Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr. has emerged as a bright spot throughout the course of a forgettable season for the Terps' defense, as the junior has made 53 tackles, intercepted three passes, broken up six more and was integral to one of Maryland's four wins.
Savage's transformation into a playmaking safety began during head coach DJ Durkin's first spring with the Terps. Maryland defensive coordinator Andy Buh said the coaching staff talked during the spring of 2016 about moving Savage, who played cornerback as a freshman in 2015, to safety. The staff pulled the trigger ahead of the 2016 season.
"Between the spring and that summer, we made the decision to change him, and Darnell has never flinched," Buh said. "He was all-in the minute that we said it to him. He saw it as an opportunity to get on the field. And since he's done that, he's really excelled at the position. His development has been really good, and we're seeing that in his play now."
