List of Maryland Terrapins starting quarterbacks

This is a list of the individuals who have played college football as a starting quarterback at the University of Maryland. The Maryland Terrapins have produced several prominent quarterbacks. Starting with three consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships from 1983 to 1985, the program was sometimes referred to as "Quarterback U".^[1] Since then, Maryland quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh, Neil O'Donnell, Scott Zolak, and Scott Milanovich have been considered part of that tradition.^[1][2]

Quarterbacks

Players are listed in order of game experience. The number of games the player started during the season is listed to the right of their name from seasons 2014–2024. In years prior, individuals who started at least one game in a season are denoted with their name in boldface text.

Chris Turner, 2007–2009

Shaun Hill, 2000–2001

Scott Zolak, 1989–1990

Boomer Esiason, 1981–1983

Alan Pastrana, 1966–1968

Jack Scarbath, 1950–1952

Tommy Mont, 1941–1942 and 1946, and William W. Skinner, 1892

Ray Poppelman, 1930–1932

George V. Chalmers, 1929–1931

William W. Evans, 1928 and 1930

Gordon Kessler, 1926–1928

Kirkland Besley, 1923–1924

R. T. Knode, 1916–1919

Kenneth T. Knode, 1911–1915

Burton Shipley, 1908–1913

Curley Byrd, 1906–1907

Frank Kenly, 1896–1898

William W. Skinner, 1892

Year	Name	Notes
2024	Billy Edwards Jr. (11)	Started first eleven games of the season.
	MJ Morris (1)	Started final game of the season.
2023	Taulia Tagovailoa (12)	Second-team All-Big Ten. Polynesian Collegiate Football Player of the Year.
	Billy Edwards Jr. (1)	Music City Bowl MVP.
2022	Taulia Tagovailoa (11)	Second-team All Big Ten.
	Billy Edwards Jr. (2)	Made first career start against Northwestern.
2021	Taulia Tagovailoa (13)	Started every game of the season. Pinstripe Bowl MVP. Backup Reece Udinski made four appearances.
2020	Taulia Tagovailoa (4)	Started first four games of the season.
	Lance LeGendre (1)	Started final game of the season.
2019	Josh Jackson (9)
	Tyrrell Pigrome (3)
2018	Kasim Hill (10)
	Tyrrell Pigrome (2)
2017	Tyrrell Pigrome (1)	Started season opener against Texas.
	Kasim Hill (2)	Started games two and three. First career start was against Towson.
	Max Bortenschlager (8)	Started games 4–9, 11–12.
	Ryan Brand (1)	Made first career start against Michigan in game ten.
2016	Perry Hills (11)	Started eleven games at quarterback.[3]
	Tyrrell Pigrome (1)	Made first career start against Minnesota.
	Max Bortenschlager (1)	Made first career start against Nebraska.
2015	Perry Hills (8)	Started eight of 12 games, including season opener.
	Caleb Rowe (4)	Appeared in 10 games, making four starts at quarterback and also serving as holder.[4]
2014[5]	C. J. Brown (13)	Started every game of the season.
2013[6]	C. J. Brown	Played in all but two games.
	Caleb Rowe	Saw mid-season starting duties in injury relief.
	Ricardo Young	Made rushing attempts in two games.
2012[7]	Perry Hills	Started first six games, before suffering a season-ending injury against NC State.
	Shawn Petty	Linebacker (played quarterback in high school); started final four games.
	Caleb Rowe	Appeared against NC State and started against Boston College, before suffering a season-ending injury in that game.
	Devin Burns	Appeared against Virginia and NC State, before suffering a season-ending injury in that game.
