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Heyward-Bey catching on to keys to stardom

August 26, 2008 12:15 am

BY STEVE DeSHAZO

COLLEGE PARK, Md.--

He runs 40 yards in 4.3-seconds. He gives opposing defensive backs restless nights during the week before they face Maryland, because he can turn almost any snap into a big play.

That's the good news for Terrapin fans.

Now, the bad: If Heward-Bey enjoys the breakout junior season many experts expect, he might not be around as a senior. He has prototypical NFL size (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) and the aforementioned jets.

"I would definitely say he's one of the top receivers in the [Atlantic Coast Conference]," Virginia safety Byron Glaspy said. "He's a very dynamic player."

But if speed were everything, Usain Bolt would be the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

Lots of fast guys never catch a pro pass. What sets Heward-Bey apart?

"He's different from a lot of track guys," Maryland receivers coach Lee Hull said. "Darrius wants to be a total receiver, not just a deep-ball threat. He loves to run routes, and he's a pretty good blocker. Some track kids are soft, but Darrius is not soft.

"He has the willingness and the desire to be good. He watches more film than maybe anybody on the team. He watches other players, and he listens in meetings."

That attention to detail could be key this season as the Terrapins shift from a pro-style offense to a West Coast attack.

The new approach requires timing and quick passes, meaning Heward-Bey can't rely entirely on his ample physical gifts.

"One thing he can do is he can really run. He's a world-class sprinter," head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "What we've got to do is get him to run all routes at the same speed. That's the tough part."

Don't expect Heward-Bey to run exclusively curl and slant routes, though. His forte is getting open deep.

He introduced himself to the ACC as a redshirt freshman in 2006 by catching touchdown passes of 65 and 96 yards against Miami, the latter a school record. (The Terps' only longer scoring play from scrimmage was a 98-yard run by Spotsylvania native Steve Atkins in 1978).

"His speed and knowledge set him apart from other receivers," starting quarterback Jordan Steffy said.

Last season, Heward-Bey had a 54-yard run on a reverse against Wake Forest and caught a 63-yard TD pass against Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl. He's averaged a healthy 15.4 yards on his 96 career catches.

Opponents don't overlook that sort of thing. So it makes sense that they'll take precautions to try to limit Heward-Bey's productivity--especially after Maryland lost its 2008 tailback tandem of Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, who combined for 1,573 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.

"Probably from the outside looking in," Heward-Bey said, "but teams are going to play their style of defense. They might put their best guy on me, but they're not going to change things up for one guy. They might not put a guy on an island by himself, but teams are pretty much going to do what they do."

Maybe, but the first priority for any Maryland foe is not to get beat deep.

Because of that (and some rare depth at receiver, including Stafford native Torrey Smith) Heward-Bey may not post staggering numbers this fall.

But that hardly matters to him--or his position coach. Heward-Bey could be Maryland's most valuable offensive player--even if he's sometimes a decoy.

"We want to get him on track early, because that'll open things up for everyone else," Hull said. "We tell the guys, 'If Darrius is doubled, someone's going to have single coverage. You guys have got to make the play.' But we'll go to the guy that's open."

With two more years like his first two, Heward-Bey could own virtually every school receiving record. But there's no guarantee he'll be around that long.

The Web site footballs future.com projects Heward-Bey as the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and the third receiver taken, after Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Florida's Percy Harvin. That kind of fame and money would be hard to turn down, and other Terps have turned pro early to become first-round picks recently, including Shawne Merriman and Vernon Davis.

Heward-Bey insists he's not looking that far ahead.

"I'm not even thinking about that until after the season," he said. "I have no idea what will happen. I want to win an ACC championship."

Staff reporter Taft Coghill contributed to this report.

Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com