COLLEGE PARK
When Darrell Perkins took over as Maryland's defensive backs coach in March, he was inheriting one of the team's most veteran position groups with four projected upperclassmen starters.
But he was also taking over a position group in transition, with roles and schemes changing as the Terps switch from the 3-4 defense to new defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski's 4-3.
So the job for Perkins is to help his defensive backs transition to some of the mental differences between schemes. And thus far, Perkins has resonated with the Terps in the secondary.
"He has 15-plus years in the game, so I know he knows a lot," junior cornerback Will Likely said.