MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Steve Slaton wanted to play for Ralph Friedgen. Maryland wanted him, too, but eventually withdrew a scholarship offer.

Slaton gets his chance to show the Terrapins what they're missing Thursday night when Maryland (2-0) visits No. 5 West Virginia (2-0).

"I ended up where I belonged, and that's what's important," Slaton said.

The sophomore has emerged as one of the nation's top running backs. Last year, he piled up 1,128 yards despite not starting until midseason. This year, he ranks fifth nationally with a 154-yard average, slightly ahead of Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.

Friedgen, Maryland's sixth-year coach, continues to kick himself because his policy is to recruit players — regardless of position — who are good students and possess blazing speed.

"There are only so many running backs you can take," Friedgen said. "Obviously, we have four pretty good running backs. You need to have somebody that can block for them. For every guy I take, that's one less lineman, and we're short on the linemanright now.

"That was the only reason."

Slaton, who verbally committed to Maryland when he was high school senior in Levittown, Pa., shrugs at the Terps' decision.

"It shows recruiting is nothing but a business," he said.

"We liked him from the first time we saw him," WVUcoach Rich Rodriguez said. "We always thought we had a chance to get him."