By Ryan Connors

Junior wide receiver Marcus Leak made his case to be a starter next season with a highlight-reel performance that included three touchdowns, 132 yards receiving and six catches in Maryland’s annual Red-White spring game Saturday.

Leak scored every touchdown for the Red team, which won the scrimmage 21-16.

On his first touchdown, which came in the first quarter, Leak caught a pass about five yards from the line of scrimmage and broke multiple tackles before rumbling into the end zone for a 26-yard score to put the red team ahead, a lead they would never squander.

He hauled in his second touchdown from quarterback Perry Hills on a spectacular leaping grab over defensive back Jarrett Ross.

His third score came on a two-yard catch where there was no defender lined up on him at the snap. Hills alertly snapped the ball and immediately threw it to Leak for the easy score.

“He made some plays today, caught the ball and had some guys take bad angles on him, but give him credit,” head coach Randy Edsall said. “He did some good things today.”

Leak’s Red team was coached by offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, while the white team was coached by defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski. Edsall looked on as a neutral observer.

With star wideouts Stefon Diggs and Deon Long departing for the NFL and graduating this year, the Terps have large shoes to be filled in their offense next year.

“I feel like we have a lot of guys who can make plays of the offensive side of the ball,” Leak said. “You just have to make the best of your opportunities whenever. You don’t know when your number is going to be called. When they call you just have to make the most of it.”

Shane Cockerille was five-for-20 for 91 yards and one interception for the white team, while Hills went 12-of-24 with three touchdowns, all to Leak, for 212 yards, and one interception for the red team.

“I’m going to work on things like quickening up my release, footwork, just getting better timing with receivers, “ Hills said. “That’s my main goal for this summer. Watching a lot of film, too.”

Both quarterbacks were playing for the chance to back up Caleb Rowe next year. Rowe, a junior, tore his ACL in October and was not ready to participate in the game.

Sophomore Antwaine Carter was a standout on defense for the white team, picking off Hills.

“I thought he had a good spring,” Edsall said. “We moved him from safety to corner and thought that he seemed a little bit more natural there.   “If he puts on the weight and gets stronger, then he could be a guy who pushes guys for playing time.”

Yannik Ngakoue led the way for the red team’s defense. The pass rusher sacked Cockerille three times for a combined 17 yards lost.

Freshman receiver Deandre Lane also made a name for himself Saturday, hauling in a 52-yard pass from Hills to set up the easy Leak touchdown.

Brandon Ross scored on a 56-yard run for the white team in the third quarter to put the score at 21- 10.

Kenneth Goins, Jr. scored on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the score at 21-16 after the red team blocked the extra point.

So what happens next for Maryland football? They’ll keep lifting and meeting with coaches over the next week before turning their focus to exams and some time off. But they never go too long without playing football.

“They’ll be back on June 1 to start summer school and a week after that we start our eight-week summer program,” Edsall said.