Will he stay or will he go? Earlier today, reports from a “source” said Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien met with Coach Randy Edsall to inform the coach he was transferring.  O’Brien quickly responded via his Twitter page, saying he’s still a Terp. …But for how long? A little over a year ago, after former Terps coach Ralph Friedgen was unceremoniously fired by the university, I wondered whether O’Brien would also hit the road. When I tweeted the news he was staying, he replied, saying that was always the plan.  I doubt that the rest of the season went as planned, though. A year after picking up ACC Rookie of the Year honors, O’Brien was forced into a game of musical quarterback with C.J. Brown. First they switched in and out, then just when it looked like O’Brien was relegated to permanent backup status, he was back in, at least until his season ended with a broken arm.  When he did play, he didn’t play nearly as well as he had as a true freshman - but he was also playing in a different scheme, under a different coaching staff. As a local reporter said on the radio early in the season, Danny O’Brien didn’t regress that much in a year’s time. What did change? The coaching staff.  It seemed pretty clear, pretty early on, that O’Brien wasn’t going to be too successful within former OC Gary Crowton’s offense, so as much as I adore #5, I hoped he’d transfer. He’s a very, very talented quarterback, and he should have the opportunity to play for a program that’s going to give him the very best chance to succeed, in college and possible even in the pros. It was beyond frustrating to see him wasted in Maryland’s offense in 2011; I can’t even begin to imagine how it felt for him.  Crowton’s not calling the plays this year, though. Instead, O’Brien would be working with Mike Locksley, who returned to College Park in the offseason after stints at Illinois, Florida and most recently (and controversially), New Mexico. I’m don’t know much about Locksley’s play-calling style, but if it’s drastically different than what we had in 2011, I’m on board. (Not that it matters, since I’m not the one playing.)  The big question, reportedly to be decided this weekend, is whether Danny O’Brien is on board.  At any point during last season, I would’ve said O’Brien should absolutely jump ship, but now, I’m less certain. I think he’ll have a better shot at a good year in 2012, but I don’t know if it will be a better situation than he’d find elsewhere. He is eligible to graduate this spring, and if he does, he’d be able to transfer to another FBS school without sitting out a year.  So will he stay or will he go?  I assume we’ll find out very soon.  Should he stay or should he go? I’m not sure anymore.  As cliched as it is, I just hope he does the best thing for himself and his future, whether or not that’s at Maryland. He deserves it. 

Will he stay or will he go?

Earlier today, reports from a “source” said Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien met with Coach Randy Edsall to inform the coach he was transferring. 

O’Brien quickly responded via his Twitter page, saying he’s still a Terp.

…But for how long?

A little over a year ago, after former Terps coach Ralph Friedgen was unceremoniously fired by the university, I wondered whether O’Brien would also hit the road. When I tweeted the news he was staying, he replied, saying that was always the plan. 

I doubt that the rest of the season went as planned, though. A year after picking up ACC Rookie of the Year honors, O’Brien was forced into a game of musical quarterback with C.J. Brown. First they switched in and out, then just when it looked like O’Brien was relegated to permanent backup status, he was back in, at least until his season ended with a broken arm. 

When he did play, he didn’t play nearly as well as he had as a true freshman - but he was also playing in a different scheme, under a different coaching staff. As a local reporter said on the radio early in the season, Danny O’Brien didn’t regress that much in a year’s time. What did change? The coaching staff. 

It seemed pretty clear, pretty early on, that O’Brien wasn’t going to be too successful within former OC Gary Crowton’s offense, so as much as I adore #5, I hoped he’d transfer. He’s a very, very talented quarterback, and he should have the opportunity to play for a program that’s going to give him the very best chance to succeed, in college and possible even in the pros. It was beyond frustrating to see him wasted in Maryland’s offense in 2011; I can’t even begin to imagine how it felt for him. 

Crowton’s not calling the plays this year, though. Instead, O’Brien would be working with Mike Locksley, who returned to College Park in the offseason after stints at Illinois, Florida and most recently (and controversially), New Mexico. I’m don’t know much about Locksley’s play-calling style, but if it’s drastically different than what we had in 2011, I’m on board. (Not that it matters, since I’m not the one playing.) 

The big question, reportedly to be decided this weekend, is whether Danny O’Brien is on board. 

At any point during last season, I would’ve said O’Brien should absolutely jump ship, but now, I’m less certain. I think he’ll have a better shot at a good year in 2012, but I don’t know if it will be a better situation than he’d find elsewhere. He is eligible to graduate this spring, and if he does, he’d be able to transfer to another FBS school without sitting out a year. 

So will he stay or will he go? 

I assume we’ll find out very soon. 

Should he stay or should he go?

I’m not sure anymore. 

As cliched as it is, I just hope he does the best thing for himself and his future, whether or not that’s at Maryland. He deserves it.