Former NFL wide receiver Keenan McCardell has been hired as Maryland's wide receivers coach, the school announced Thursday.
That means Maryland wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long -- both of whom have NFL potential, especially Diggs -- will be tutored by an NFL veteran known for his savvy route-running next fall.
McCardell spent 17 seasons in the NFL, with the Browns, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Chargers and Redskins. He finished his career in 2007 with 883 receptions for 11,373 yards and 63 touchdowns. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and his reception total ranks 16th in NFL history, while his receiving yardage is 26th.
He also spent two seasons (2010-11) as the Redskins' receivers coach.
McCardell played in Jacksonville from 1996-2001, and Maryland head coach Randy Edsall was the Jags' secondary coach from 1994-97.
Diggs and Long each suffered a broken leg during the Terps' loss to Wake Forest on Oct. 19. Diggs (6-foot, 195 pounds), a sophomore, finished the season with 34 receptions and three TDs. Long (6-0, 190), a junior, finished with 32 catches and one TD.
Diggs was one of the most explosive players in the ACC, and assuming he recovers fully from his injury, he has the potential to go down as the best receiver in school history. Diggs has big-time speed along with great overall elusiveness. He must become a better-rounded receiver, but he has the tools to be an All-American.
The well-traveled Long is a Washington, D.C., native who is on his fourth college. He signed with West Virginia, moved on to New Mexico and then to Iowa Western Community College, where he put up phenomenal numbers in 2012: 100 receptions for 1,625 yards and 25 TDs. He has good speed but has some work to do to become a more refined receiver.
Maryland also hired another assistant with NFL experience in offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo. He spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant with three organizations: 2004-08 with the New York Giants, 2009-11 with the Dolphins and 2012 with the New York Jets. He was the assistant line coach with the Giants and the line coach with the Dolphins and the Jets. His last college job was at South Carolina, where he was the Gamecocks' offensive line coach from 1999-2003 under Lou Holtz.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