	C. J. Brown	Injured before the opening game; lost for the season.
2011	Danny O'Brien	Started against Miami, West Virginia, Temple, Towson, and Georgia Tech
	C. J. Brown	Started against Clemson; appeared against Temple, Towson, and Georgia Tech
2010	Danny O'Brien	Started ten games after Robinson suffered a shoulder injury; remained starter for remainder of the season. Named ACC Rookie of the Year.[8]
	Jamarr Robinson	Started against Navy, Morgan State, and West Virginia.
	C. J. Brown	Saw action against Morgan State, in which he broke his clavicle.[9]
	Tony Logan	Wide receiver; lined up as wildcat quarterback against FIU.[10]
2009	Chris Turner	Started first nine games, before suffering an injury against NC State.
	Jamarr Robinson	Appeared against California and NC State. Started last three games in place of Turner.[11]
	Torrey Smith	Wide receiver; lined up as wildcat quarterback against Virginia.[12]
2008	Chris Turner	Started 12 of 13 games.[13]
	Jordan Steffy	Started season-opener against Delaware, suffered season-ending broken thumb on throwing hand.[13]
	Josh Portis	Saw limited game action of 38 snaps, mostly in a "change of pace" role due to dual-threat ability.[14]
	Da'Rel Scott	Running back; limited role as a wildcat quarterback.[12]
2007	Chris Turner	Started last eight games after Steffy was injured.[15]
	Jordan Steffy	Started first five games, but suffered a season-ending concussion against Rutgers.[15]
2006	Sam Hollenbach	Started all 13 games.[16] Champs Sports Bowl MVP.[17]
	Jordan Steffy	Saw limited game action, with five pass attempts against William & Mary.[16]
2005	Sam Hollenbach	Started ten out of eleven games.[18][19]
	Joel Statham	Started against Florida State as a replacement for injured Hollenbach,[20] and saw action in a total of three games.[18]
2004	Joel Statham	Started ten games.[21]
	Sam Hollenbach	Started one game, participated in three total.[21]
	Jordan Steffy	Saw action as a back-up in six games.[21]
	Ryan Mitch	Saw action in one game with one completion on one pass attempt.[21]
2003	Scott McBrien	Started all 13 games.[22] Gator Bowl MVP.[17]
	Joel Statham	Saw action in six games.[22]
	Orlando Evans	Saw action in five games.[22]
2002	Scott McBrien	Started all 14 games.[23] Peach Bowl Offensive MVP.[17]
	Chris Kelley	Saw action as a back-up in ten games.[23]
	Orlando Evans	Saw limited game action with one incomplete pass attempt.[23]
2001	Shaun Hill	Started all 12 games.[24] Second team All-ACC.[25]
	Latrez Harrison	Saw action in four games; converted to wide receiver for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.[24]
2000	Calvin McCall	Started first eight games.[26]
	Shaun Hill	Started the opener, in which he sprained his shoulder and missed much of the season.[20] He returned to start the last two games.[27]
1999	Calvin McCall	Started nine games.[26]
	Latrez Harrison	Started last two games,[28] replaced McCall after he suffered a torn MCL.[20]
	Trey Evans
	Randall Jones	Saw action in season-opener as quarterback, then converted to a safety. Moved back to quarterback to replace Harrison in the finale.[29]
1998	Ken Mastrole	Started seven games.
	Randall Jones	Started four games in a change of pace role due in part to Mastrole's ineffectiveness. Jones was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Maryland.[20]
1997	Brian Cummings
