The Maryland Terrapins quarterback play has become more synonymous with its injuries than on-field play, and most recently quarterback Caleb Rowe has applied to the NCAA for a medical redshirt. Rowe has one season of eligibility remaining, but is hoping the NCAA will grant him an additional year as a Terrapin.
Rowe, who appeared in four games in 2014, spent the past few seasons as the backup to C.J. Brown, taking his most important snaps as his replacement against Indiana and Ohio State. This past year, Rowe threw for 459 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions, showing signs of why he could be a future star in the Big Ten.
Over the course of his collegiate career, Rowe has twice torn the ACL in his right knee and did so in early October this year which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. This spring will be a major point in Rowe’s rehabilitation, and when he returns from injury, he must show the coaching staff he’s the same quarterback that they relied upon to replace Brown.
It appears extremely likely that Rowe will win his appeal with the NCAA, which would allow him an extra season to develop while also attempting to continue the steady climb of Maryland football since their move to the Big Ten Conference.
In 2015, the Terrapins finished 7-6 with a disappointing performance against the Stanford Cardinal in the Foster Farms Bowl. Nonetheless, the campaign featured wins over perennial conference powerhouses Michigan and Penn State. These wins proved to many doubters that the Terrapins are a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten, and if head coach Randy Edsell is able to continue the momentum, Maryland may finally become known as a “football school.”
*Section Photo credit to Joe Robbins, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Tommy Gilligan, USA Today Sports.
