summer. They are Perry Hills out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Caleb Rowe from Greer, South Carolina. If Brown cannot get it done this fall, head coach Randy Edsall may have to throw one of the true freshman into the fire. With a realistic possibility that one of these two will be seeing time under center this fall, here is a scouting preview of the two quarterbacks, based on their high school game film.

Caleb Rowe:
6'3, 210 lbs, 4.9 second 40 time

Observations:
- Quick release on throw.
- Throws the ball with some pop.
- Mostly operated out of shotgun in high school.
- Good pocket presence, despite not having great speed, finds a way to escape and keep play alive.
- Can complete passes both on the run and when off balance.
- Vertical arm strength is not great.
- Throwing delivery can be inconsistent, sometimes looking awkward.
- Very tough kid, with a good football IQ.

Rowe put on over 20 pounds during his senior season, but still may have bulk up more when he gets to College Park. With his current frame, some experts question his durability. Rowe was not highly recruited out of high school. In fact, Maryland was his only FBS offer. Despite the lack of FBS offers, with a little work in the weight room and some changes in his throwing mechanics, Rowe could one day be an effective ACC QB.

Perry Hills:
6'3, 205 lbs, 4.77 40 time

- Is comfortable working both under center and in shotgun.
- Very accurate on short and mid ranges passes.
- Excellent at reading coverage
- Uses body effectively to bait defenders and manipulate coverage.
- Very good at running play action and bootlegs.
- Velocity of his passes are a concern.
- Delivery and mechanics can be improved.

The main concerns on Hills are with the distance and zip on his throws. To throw the ball really deep downfield, he needs to draw back, which creates a delay in him releasing the ball. Still, with his accuracy in the short to mid range passing game, he can be very effective because of his ability to read coverage and not make mistakes. Like Rowe, Hills was not highly recruited. Maryland was his only offer from a BCS conference.

While there are many concerns over their upside, both Rowe and Hills do possess the tools to be successful quarterbacks. Working with an ACC coaching staff should greatly benefit both of them.