	Ken Mastrole
	Trey Evans
1996	Brian Cummings
	Ken Mastrole	First-ever redshirt freshman quarterback to start at Maryland,[30] started three games, suffered broken clavicle against Duke.[31]
	Keon Russell	Sophomore transfer from American International College, saw action against Duke after Mastrole was injured.[31]
1995	Brian Cummings	Started six games.[32]
	Scott Milanovich	Started five games after four-game NCAA suspension for gambling on college sports.[32][33]
	Orlando Strozier	Appeared against Tulane in relief of Cummings who suffered a sprained ankle[34]
1994	Scott Milanovich	Maryland ranked 10th in the nation in passing.[35] Second team All-ACC.[25]
	Kevin Foley	Started against Wake Forest,[36] appeared against West Virginia. Transferred to Boston University at end of season. Younger brother of Glenn Foley.[37][38]
	Brian Cummings	Saw action in six games, but did not attempt a pass.[39] Used in goal-line situations.
1993	Scott Milanovich	Third team All-ACC.[25] Set Maryland single-season passing records at 3,499 yards and 26 touchdowns.[40]
	Kevin Foley	Saw game action versus top ranked Florida State, where he ran for a touchdown.[41]
1992	John Kaleo	Set Maryland single-season passing record at 3,392 yards.[40]
1991	Jim Sandwisch	Suffered elbow injury on throwing arm against Syracuse, which reduced playing time.[42] Originally a walk-on punter in 1987.[43]
	John Kaleo	Kaleo started against West Virginia in place of Sandwisch.[42][44]
	Tony Scarpino	[44]
1990	Scott Zolak	Four-time ACC Offensive Back of the Week (Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Duke, and Virginia).[45][46]
	Jim Sandwisch	Saw limited action as back-up to Zolak.[46][47]
1989	Neil O'Donnell
	Scott Zolak	Appeared in eight games.[45]
1988	Neil O'Donnell
	Scott Zolak	Appeared in four games.[45] Replaced injured O'Donnell in finale against Virginia.
1987	Dan Henning
	Neil O'Donnell
1986	Dan Henning	Set Maryland single-season passing record at 2,725 yards.[40]
1985	Stan Gelbaugh	Cherry Bowl MVP.[17] Set Maryland single-season passing record at 2,475 yards.[40]
	Dan Henning
1984	Frank Reich	Started the first four games until he suffered a shoulder separation against Wake Forest.[48] Against Miami, Reich came off the bench to lead Maryland to the greatest comeback in college football history; he later repeated the feat in the NFL.[49]
	Stan Gelbaugh	Replaced Reich after he was injured against Wake Forest[48]
1983	Boomer Esiason	Finished tenth in Heisman Trophy voting.[50] Second-team All-American.[51] Set Maryland single-season passing record at 2,322 yards.[40]
	Frank Reich
1982	Boomer Esiason	Set Maryland single-season passing record at 2,302 yards and 18 touchdowns.[40]
1981	Boomer Esiason	Became the starter after Dewitz and Milkovich suffered injuries in season opener[52]
	Brent Dewitz	Started against Vanderbilt, and replaced by Milkovich after suffering sprained knee[53]
	Bob Milkovich
1980	Mike Tice
	Bob Milkovich	Replaced Tice after a bruised hip against Wake Forest.[54]
	Brent Dewitz	Appeared in 11 games: Navy,
1979	Mike Tice
	Bob Milkovich	Started over Tice against Wake Forest.[55]
1978	Tim O'Hare
	Mike Tice
1977	Larry Dick
	Mark Manges	Pre-season Heisman Trophy candidate, broke his hand mid-season.[56]
1976	Mark Manges	First team All-ACC.[25]
1975	Larry Dick	Started six games, while Manges convalesced from shoulder injury.[57]
