2023 First Glance Preview: Week Five Maryland Terrapins
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Written By: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Week Five: Maryland Terrapins
Date & Time: Saturday, September 30, 2023, Time: TBA
Venue: SECU Stadium, College Park, MD
TV: TBA
Terrapins at a Glance
Head Coach: Mike Locksley
Experience: 9th Year Overall, 6th Year at Maryland
Record at Maryland: 21-28
Overall Record: 23-54
Terrapins Returning Leaders
Passing: Taulia Tagovailoa (262-391 (67%), 3,008 yards, 18 TD, 8 INTs)
Rushing: Roman Hemby (188 carries, 989 yards, 10 TD, 5.3 Avg)
Receiving: Jeshaun Jones (44 rec, 557 yards, 4 TD, 12.7 avg)
Tackles: Beau Brade, Safety (85 tackles, 4 TFLs 2 INTs)
Terrapins Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 4th in the Big Ten East
Lindy’s: 4th in the Big Ten East
Phil Steele: 4th in the Big Ten East
SP+: 41st Nationally
Impact Newcomers for the Terrapins
Kaden Prather, WR, Transfer from West Virginia
Tyrese Chambers, WR, Transfer from FIU
Jordan Phillips, Nose Tackle, Transfer from Tennessee
Ja’Quan Sheppard, CB, Transfer from Cincinnati
Biggest Questions Facing the 2023 Terrapins
1. Can Maryland make the next step up in the Big Ten?
2. Will the defense be improved enough?
3. Can the offensive line protect Tagovailoa?
Program Preview
The Terrapins are coming off back-to-back bowl wins and have won 15 games over the last two seasons. With Taulia Tagovailoa back for another season, Maryland will be looking to take the next step in the Big Ten. That means closing the gap and beating one of the big boys in Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.
Maryland should be unblemished in the non-conference and draw Illinois, Northwestern (road) and Nebraska (road) out of the West. They get Penn State and Michigan at home, but have to go to Ohio State. They play the Hoosiers after a trip to Michigan State.
While excitement is high in College Park, there are plenty of questions to be answered.
Tagovailoa has had issues staying healthy and a rebuilt offensive line needs to protect him. The Terrapins also lose Rakim Jarrett and Jacob Copeland, two receivers who were very productive the last few years. Who replaces them?
While the defense has improved the last few seasons, the Terrapins may struggle as they lose some talent to the NFL. Can they patch the holes with transfers?
Offensive Preview
The success of the Maryland season will revolve around how explosive their offense can be. Tagovailoa is arguably the most productive quarterback in program history and gave them a boost by returning for 2023.
The danger with Tagovailoa is that he has a history of injuries, which could leave backup Billy Edwards to pick up the slack. After Tagovailoa was injured against IU, Maryland went just 2-3 over the last five regular season games. Edwards is a solid runner but needs to become an adequate passer as well.
Roman Hemby was a stud as a freshman and should hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2023. Behind him are sophomores Roman Brown and Antwan Littleton who combined for 458 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The biggest questions on offense for Maryland come on the offensive line where they are breaking in four new starters. The lone returning starter is left tackle Delmar Glaze. Change may not be a bad thing as the Terrapins finished last in the Big Ten in sacks allowed in 2022. Maryland hit the transfer portal to plug the holes on the line. They brought in Corey Bullock from North Carolina Central where he was an All-MEAC selection and DII transfer Gottlieb Ayedze. The Terps also landed LSU transfer Marcus Dumervil. Guard Amelio Moran has experience, playing in 31 games in spot duty.
Corey Dyches brings a lot of playmaking ability to the tight end room and finished as Maryland’s second leading receiver in 2022 with 494 yards and three touchdowns.
The Terrapins always seem to have weapons at wide receiver whether it be Stephon Diggs, D.J. Moore to last year’s playmakers Jeshuan Jones and Rakim Jarrett.
Jarrett is off to the NFL, but Jones returns to lead a group that includes West Virginia transfer Kaden Prather and FIU transfer Tyrese Chambers. Both playmakers and deep threats. Maryland also returns familiar faces in Octavian Smith and Tai Felton.
As always with Maryland, health will play a factor on how good they’ll be. If the offense can protect Tagovailoa and the receivers can stay upright, the Terrapin offense can be one of the most explosive in the Big Ten.
Defensive Preview
Maryland gets a bad rap on defense, but the 2022 Terrapins ranked 42nd in the nation in total defense (the offense was 54th in total offense). Are there causes for concern with Maryland’s defense? Yes, while the numbers look OK, the Terrapins gave up 33 points to Indiana, 24 to Northwestern and at least 30 to Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State. Maryland only forced 16 turnovers in 2022, which was tied for ninth in the Big Ten.
This season, Maryland’s strength will be in the back seven. Linebackers Jaishawn Barham and Ruben Hyppolite anchor the defense. Barham was a freshman All-American after making 58 tackles and Hyppolite is back from injury. The secondary could be a strength as well with 2022’s leading tackle Beau Brade back at strong safety. Dante Trader Jr. will man the strong safety position and finished last year with 62 tackles and two interceptions. Cornerback Tarheeb Still is back and will be joined by Cincinnati transfer Ja’Quan Sheppard. Despite the talent last season, Maryland finished 62nd nationally in pass defense.
The defensive line is the biggest question facing Maryland heading into 2023. They will have four new starters and bring in a few transfers to plug the holes left by several departures. All four projected starters will be new in 2023 and two of them are transfers. Defensive end Quashon Fuller (6’3” 270lbs) will step into a starting role after making seven tackles with two coming for loss in 10 games last season. On the other side will be St. Francis transfer Donell Brown (6’3” 240lbs.)
In the middle of the defensive line redshirt freshman transfer Jordan Phillips (6’5” 295lbs.) is slated to start at the nose tackle position and junior Tommy Akingbesote (6’4” 310lbs.) is at the defensive tackle position. Maryland does lose three of their most productive defensive linemen who combined for 14.5 tackles for loss.
Special Teams Preview
The Terrapins lose place kicker Chad Ryland to the NFL. He was 19-of-23 on field goals last season, so that is a big hole to fill. Maryland will turn to junior Harrison Beattie who hit his only field goal attempt last season.
Punter Colton Spangler is back after an All-Big Ten honorable mention season as a sophomore. He averaged 45 yards per punt.
Wide receiver Octavian Smith is a dangerous return man and averaged 20.3 yards per attempt. Cornback Tarheeb Still will handle the punt return duties. He had a six yard average on 17 returns in 2023.
2023 First Glance Previews
Week One – Ohio State Buckeyes