With a couple more weeks left until we talk about the upcoming season -- Big Ten media days -- we’re scrambling for some actual football discussion. So, to borrow an idea from our pals at the Pac-12 blog, we’re putting together the “All-Century” teams for every Big Ten school.
These are the top lineups each team could field consisting of players who have played since 2000. Next up is Maryland.
OFFENSE
QB Scott McBrien: The West Virginia transfer held a 21-6 career record as a starter, and he finished as the program’s career leader in pass efficiency (142.03) – ahead of both Frank Reich and Jack Scarbath.
RB Bruce Perry: The 2001 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Perry finished with the fourth-best rushing season in school history with 1,242 yards.
WR Torrey Smith: He’s third in Maryland history in career receptions (152), third in career yards (2,215) and second in career TDs (19).
WR Stefon Diggs: The current Minnesota Vikings wideout is second all-time in receiving yards (2,227) and earned the Ray Krouse Memorial Award (overall team MVP) in 2012.
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: As a two-time offensive team MVP, the speedy wideout was drafted by the Oakland Raiders at No. 7 overall in 2009.
TE Vernon Davis: One of the best tight ends in ACC history, Davis was a consensus All-American in 2009. He clocked a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in the NFL combine and was an outstanding blocker in college.
OL Melvin Fowler: No Maryland offensive lineman since 2000 has been drafted higher than Fowler – third round; No. 76 overall – and he played in 87 career NFL games.
OL Todd Wike: The guard was one of just two offensive linemen to twice earn first-team all-conference honors since 2000.
OL C.J. Brooks: He followed in Wike’s footsteps and became a two-time first-team All-ACC selection.
OL Andrew Crummey: He was a third-team AP All-American in 2007.
OL Matt Crawford: The four-year starter overcame a torn ACL to become an All-ACC selection the next year and a third-team All-American the year after that.
DEFENSE
DL Shawne Merriman: A 2004 All-American, Merriman went on to become a three-time Pro Bowler and a selection on the San Diego Chargers’ 50th anniversary team.
DL Andre Monroe: He holds the school record for career sacks (25), and he led the team in tackles-for-loss for three seasons.
DL Joe Vellano: Like Monroe, he led the team in tackles-for-loss for three years -- but was also a 2011 All-American and three-time all-conference selection.
DL Randy Starks: Since 2000, only Monroe finished with more tackles-for-loss as a defensive lineman. Starks was a 2003 All-American and enjoyed a long career in the NFL.
LB E.J. Henderson: Arguably the Terps’ best player since the turn of the century, Henderson was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He also won both the Bednarik and Butkus awards.
LB D’Qwell Jackson: He led Maryland in tackles for three straight seasons and was a two-time All-American.
LB Alex Wujciak: A three-time All-ACC selection, Wujciak also led the Terps in tackles for three consecutive years.
DB Domonique Foxworth: He started the final two regular-season games of his true freshman season and never looked back en route to a trio of all-conference honors.
DB Madieu Williams: The Towson transfer went from defensive scout team player of the year to a two-time All-ACC selection and a third-team All-American.
DB Curome Cox: Since 2000, no Maryland defensive back has yet surpassed his 10 career interceptions. He started 45 career games.
DB William Likely: He decided to return to Maryland this season as opposed to entering the NFL, and he’s already the first Terps DB in about 30 years to earn a pair of first-team all-conference honors.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Brad Craddock: Sorry, Nick Novak. Craddock was the first Terp to win the Lou Groza Award and boasts the highest career field goal percentage in program history -- 81.4 percent to Novak’s 74.8 percent.
P Brooks Barnard: He leads the program with a career average of 43.7 yards per punt and also owns the two best punting seasons in Maryland history (2000, 2001).
KR/PR Likely: Yes, the returning senior also owns a spot at defensive back – but he might be a better return specialist. He’s fourth all-time in school history for kickoff yards per return (25.49) and second in punt yards per return (14.2).