	Mark Manges	Started first two games, suffered shoulder separation against Tennessee.[57]
1974	Bob Avellini	Set Maryland single-season passing record at 1,648 yards.[40]
	Mark Manges
	Ben Kinard
1973	Al Neville
	Bob Avellini
	Ben Kinard
1972	Bob Avellini
	Al Neville
1971	Al Neville	[58]
	Jeff Shugars	[58]
1970	Jeff Shugars	Started first three games, but lost starting job for four games midseason; became starter again against Clemson[59]
	Bob Tucker	Started against Miami,[60] NC State[61] South Carolina, and Syracuse;[59] first black quarterback to start for Maryland;[62] moved to safety in 1971.[63]
1969	Jeff Shugars
	Dennis O'Hara	Converted to tight end.[64][58]
1968	Alan Pastrana	[65]
	Chuck Drimal
	Dennis O'Hara	[65]
1967	Chuck Drimal	Five quarterbacks saw action during the season, including three starters. Pastrana sat out the season with a knee injury suffered in spring practice. Most efficient passer, 26–43 for 287 yards.[66]
	Jim Sniscak	54–123 for 669 yards;[66] started finale against Virginia.[67]
	Joe Tomcho
	?
	?
1966	Alan Pastrana	Set ACC record with 14 passing touchdowns.[68] Set school passing record with 1,499 yards.[69][70] Set Maryland single-season passing record at 1,499 yards.[40]
1965	Phil Petry
1964	Ken Ambrusko	Mobile quarterback, entered season as centerpiece of the offense, but dislocated elbow in season-opener against Oklahoma.[71]
	Phil Petry	Drop-back passer, sophomore reserve, played most of the season after Ambrusko's injury.[71]
1963	Dick Shiner
1962	Dick Shiner	[71] Set Maryland single-season passing record at 1,324 yards.[40]
	Don White
	King Corcoran	[72]
1961	Dick Shiner
	Dick Novak	[39]
1960	Dale Betty
	Dick Novak	[39]
1959	Dale Betty
	Dick Novak	[39]
1958	Bob Rusevlyan
	Dale Betty
	Dick Scarbath	[73]
1957	Bob Rusevlyan
	John Fritsch
1956	John Fritsch	In addition to being season passing leader, Fritsch set a school record with an 88-yard punt again Miami.
	Bob Rusevlyan
	Dickie Lewis	[74]
1955	Frank Tamburello	[75]
	Lynn Beightol
	John Fritsch
1954	Charlie Boxold
	Frank Tamburello	Saw significant playing time as a reserve.[75]
	Lynn Beightol
1953	Bernie Faloney	Injured mid-season, replaced by Boxold as starter. Finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.[76] First-team All-American.[51]
	Charlie Boxold
	Lynn Beightol
1952	Jack Scarbath	Runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting.[77] First team All-American by unanimous consensus.[78] Set Maryland single-season passing record at 1,149 yards.[40]
	Bernie Faloney
	Bob DeStefano	[79]
1951	Jack Scarbath
	Bernie Faloney
	Lynn Beightol
1950	Jack Scarbath	[80]
	Bob DeStefano	Filled in for injured Scarbath against George Washington, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech.[81]
1949	Stan Lavine
	Joe Tucker
1948	Vic Turyn
	Stan Lavine
	Joe Tucker
1947	Vic Turyn
	Joe Tucker
1946	Vic Turyn
	Tommy Mont
1945	Vic Turyn
1944	Sal Fastuca
1943	Joe Makar
1942	Tommy Mont
1941	Tommy Mont
	Mearle DuVall
1940	Mearle DuVall
	Joe Murphy
1939	Mearle DuVall
	Joe Murphy
1938	Charlie Weidinger
1937	Charlie Weidinger	[82]
1936	Charlie Weidinger
1935	Jack Stonebraker
	Coleman Headley	[83]
1934	Norwood Sothoron	[84]
	Jack Stonebraker
	Earl Widmyer
1933	Richard "Dick" Nelson	Started against VMI, Johns Hopkins, Tulane.[85][86][87]
	Earl Widmyer
	Joseph Crecca	Substituted for Nelson in Duke game.[88] Played against Johns Hopkins.[89]
