2021 had its fair share of ups and downs for the Terps. The team finished 7-6 overall after the Terps’ squad won its first bowl game since 2010, routing Virginia Tech in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. All six losses came from teams within the Big Ten conference: Iowa, Ohio State, Minnesota, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan. The Terps will play nine in-conference games this season, just as they did last year, hoping to increase its 33.3% win percentage in the Big Ten and make it to another bowl.
Guess who’s back?
Who can forget the Terps’ Week 5 blackout against No. 5 Iowa? Early in the second quarter, Maryland’s top wide receiver, Dontay Demus Jr., suffered a gruesome right knee injury that required surgery and in turn ended his season. Just as he promised, Demus will be returning in 2022 for his final year as a Terp.
Demus, currently graded 75.8 on PFF.com, is now the third highest grade to be given to a Maryland wide receiver behind D.J. Moore (77.1) and Stefon Diggs (79.5). With rising talent Taulia Tagovailoa as his Quarterback, Demus Jr. will be looking to make a comeback as a top wide receiver prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Before his injury last season, Demus had 3 touchdowns and 507 receiving yards, which was the most receiving yards in the Big Ten at the time. He is expected to be ready by the start of the season, according to Coach Locksley. “Our thought is that we will see him in the first game and I think that’s still where we are now,” Locksley told reporters during his Big Ten Media Day press conference earlier this month.
The Offense
Demus won’t be the only highly-touted receiver coming out of Maryland after this season. Junior wide receiver Rakim Jarrett will be looking to make another splash this year after a stellar 2021 season that landed him at #68 on ESPN’s top-100 college football player list. Jarett finished 2021 with 829 receiving yards on 62 receptions, and a total of 5 touchdowns. Additionally, former Florida Gators receiver, Jacob Copeland, transferred to Maryland in the offseason and looks to find his place in a talented receiving corps. Copeland had a limited role as a Gator, earning 642 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, but in College Park, he looks to boost his impact.
Now, back to Maryland’s quarterback, Tagovailoa. Arguably one of the most underrated quarterbacks in college football, Tagovailoa had an impressive showing in 2021, accumulating 3,860 yards passing and an astonishing 26 touchdowns. With a complete and healthy receiving tandem at his disposal, expect Tagovailoa’s numbers to exceed his already elite showing from last year.
The Defense
Unfortunately, Maryland’s defense appears to be the team’s weakest aspect on paper. Several of Maryland’s key defensive players entered the transfer portal before the deadline arrived in May. Sophomore Darrell Jackson transferred to the University of Miami after raking in 15 solo tackles in his first year at Maryland. Senior Lavonte Gater transferred to Kent State after earning 21 solo tackles and 1 forced fumble. Other names include Demeioun Robinson, Andre Porter, Kenny Benett, and Devyn King. In total, six defensive players were lost to the transfer portal.
With Brian Williams serving as the new defensive coordinator this season, he becomes the 4th person to hold the position since 2019. Williams was the head play caller for the final two games in 2021, helping Maryland earn wins over Rutgers and Virginia Tech. the Terps’ coaching staff hopes he will be able to build upon his early success after earning the promotion earlier in the year.
Coaching Staff
Williams will be joined by several new coaches on the defensive staff. One of these coaches is Lance Thompson, a knowledgeable recruiter who has also coached at eight different schools around the NCAA including Alabama, LSU, and Auburn. Most recently, Thompson served as the linebacker coach at Florida Atlantic University and will now be coaching Maryland’s inside linebackers.
Additionally, another new addition to the staff is Wes Neighbors, who joined the Terps as a safeties coach. Neighbors has coached at three different schools: Louisiana, South Florida, and Florida Atlantic. Last season, Neighbors helped the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns go 13-1 en route to a Sun Belt Conference championship. The Ragin Cajuns’ defense was ranked #14 in the FBS, only allowing 18.5 points per game on average.
Furthermore, Under new leadership, Maryland’s defense will be looking to change the narrative after being ranked third-worst among defensive units in the Big Ten in 2021.
On the other side of the ball, Coach Locksley hired Gunter Brewer as the team’s new wide receiver coach. Brewer began his coaching career at Purdue in 1986. Over the past three decades, Brewer has developed many notable receivers including Dez Bryant and Randy Moss. With the talents of Demus Jr., Copeland, and Jarett in his receiving corps, Maryland’s passing game is certain to strike fear into its Big Ten opponents.
Schedule Preview
Week 1: Buffalo at Maryland – September 3rd, 12:00 PM
Week 2: Maryland at Charlotte – September 10th, 3:30 PM
Week 3: SMU at Maryland – September 17th, 7:30 PM
Week 4: Maryland at Michigan – September 24th, 12:00 PM
Week 5: Michigan State at Maryland – October 1st, TBA
Week 6: Purdue at Maryland – October 8th, TBA
Week 7: Maryland at Indiana – October 15th, TBA
Week 8: Northwestern at Maryland – October 22nd, 3:30 PM
Week 9: Maryland at Wisconsin – November 5th, TBA
Week 10: Maryland at Penn State – November 12th, TBA
Week 11: Ohio State at Maryland – November 19th, TBA
Week 12: Rutgers at Maryland – November 26th, TBA
