History continued in the Terps’ 37-0 shutout over Rutgers. On the same day QB Taulia Tagovailoa set the all-time Maryland passing touchdown record, WR Dontay Demus Jr. made history of his own.

On his first catch of the day, a five-yard reception, Demus became just the seventh Terp to record 2,000 receiving yards in his career. He joins an exclusive club made up of several notable NFL players, including Stefon Diggs, DJ Moore, Torrey Smith, and Jermaine Lewis, who have all excelled at the highest possible level in sports.

In a week five game against Iowa last year, Demus suffered a brutal ACL tear while returning a kickoff to begin the second quarter. His season was over, but as he was carted off he could be seen saying “I’m coming back.” What followed would be an extensive rehab process following his surgery.

Demus’ road back to the field would be further complicated as he injured his foot in off-season workouts. Many experts believed that he would not be able to return until well into the season, but head coach Mike Locksley believed in him. “Demus is ahead of schedule…I’ve really been impressed with the way he’s returned,” Locksley said, “Our training staff has done a great job getting Dontay back… we do expect him to be back for the opening game.”

Defying the odds, Demus took the field for the first game of the year against Buffalo where he recorded three catches for 23 yards. In 47 career games played, Demus has 128 receptions for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns. “Demus has been doing that his whole life,” said Tagovailoa, “Those are the plays he always makes in practice, and his confidence is always high; he always believes in himself, and so do we.”

With his collegiate career almost in the rearview mirror, Demus will join fellow WR Rakim Jarrett in looking ahead to the NFL draft.