2022 Season Preview – Quarterbacks

Stability at the quarterback position isn’t something that Maryland fans have been accustomed to over the last decade or so, but it’s exactly what they’ll have once again this season. Taulia Tagovailoa enters his third year as the Terrapins’ signal-caller, one year removed from breaking nearly every one of the program’s major passing records. The team’s success this season will ride on the arm of their talented Hawaiian quarterback.

(Discuss this article on the BSL Message Board here.)

Note: Players with an asterisk (*) next to their class will have an extra year of eligibility available to them following their senior season due to COVID-19.

(Edited 6/7/2022 to reflect Zachary Jackson’s departure from the program.)

The Big Three (Questions)

Can Tagovailoa step up in big games?
While he’s proven to be Maryland’s most talented quarterback in recent memory, Tagovailoa must be more consistent in the team’s biggest games in order to be considered truly great. Avoiding performances like last season’s debacle against Iowa is the next step in his development.

How does Edwards, Jr. fill the backup role?
While head coach Michael Locksley and his coaching staff likely would’ve preferred to add a more experienced backup quarterback, landing Edwards, Jr. was still important. He’s never taken a collegiate snap, so getting him experience in mop-up duty early in the season would be ideal in case he’s called upon later this year.

Who steps up next season?
This is widely expected to be Tagovailoa’s final season in a Maryland uniform, and there are a number of players vying to take his place in 2022. Edwards, Jr. joins Cameron Edge and Jayden Sauray as the young signal-callers currently on the roster who’ll be using this year as their opportunity to impress the coaching staff before competition really heats up next spring.

Dan Enos – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach

Enos enters his second year as Maryland’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after taking over for Scottie Montgomery before last season. He oversaw one of the country’s best passing attacks in 2021, and his quarterbacks will have one of the most talented groups of receivers in the Big Ten Conference to work with once again this season.

Taulia Tagovailoa (Redshirt Junior*)

2022 Projection: Starter
2021 Statistics: 328/474 (69.2%), 3,860 yds, 26 TD, 11 INT; 80 carries, 81 yds (1.01 ypc), 2 TD

Tagovailoa started every game for the Terrapins last season, setting single-season program records for passing yards, completions, completion percentage, and 300-yard passing games. He also tied Scott Milanovich’s 1993 record for single-season passing touchdowns. He capped off his excellent year with his most efficient performance in the team’s bowl victory over Virginia Tech, completing 83.3% of his passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns.

Locksley has said multiple times that Tagovailoa played just one bad quarter last season, referencing his five interception performance against Iowa. His biggest task in 2022 will be playing zero bad quarters, or at least limiting the damage when he does make mistakes. If Maryland is able to compete in some of their games against Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Penn State, it’ll almost certainly depend on stellar play from their quarterback.

Billy Edwards, Jr. (Redshirt Freshman)

2022 Projection: Second-Team
2021 Statistics (Wake Forest): Did Not Play

Locksley and his coaching staff had been looking for a backup quarterback in the transfer portal for awhile, and finally landed Edwards, Jr. in late May. He spent his freshman season at Wake Forest after a standout high school career at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA. 247Sports rated him as a three-star recruit, and a Top-50 player from the state of Virginia. He didn’t take any snaps for the Demon Deacons last season, but was reportedly very impressive to their coaching staff during the team’s practices.

I have projected Edwards, Jr. to serve as the team’s backup quarterback this season, though it’s a job he’ll likely have to compete for against experienced walk-on Eric Najarian. With Tagovailoa expected to depart College Park after this year, he’ll have an opportunity to compete for the starting job in 2023.

Eric Najarian (Redshirt Junior)

2022 Projection: Third-Team
2021 Statistics: None

After having shoulder surgery last summer, Najarian sat behind VMI transfer Reece Udinski and was unable to throw the ball in the two games he played in. His only memorable performance for the Terrapins came in 2020, when he nearly led the team to an overtime victory over Rutgers in their final game of the regular season. Playing in relief of Lance LeGendre, who was forced into starting duty after Tagovailoa tested positive for COVID-19, he completed 12 of his 23 pass attempts for 218 yards and two touchdowns. I have projected him to serve as the team’s third-string quarterback this season, though he’ll likely be given the opportunity to compete for the backup role with Edwards, Jr. during summer camp.

David Foust (Redshirt Sophomore)

2022 Projection: Fourth-Team
2021 Statistics: None

Like Najarian, Foust is one of five walk-on options in the quarterback room this season. He appeared in mop-up duty in Maryland’s game against Howard last year, and spent spring practices as the third-string signal-caller behind Tagovailoa and Najarian. He was also named the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts last season. I have projected Foust to serve as the team’s fourth-string quarterback this season, though he’ll likely be pushed by incoming freshmen Cameron Edge and Jayden Sauray.

Jayden Sauray (Freshman)

2022 Projection: Fifth-Team (Redshirt)
2021 Statistics (High School): 101/146 (69.2%), 1,995 yds, 30 TD, 6 INT; 45 carries, 483 yds (10.7 ypc), 6 TD

Sauray comes to College Park from Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, MD. He was ranked by 247Sports as a 3-star recruit, the 47th-best quarterback in the country and the 20th-best player in the state of Maryland. Recruited by Enos and running backs coach Elijah Brooks, he also had scholarship offers from Boston College, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. Known as a dual-threat quarterback, he would add a dynamic rushing element to Locksley and Enos’ offensive scheme.

I have projected Sauray to serve as the team’s fifth-string quarterback this season, but he’ll have every opportunity to move up the depth chart once he arrives on campus this summer. Regardless, it’ll likely be the coaching staff’s intention to redshirt him. His best chance for playing time will likely come next season, assuming that Tagovailoa enters the NFL Draft.

Cameron Edge (Freshman)

2022 Projection: Sixth-Team (Redshirt)
2021 Statistics (High School): 183/273 (67.0%), 2,990 yds, 27 TD, 2 INT; 69 carries, 87 yds (1.3 ypc), 0 TD

Edge had originally committed to Maryland as a part of their 2023 recruiting class, but was able to re-classify and will join the team this summer. He spent last season at Smyrna High School in Smyrna, DE after transferring from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. Known for having a strong arm and good mobility, he’ll have an opportunity to develop with the coaching staff this season before competing for the starting job next year. I have projected Edge to serve as the team’s sixth-string quarterback this season, though he’ll almost certainly play in four or fewer games and redshirt.

Ryan Duell (Redshirt Freshman)

2022 Projection: Seventh-Team
2021 Statistics: Did Not Play

Like Jackson, Duell also walked onto the team before last season. Hailing from West Chester East High School in West Chester, PA, he had a decorated high school career as both an athlete and a student. He had opportunities to attend a number of Ivy League schools, but chose Maryland instead. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s seventh-string quarterback this season.

John Griffith (Freshman)

2022 Projection: Eighth-Team
2021 Statistics (High School): N/A

Griffith is the only new walk-on for the Terrapins this season, coming to College Park from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, MD. He threw for over 1,000 yards for the Panthers last season and led his team to a 9-1 record. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s eighth-string quarterback this season.