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Offensive lineman Paul Pinegar, was hardly a stud recruit coming out of Sherwood, despite his key defensive role in the Warriors’ 2005 run to the 4A state title game as a senior.

No one could have guessed his emergence at the next level on the offensive side of the ball. Despite coming to Maryland at a little over 270 pounds a year ago, he is firmly entrenched in the second-string left tackle spot, behind senior Scott Burley. And though relatively light for the position, he could very well see playing time by opening day, and stands a good chance to start by the end of his Terp career.

‘‘Especially for a walk-on, I realize that I’ve come a long way in a short period of time,” Pinegar said. ‘‘Since spring with all them summer workouts and eating at home with mom’s cooking, I’ve gotten up to a little over 280 [pounds] on good day, which I need — as mom tells me, ‘Protein, protein, protein.’”

Pinegar is one of two county walk-ons to make his mark on the offensive-line depth chart — 2004 Northwest grad Lee Oliver, who earned second-team All-Gazette honors as a senior, is listed as the Terps backup right guard, behind Andrew Crummey.

Though the two linemen could see playing time before their careers are over, Bullis graduate Moise Fokou already has, and then some. After his days as a Bulldog, the Rockville native began his freshman season at Division III Frostburg State before coming to Maryland as an invited walk-on, meaning the coaching staff already knew about him, but not enough to garner a scholarship.

But through steady special teams play and eventual spot-duty at linebacker, the big moment came less than a year after he joined the team.

‘‘That was a hell of a day,” Fokou said. ‘‘It was nice because me and my boy [linebacker] Rick Costa came here together — he came in from Temple, and we made a goal together to get that scholarship after one year. It worked out perfectly for both of us, so it was like, ‘All right, one goal accomplished.’”

Fokou, now a junior, has been so impressive, in fact, that he will split starting duty at the ‘‘Sam” spot in the Terps 3-4 scheme. At 6-1, 216 pounds, he is the most agile linebacker the Terps have, but as Friedgen noted he is surprisingly tough against the run.

Where Fokou is is where Good Counsel grad Deege Galt wants to be. A third-year sophomore, the 2004 second-team All-Gazette defensive lineman hasn’t yet seen the field, and knows he’s got a long way to prove himself. He underwent knee surgery last year and believes it’s left him a little behind as spring practice started.

But he has enjoyed every minute for two reasons, or maybe three, depending on how you look at it. First, he can’t say enough about how fun it is being on the sidelines for victories and bowl games (as he put it: ‘‘The winning makes any problems you might have go away”). Second and third is the fact that he has two bloodlines joining him in practice every single day. His twin brother, Tommy, is a tight end on the Maryland roster, and his father, Dwight, is in his 19th year as the Terps football director of strength and conditioning.

‘‘You know, me and Tommy are always together — we’re roommates, lived at home all summer with my dad, and are always in the weight room together,” Deege Galt said. ‘‘It’s a little different because [Tommy] plays offense, and in that sense we’re separated a bit. But with him and my dad, it’s a blessing and one of the more fun parts about being here.”

Notes: Aside from Heyward-Bey, only one other county product will be a starter to open the season for the Terps, and that’s senior tight end Joey Haynos (Rockville⁄Gonzaga). Other MoCo guys include redshirt freshman running back David Akatu (B-CC), junior defensive back Arnold Davies (Northwest), redshirt freshman tight end Drew Gloster (Germantown⁄Good Counsel), redshirt freshman defensive back Brandon Jackson-Mills (Northwest), junior kicker David May (Rockville⁄Jewish Day), freshman wide receiver Chris Sheahin (Sherwood) and junior defensive back Drew Robinson (Watkins Mill).