Heyward-Bey was recruited by Alabama, Boston College, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Virginia, before ultimately choosing to attend Maryland to play under head coach Ralph Friedgen.

He spent 2005 on redshirt status.
In 2006, he ran a 4.23-second 40-yard dash, which set the school record for a wide receiver.
That season, he was considered one of the top rookies in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and earned first-team freshman All-America from the Sporting News and Rivals.com.
He led the Terrapins with 45 receptions, and set a school record for a freshman with 694 receiving yards.

In 2007, Heyward-Bey was placed on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist.
He led Maryland in receptions, with 51, and receiving yards, with 786.
His 63-yard touchdown reception in the 2007 Emerald Bowl against Oregon State stands as the second-longest in Maryland bowl history.
At season's end, Heyward-Bey was awarded the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player honor.

During his junior season in 2008, he made 42 catches for 609 yards and five touchdowns, and earned an All-ACC honorable mention.
On January 7, 2009, Heyward-Bey announced that he would forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.
He finished his career at Maryland second in school history in career receiving yards with 2,089, third in receptions with 138 and tied for third in touchdown catches with 13.
In just three years, he was second only to Jermaine Lewis in receiving yards.
Heyward-Bey was recruited by Alabama, Boston College, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Virginia, before ultimately choosing to attend Maryland to play under head coach Ralph Friedgen.
He spent 2005 on redshirt status. In 2006, he ran a 4.23-second 40-yard dash, which set the school record for a wide receiver. That season, he was considered one of the top rookies in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and earned first-team freshman All-America from the Sporting News and Rivals.com. He led the Terrapins with 45 receptions, and set a school record for a freshman with 694 receiving yards.
In 2007, Heyward-Bey was placed on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist. He led Maryland in receptions, with 51, and receiving yards, with 786. His 63-yard touchdown reception in the 2007 Emerald Bowl against Oregon State stands as the second-longest in Maryland bowl history. At season's end, Heyward-Bey was awarded the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player honor.
During his junior season in 2008, he made 42 catches for 609 yards and five touchdowns, and earned an All-ACC honorable mention. On January 7, 2009, Heyward-Bey announced that he would forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. He finished his career at Maryland second in school history in career receiving yards with 2,089, third in receptions with 138 and tied for third in touchdown catches with 13. In just three years, he was second only to Jermaine Lewis in receiving yards.
Darrius Heyward-Bey