1932	Ray Poppelman	Started against Virginia, Navy, and Washington College.[90][91][92]
	Al Woods	Started against St. John's.[93]
	Norwood Sothoron	Substituted for Poppelman against Navy and Washington College.[91][92]
1931	Ray Poppelman	[94]
	George "Shorty" Chalmers
	Al Woods	Started against Western Maryland[95]
1930	Ray Poppelman	Started against Navy.[96]
	Al Woods	Started against Western Maryland,[97] Yale.[98]
	Bill "Moon" Evans	Started against Johns Hopkins.[99] Substituted for Poppelman in Navy game.[96]
	George "Shorty" Chalmers	Starting halfback,[96] but frequent passer in Byrd's double-wing offense.
1929	Bill "Moon" Evans	[100]
	Augie Robertson	Reserve quarterback.[100]
	George "Shorty" Chalmers	Starting halfback, but frequent passer in Byrd's double-wing offense.[101]
1928	Gordon Kessler	Regular starter.[102]
	Bill "Moon" Evans	Started in place of Kessler for the Yale game.[102]
1927	Gordon Kessler	[103]
	Augie Roberts	[104]
1926	Gordon Kessler	Started against Johns Hopkins.[105]
	Edward Tenney	[106]
1925	Edward Tenney	Started against Yale and Rutgers.[107][108]
1924	Arthur Kirkland "Kirk" Besley	All-Maryland selection.[109]
	Bill Supplee	Started against Yale.[110]
	George Heine	Reserve quarterback, saw action "in nearly every game".[111]
1923	Johnny "Boots" Groves	Started against Yale.[112]
	Cecil "Tubby" Branner	[113]
	Arthur Kirkland "Kirk" Besley	[113]
1922	Johnny "Boots" Groves	Started against Yale.[114]
	Henry Gurevitch	Substituted for Groves against Yale.[114]
	Eddie Semler	[115]
1921	Johnny "Boots" Groves	Started against Syracuse.[116]
	Eddie Semler	[117]
1920	Johnny "Boots" Groves	Started against Syracuse.[118][119]
	Herbert "Herb" Gilbert	[120]
	Eddie Semler	[120]
1919	R. T. "Bobby" Knode	Brother of Kenneth Knode, Maryland quarterback (1911–1915).[121] Started against Johns Hopkins.[122]
	Johnny "Boots" Groves	[123]
1918	R. T. "Bobby" Knode	[124]
1917	R. T. "Bobby" Knode	[125]
1916	R. T. "Bobby" Knode	[121]
	Jamie Smith	Started game against NYU.[126][119]
1915	Ken Knode	Second team Spalding's All-Maryland Eleven.[127]
1914	Ken Knode	[128]
1913	Ken Knode	[129]
	Lynn Loomis	[129]
1912	Burton Shipley	[130]
	Ken Knode	[130]
	Lynn Loomis	[130]
1911	Burton Shipley	[131]
	Ken Knode	[131]
	Walter Furst	[131]
1910	Burton Shipley	[132]
1909	Burton Shipley	[133]
	Jimmy Burns	[133]
1908	Ernest Cory	[134]
	Jack Crapster	[134]
1907	Curley Byrd	[135]
1906	Curley Byrd	The forward pass was legalized this season. As a grad student at Georgetown, Byrd later became "the first quarterback in the East to master the forward pass".[136][137]
	Guy Firor	[138]
1905	Harold John Caul	[139]
	Pete Galt	[140]
1904	J. V. Gill	[141]
1903	Edmund C. Mayo	[142]
1902	Joshua Marsh Matthews	[143]
1901	T. E. "Tom" Bryan	[144]
	J. Marsh Matthews	[145]
1900	E. DuVal Dickey	[146]
	J. Marsh Matthews	[147]
1899	Earl Neilson Sappington	Also served as manager.[148]
	Andy Grayson	[149]
1898	J. Frank Kenly	Also served as team captain/coach.[150]
	Andy Grayson	[151]
1897	J. Frank Kenly	[152]
1896	J. Frank Kenly	[153]
	Hanson Mitchell	[153]
1895	N/A	No team fielded.[154]
1894	George Harris	[155]
1893	Howard Strickler	[156]
1892	Will Skinner	Quarterback and player-coach for Maryland's first officially recognized football team.[157]
	Clifton Fuller	[158]
	Pearse Prough	[158]
1891	Jack Brooks	[159]
1890	Jack Brooks	[160]