After scoring six touchdowns and throttling the Indiana Hoosiers 44-17 in week five, undefeated Maryland stands out as one of the more established teams in the Big Ten.
Sitting at second place in the conference’s east division under Penn State, Maryland is 5-0 for the first time since 2001, and for the ninth time in the program’s 131-year history.
“I thought today was probably the most complete game that we played in all three phases,” head coach Mike Locksley said in his post-game presser. “If you play to your standard, you usually end up with the win and today we were able to do that.”
With the win over Indiana marking Maryland’s highest-scoring game of the season, a lot of attention has surrounded the Terps’ offense that racked up six touchdowns on Saturday.
Five out of the six scoring drives ended with a passing touchdown. As a result, many receivers, as well as quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, achieved accolades before the game was over. Here’s a look at some:
Tagovailoa leads the Big Ten
Tagovailoa threw for 352 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and the team’s lone rushing touchdown.
“Honestly, it’s a testament to the [offensive] line blocking, the receivers catching the ball and everyone just doing their job,” Tagovailoa said post-game.
With six touchdowns being the most in Tagovailoa’s career, he earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in his collegiate career, becoming the first Terp to ever receive the title on three separate occasions.
Tagovailoa greatly distances himself from other Big Ten quarterbacks. His 1464 passing yards (292.8 per game on average) are the most in the conference, as are his 13 touchdowns.
As of now, no one in the conference is even close to dethroning him. Purdue’s Hudson Card follows in passing yards with 1244, but the two quarterbacks are the only ones in the Big Ten with over 1100. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy trails Tagovailoa in total touchdowns with 10.
On the first drive against Indiana, a 62-yard completion to wide receiver Jeshaun Jones put Tagovailoa over 9000 career passing yards, the highest of any quarterback in Maryland’s history.
Currently ranked 13th all-time in Big Ten history with 9343 passing yards, it will be interesting to see where Tagovailoa finishes by the end of the regular season, especially considering that seven games remain.
Tai Felton notches career-high receiving touchdowns
Wide receiver Tai Felton caught three touchdown receptions in the first half against Indiana, a career-high for him.
Two of Felton’s touchdowns were thrown on back-to-back drives at the start of the first quarter. He ended Maryland’s first drive with a 13-yard catch in the endzone, and the second drive with a 29-yard reception that put the Terps up 14-3.
“I knew what I could do ever since I started playing football,” Felton said post-game. “I know my skill set, I know my coaches and teammates believe in me and trust me, so I can’t let them down.”
Felton’s third touchdown came in the second quarter. Felton caught a nine-yard pass from Tagovailoa, sending the Terps into halftime with a 27-3 lead over Indiana.
He finished the game with seven receptions for 134 receiving yards, averaging 19.1 yards per catch.
It’s the highest production Felton has ever reached in his collegiate career, with his second-best game coming from last year’s bowl win against North Carolina State, in which he caught just four passes for 69 yards.
Although receivers Jacob Copeland, Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett left big roles to fill after departing for the NFL last year, Felton has established himself among a talented, young corps that’s kept up Maryland’s aerial attack.
Jeshaun Jones passes 1,500 career receiving yards
Ironically, the 62-yard reception that put Tagovailoa over 9,000 passing yards was the same ball that put Jeshaun Jones over 1,500 career receiving yards.
Maryland’s first offensive snap of the game ended with Jones tracking to Indiana’s 13-yard line. That’s just before Felton got the touchdown two snaps later.
“When Jones caught that first deep ball on that first drive, he’s kind of what got us started,” Felton said. “That was a big momentum boost.”
The fifth-year senior finished against Indiana with 1569 career receiving yards across 40 games. He now sits with the 13th-most receiving yards of any wide receiver in program history, directly under Ferrell Edmunds, (‘87) who totaled 1641.
Across five games, Jones leads receivers with 319 yards, but Felton closely trails with 299 and Kaden Prather with 254. His 16.8 average yards per reception is the most on the team.
While he leads the team in yards, Jones just barely leads the team in receptions. He sits with 19 above Felton, Prather and Dyches who each have 18. Also, Felton and Prather each have three touchdowns while Jones sits under them two.
Jones is the current leader of this corps, but it’s evident that Tagovailoa does not have a clear go-to guy in the passing game, or at least not yet, as Prather and Felton begin to make greater strides.
Freshman Dylan Wade records first touchdown
First-year tight end Dylan Wade recorded his first touchdown midway through the third quarter, catching a 3-yard reception from Tagovailoa in the endzone.
Wade – a former three-star recruit from Florida — chose Maryland over Purdue, Rutgers and Miami. With CJ Dippre’s departure in the offseason, Wade looks to fill a large hole left at the position.
“As a young guy, [Wade] is a guy with a really competitive personality,” Locksley said post-game. “He is not afraid to be a leader as a young player.”
The touchdown marked Wade’s only reception in the game and also his first catch of the season.
