As construction workers built luxury suites, mezzanine seating and a press box in an expansion project of Tyser Tower of Byrd Stadium, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was concerned with a more pressing work in progress.

Friedgen’s Terrapins are undergoing a major renovation that features a defense with at least eight new starters, two unproven running backs, new offensive coordinator James Franklin and possibly a quarterback controversy.

“I’m really anxious to see where we are, how comfortable we are with a new offense,” Friedgen said. “It’s more the terminology than anything else. There are a lot of similarities and a lot of plays that we’ve done.”

The Terrapins finished fifth in Atlantic Coast Conference’s Atlantic Division with a 3-5 record before a 21-14 loss to Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl culminated a 6-7 season.

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Maryland was picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Division and 10th overall in the 12-team ACC this season, partly because it enters the fall with questions at quarterback — again.

The Terrapins opened camp with senior Jordan Steffy and juniors Chris Turner and Josh Portis competing to start at quarterback. Franklin returned to College Park after spending last winter as an intern for the Minnesota Vikings. He was the offensive coordinator at Kansas State from 2006 to 2007 after coaching the wide receivers for the Green Bay Packers in 2005.

“We may play multiple quarterbacks. I don’t know,” Friedgen said. “That’s an area if we can get the production out of that we expect, we have a chance to have a good offense.”

Steffy started the first five games before suffering a concussion. Turner started the final eight games, completing 153-of-241 attempts for 1,958 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Steffy finished the season with 686 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Portis was academically ineligible last season.

“It’s not my job to lose at all,” Turner said. “But I feel I have a little momentum heading into camp.”

At running back, the Terrapins are hoping sophomores Da’Rel Scott and Morgan Green, who combined for 139 yards and no touchdowns on 16 carries last season, can replace the 1,573 yards and 25 touchdowns by Keon Lattimore and Lance Ball, who graduated this spring.

Maryland opens the season on Aug. 30 at Byrd Stadium against Delaware, which reached the Football Championship Subdivision final last season. The Terrapins visit Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 6 before hosting California (Sept. 13) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 20) to conclude their nonconference schedule.

The Terrapins conference schedule features eight teams that went a combined 65-39 last season.

“I think we have a chance to win the regular season championship,” junior wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey said. “Looking back to last year, it was disappointing. But going in here, knowing we have a chance, that we have a squad to do it this year, I’m excited.”

swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com