2020 First Glance Week 6: Hoosiers Host Maryland on Homecoming Weekend

Written By: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Week Six: Maryland Terrapins

Date & Time: Saturday, October 10, 2020, Time: TBA

Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

TV: TBA

Terrapins at a Glance

Head Coach: Mike Locksley

Entering his 2nd full year as Maryland’s Head Coach, 5th full year overall

Record at Maryland: 4-14

Overall Record: 6-40

Last Season: 3-9 (1-7) Sixth Place in the Big Ten East

Terrapin Returning Leaders

Passing: Josh Jackson (98-207 passing (47.3%), 1,274 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs)

Rushing: Tayon Fleet-Davis (63 rushes, 265 yards, 4.1 YPC, 2 TDs)

Receiving: Dontay Demus Jr. (41 receptions, 625 yards, 15.2 YPC 6 TDs)

Tackles: LB Ayinde Eley (79 tackles, 44 solo, 4 TFLs, 0.5 Sacks, 3 PBU’s, 1 INT)

Terrapins Preseason Predictions

Athlon: 6th in the Big Ten East

Lindy’s: 6th in the Big Ten East

Phil Steele: Not Published

Street & Smith’s: 6th in the Big Ten East

SP+: 66th (3.8 wins)

Impact Newcomers for the Terrapins

Peny Boone, RB-

Rakim Jarrett, WR-

Jakorian Bennett, CB-

Biggest Questions Facing the 2020 Terrapins

1. How much time will Mike Locksley get to turn the ship around?

Locksley is just 6-40 as a head coach and his Maryland team went 3-9 last year after a 2-0 start that included a top-25 ranking. If 2019 was a Year Zero situation, then Locksely will have be ok if they improve to four or five wins. If not, how much pull does a coach who hasn’t put it together in five-plus years have? At some point Maryland is going to have to cut their losses, no matter how good of a recruiter they think Locksley is.

2. Can they find a quarterback and keep them healthy?

It seems like every year a Maryland quarterback misses a chunk of the season. Last season Josh Jackson played in parts of 10 games. No Maryland quarterback has played 12 games since 2016 when Caleb Rowe accomplished the feat. If Maryland can find some consistency and health at quarterback, it could speed up the rebuild.

3. Can the defense improve?

Well, the only place to go is up for the most part. Maryland ranked 115th nationally in scoring and 109th in total defense.

Program Preview

Was 2019 a Year Zero or just more of the same from Mike Locksley led teams? While a great recruiter who has connections all over the DMV area, Locksley is 6-40 in four-plus years as a head coach. Maryland started hot and was ranked as high as 21 nationally before the bottom fell out as they lost nine of their last 10 games. 10 of 22 starters return, so maybe turnover is good news as Maryland has recruited well recently.

Offensive Preview

Maryland’s 2019 offense went as their rushing attack went. In their three wins the Terrapins ran for 290.3 yards per game while rushing for 129.1 yards per game in their nine losses. The Terrapins their top two rushers from a year ago in Javon Leake and Anthony McFarland who combined for 1,350 yards, 16 touchdowns and a 6.3 yard per carry average.

The Terrapins bring in four-star recruit Peny Boone, who is a big, brusing back at 6’2” and 225 pounds. Boone, who enrolled early, could be the opening day starter for the Terps if he can beat out seniors Tayon Fleet-Davis (63 carries, 265 yards) and Jake Funk (17 carries 173 yards).  Another true freshman, Isaiah Jacobs could fight for a major role in the rotation as well.

Maryland’s questions continue at quarterback where the Terrapins bring back Josh Jackson, but lose backup Tyrell Pigrome. Jackson started hot, but finished with a completion percentage under 50 and battled injuries all year. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Desue was a three-star recruit, but has only eight games and 16 pass attempts to his name. Lance LeGemdre is a former four-star dual-threat quarterback who could play his way onto the field with a big fall camp. The wildcard here is Taulia Tagovailoa, who transferred from Alabama in the off-season. Taulia is the younger brother of Tua Tagovailoa and was rated a four-star recruit out of high school. He is rated as a three-star transfer however by 247 Sports. He will have to win his appeal in order to be eligible for the 2020 season.

Whoever the quarterback ends up being will have a plethora of weapons to throw the ball to. Maryland returns junior Dontae Demus who led the team in receptions (41) and yards (625) and get a healthy Jeshuan Jones back after missing all of 2019. Jones scored seven total touchdowns in 2018 and was Maryland’s second leading receiver with 22 catches for 288 yards. Maryland also adds five-star freshman Rakim Jarrett to the mix after he flipped from LSU. Jarrett is 6’ and has the ability to play both in the slot and out wide. Wide receivers Brian Cobbs and DJ Turner and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo will also be factors in the passing game.

None of this will work if Maryland’s offensive line doesn’t improve. The Terrapins allowed 38 sacks in 2019 which ranked 13th in the Big Ten and 83 tackles for loss, 12th in the conference. Only two starters, tackles Jaelyn Duncan and Marcus Minor return from 2019 though. Maryland has to hope that the only place to go is up for this offensive line.

Defensive Preview

Maryland’s defense was a disaster in 2019 as they ranked last in the Big Ten in both total and passing defense, 13th in scoring defense and 10th in rushing defense. Only five starters return and that could be a good thing.

The three-man front is anchored by senior nose tackle Olu Oluwatimi who made 22 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2019. The second defensive tackle is senior Sam Okuayinonu who added 31 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and a sack in 2019. Defensive end will be manned by Mosiah Nasili-Kite.

The linebacking corps is anchored by senior Shaq Smith who made 24 tackles in 2019 after transferring in from Clemson. Junior Ayinde Eley, Maryland’s leading returning tackler, and sophomore Cortez Andrews will man the outside backer positions. Maryland’s ‘Jack’ position is manned by Durell Nchami.

Safety Nick Cross is a star in the making at safety after picking off two passes and making 45 tackles as a freshman. JUCO transfer Jakorian Bennett should start and help plug a hole at corner. Opposite Bennett is going to be Deonte Banks who had three passes defensed and 22 tackles as a freshman in 2019. Jordan Mosely, a junior who started at strong safety, is back, but is in a position battle with senior Antwaine Richardson who missed all of the 2019 season.

Special Teams Preview

Maryland only attempted five field goals in 2019 and they made just two of them. Joseph Petrino made 12-of-14 field goals as a freshman in 2018. Maybe it was rust in 2019, maybe it was a lack of opportunities, but this is an area of concern.

The Terrapins also return both punters from 2019. Together Colton Spangler and Anthony Percorella averaged 40.3 yards per punt. Neither was great and it could be a two-man job again.

Maryland loses an elite kick returner in Javon Leake who had three career kick return touchdowns. Maryland has enough athletes to find someone to be adequate returning kicks. Can they be what Javon Leake was? Maybe, maybe not. DJ Turner should be back to return punts if he can stay healthy.