Just over five minutes into the first quarter at SECU Stadium, Billy Edwards Jr. dropped back in the pocket. In one fluid motion, the Terps’ veteran quarterback launched a straightaway bullet pass towards the back of the endzone – landing in the hands of a diving Kaden Prather for the early score.
The 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive sparked a high-scoring shootout, with Maryland’s offense dominating in an emphatic 38-20 home victory Saturday over Villanova.
The win marks the Terps’ 15th straight in non-conference play – a streak that ranks second-longest in all of major college football.
“We just tried to stay on schedule offensively, and it worked out well for us,” said Edwards after the victory.
Now a redshirt junior and established starting quarterback, Edwards has trusted the process. His patience has paid off.
“He’s our quarterback and we’ll ride with him,” head coach Michael Locksley emphasized. “One of the things we strive for is to have the mind of a coach and the skill of a player … and [Edwards has] the comfort level … operating the system.”
As a full-time Terps’ starter through the first four games last year, Taulia Tagovailoa threw for a combined eight touchdowns. He added 1,112 total passing yards despite three interceptions – along with a completion percentage that never eclipsed 70 (66.7% vs Towson; 69.4% vs Charlotte; 63.3% vs Virginia; 58.3% vs Michigan State).
In four games this season, Edwards has essentially mirrored those numbers, accounting for eight total passing touchdowns and 1,155 yards on just two interceptions. The redshirt junior has also done so with a 70+ completion percentage through three of Maryland’s first four games (74.1% vs Connecticut; 76.5% vs Michigan State; 87.5% vs Villanova).
Edwards’ 87.5% rating in Saturday’s win marks a school record for single-game completion percentage – breaking Tagovailoa’s previously held 87.1% vs Charlotte in 2022.
Edwards credits Tagovailoa for his established comfortability in the Terps’ system over the past three years – translating in tangible success to begin this fall, and ensuring a smooth passing of the torch between the two.
“When I first transferred in here, [Tagovailoa] welcomed me with open arms,” Edwards said in a 247Sports article earlier this month.
“… The biggest thing that I learned from him was just how to handle success and how to handle adversity,” he said. “[Tagovailoa] texted me multiple times throughout [this year’s] camp and before the first game, and just reminded me how long of a season it is and just to take it one week at a time, one day at a time, one game.”
A leader from within
After a near-perfect first half Saturday, Maryland entered the final 30-minute frame firmly in the driver’s seat, leading 24-0.
But an intercepted Edwards pass, along with key errors and mistimed communications amongst the offense, ensued midway through the third quarter – making way for a speedy three-minute, 10-0 Villanova scoring run to force the Terps’ hand late.
With the timely mistakes in mind, Billy Edwards Jr. calmly stepped into the huddle, looking to regroup and elevate his squad.
The Terps’ leader delivered the message, emphasizing the need to move forward while keeping the two Wildcats’ scoring drives in the rearview mirror.
“Billy urged us to get back to neutral and realize that the game’s still going,” said Maryland running back Roman Hemby. “We still have plays to make, we still have domination to take … [Edwards] grouped everyone back together and said, ‘Let’s get back to what we do and put it in this [next] play.’”
A shared QB connection
As a backup quarterback for two years behind Tagovailoa, Edwards observed.
“What [Edwards has] done this last year, just being a sponge and soaking up everything that he saw [from Tagovailoa] and all the great leadership qualities that we had on display – he amplifies those,” Hemby said. “He makes it easy to play alongside him.”
Edwards’ early season success as current QB1 isn’t a coincidence – it’s rooted in years spent learning from Tagovailoa.
“Handling adversity and success, he was the same guy,” Edwards said of Tagovailoa. “[That’s] something he always prided himself on and [something] I always took away … whether it be from afar or when we’d be in the same meeting room with each other.”
Even with Tagovailoa serving as a personal and professional mentor to Edwards, maintaining a level of competition and an open line of communication between one another was still important.
“Obviously in the quarterback room, only one plays,” Edwards said to 247Sports. “It can get a little tricky sometimes, but we always competed, always pushed each other. If there was something he did better than me, he would tell me a tip. If it was vice-versa, I would do the same.”
Creating a legacy
As a three-year quarterback, Edwards is certainly comfortable in the Terps’ system. Past experience playing behind Tagovailoa has given the redshirt junior a unique level of understanding.
“One thing that really jumped out to me about Billy during camp … you never knew which group he played with,” Locksley said. “His ability to run with the ones, the twos, and the threes … and when we watch the tape, not [knowing] which group he’s playing with.”
Edwards has thrived in his newfound starting role, but still leans back to what’s been a constant for both himself and Tagovailoa: preparation and internal confidence.
“The preparation I do gives me the best chance to go out there on Saturday and be successful – and be confident doing it,” Edwards said. “… There’s no nerves.”
Three straight bowl game victories – Tagovailoa directing in 2021’s Pinstripe Bowl and 2022’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl; Edwards in 2023’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl – mark a Maryland football program on the rise, with the two respective quarterbacks having led the charge.
Even through varying play styles and strengths, similarities between the two are evident – and players and coaches alike have bought into both.
“Both [Tagovailoa and Edwards] just command the offense,” said Hemby. “I feel like Taulia was a great guy when it came to commanding the offensive line and getting everybody on the same accord with the receivers. And I think Billy does the same exact job.”
