- The Washington Times - Thursday, November 1, 2018

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith explained his self-described “unpopular opinion” about the state of his alma mater Thursday morning, saying DJ Durkin was not to blame for the death of Jordan McNair and the abuses of his strength coach should not have been enough to get Durkin fired from the University of Maryland.

Smith never played for Durkin, but he starred at Maryland from 2008-2010 after one redshirt year. He defended his opinion by saying he would feel the same if any other school besides Maryland were under scrutiny, and the issue had more to do with strength and conditioning in college football nationwide:

Smith’s argument is based in the fact that Durkin was not present at the offseason workout where McNair collapsed and was improperly treated by the team’s medical staff. McNair died of heatstroke two weeks later.

The receiver also endorsed Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley to take the Terrapins’ job. Locksley has worked two stints at Maryland, more recently as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012 to 2015. When Maryland fired former head coach Randy Edsall, Locksley served as interim coach for most of the 2015 season.

That proposition got a ringing endorsement from Panthers teammate and former Terrapin linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr., whose time in College Park overlapped with Locksley’s from 2013 to 2015 even though they worked on different sides of the ball.

Matt Canada will remain Maryland’s interim coach for the rest of the 2018 campaign. Throughout the turmoil of the last two months, the Terrapins have started 5-3 under Canada and need just one win in their final four games to become bowl eligible.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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