The Maryland Terrapins may get a much-needed boost this afternoon when they try to stymie the ridiculousness that is the West Virginia Mountaineers offense—former first-team All-ACC linebacker Kenny Tate is likely to return to action for the first time in 11 games. He almost certainly won't start, according to Patrick Stevens of The Washigton Times, as he's practicing with the second team during warmups. Alex Twine should start in his place.
Tate made the All-ACC first team as a junior in 2010 playing safety under head coach Ralph Friedgen and defensive coordinator Don Brown. As a senior, with new head coach Randy Edsall, he moved to linebacker, but suffered an ultimately season-ending knee injury, and was granted a medical hardship waiver to allow him to play this season.
However, Tate suffered a different knee injury during the preseason, resulting in him missing the Terps' first three games, in which they've gone 2-1. Even though some Terps fans may not remember, Tate, along with defensive lineman Joe Vellano, is one of their best defensive players and his health is a key to determining if this will be another lost year, or a potential bowl season.
For more on the Terps, check out Testudo Times and SB Nation DC. For coverage of the Mountaineers, visit The Smoking Musket and SB Nation Pittsburgh.
This story was originally posted on SB Nation.