By Chris Garman

Junior starting quarterback C.J. Brown suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during a University of Maryland football practice on Tuesday and has been ruled out for the season.

"I just feel really bad for C.J.," head coach Randy Edsall said in a conference call on Wednesday. "To see the work he has put in for this season, to go away with one cut in a non-contact drill, a cut that he's made a thousand times, is just devastating."

The Terps were running a two-minute drill in practice when Brown broke through the pocket and made the season-ending cut on the turf field.

The Terps' next options at quarterback are Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe. Both are freshmen, who have never played in a collegiate game. Before the injury to Brown, Hills was ruled the backup quarterback and assumed the starting role during Wednesday's practice.

"As much as I'm very devastated for C.J. and upset about it for him, I'm also very excited from a standpoint for Perry and Caleb," Edsall said.

A third option at quarterback emerged following the injury to Brown. Sophomore wide receiver Devin Burns approached Edsall and asked for an opportunity to help the team at quarterback.

"I was very pleased with that," Edsall said, "because it showed me that guys are concerned about the team and how they can help the team."

Burns, who was competing for the No. 2 receiving spot, was a high school quarterback in Columbus, Ga., where he threw for nearly 1,800 yards during his senior season. During Wednesday's practice, Burns took snaps as the third-string quarterback.

Though the Terps have hit a major setback with the injury to Brown, the team is prepared to move forward with its young quarterbacks. Edsall said he didn't think the transition to Hills would be difficult, because the coaches have prepared their quarterbacks for a situation like this since their arrival to College Park.

Even though Brown will not be under center, he will still have a major impact on the team, Edsall said.

"C.J. is going to be as big a part of this team as if he was the starting quarterback," Edsall said. "He's still our captain."

The team will hold a scrimmage at 3 p.m. Saturday, when Terps fans can get their first look at the new options at quarterback on Fan Appreciation Day. The game will be played on Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, with gates opening at 2 p.m.

Posted Aug. 15, 2012