2022 Season Preview – Wide Receivers

Led by quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland’s air attack ranked as the 15th-best unit in the country last season. Despite losing top receivers Dontay Demus, Jr. and Jeshaun Jones in their fifth and sixth games, respectively, the team put up more than 300 passing yards in eight of their contests. They recorded at least one touchdown reception in every game, and ten different wide receivers caught passes over the course of the year. While the position has thinned out a bit this season, the Terrapins still boast one of the best groups of wide receivers in the country.

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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.

The Big Three (Questions)

How are snaps divided?
Like most modern offenses, Maryland will operate with at least three wide receivers the majority of the time. On paper however, there are at least four players vying for first-team snaps. The coaching staff will have their work cut out for them in order to ensure that Demus, Jr., Jones, Rakim Jarrett, and Jacob Copeland are all given opportunities to showcase their talents.

Which freshmen can make an impact?
Below the four top receivers, there are a handful of talented freshmen who will be hoping to break through the rotation immediately. Octavian Smith, Jr., Leon Haughton, Jr., and Shaleak Knotts all come to College Park as very highly-touted recruits with abilities to make an impact right away.

How high can Demus, Jr. fly?
Before he suffered the knee injury that would end his season in the team’s fifth game against Iowa, Demus, Jr. was on his way to an historic year. As long as he can stay healthy, he will likely find his name being called very early in next year’s NFL Draft.

Gunter Brewer – Wide Receivers Coach/Passing Game Coordinator

Brewer is the only new member of the offensive coaching staff for Maryland this season, replacing Zohn Burden after he left for the same position at Duke. Brewer has coached some of the best wide receivers in the game during his career, including Dez Bryant, Randy Moss, and Justin Blackmon. Most recently, he spent the last three years as Louisville’s wide receivers coach. Known as a technician, he’ll be working to perfect the route-running and footwork of an already extremely talented receiver room.

Dontay Demus, Jr. (Redshirt Senior)

2022 Projection: Starter (X)
2021 Statistics: 28 receptions, 507 yds (18.1 ypr), 3 TD

Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in the fifth game, Demus, Jr. finished second on the team in receiving yards. He put up more than 100 yards in three of the first four games, and was on his way to being a Biletnikoff Award finalist. His chemistry with Tagovailoa was very apparent, and his speed coupled with size and route-running ability gives him the ability to beat defenders from anywhere on the field.

I’ve projected Demus, Jr. to serve as the team’s starting split-end receiver this season. He’s expected to fully participate in summer practices, and should be fully healthy by the time the Terrapins kick off against Buffalo on September 3. After serving as the team’s starting kickoff returner last year, it’s yet to be seen whether he’ll reclaim those duties in 2022.

Rakim Jarrett (Junior*)

2022 Projection: Starter (Z)
2021 Statistics: 62 receptions, 829 yds (13.4 ypr), 5 TD; 4 carries, 2 yds (0.5 ypc), 0 TD

Jarrett has lived up to every bit of hype he had surrounding him after being Maryland’s highest-rated recruit since Stefon Diggs. He finished second on the team in receiving yards as a freshman, and was the clear top dog last season. His ability to play both outside and inside gives the coaching staff plenty of flexibility, and his 62 receptions last year is tied with Diggs for the seventh-most in a single season in program history.

I’ve projected Jarrett to serve as the team’s starting flanker receiver this season, though he’ll likely also see time in the slot. Expect him to receive plenty of shovel passes out of the backfield once again this year, as the coaching staff tries to get him the ball as many ways as possible. Like Demus, Jr., he’ll also likely be headed to the NFL after this year.

Jacob Copeland (Redshirt Senior*)

2022 Projection: Starter (H)
2021 Statistics (Florida): 41 receptions, 642 yds (15.7 ypr), 4 TD; 3 carries, 20 yds (6.7 ypc), 0 TD

It’s not every day that you have a chance to add the leading receiver from an SEC school to your team, but that’s exactly what head coach Michael Locksley was able to do by adding Copeland through the transfer portal. He served as Florida’s starting slot receiver in 2021, and led them in receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns. He was the star of Maryland’s Red-White Spring Game, catching 5 passes for 70 yards.

I’ve projected Copeland to serve as the team’s starting slot receiver this season, though like Jarrett he’s a flexible player who can take snaps on the outside as well. The coaching staff will likely also use him on sweeps out of the backfield, and he could see time returning kickoffs and/or punts.

Tai Felton (Sophomore)

2022 Projection: Second-Team (X)
2021 Statistics: 5 receptions, 51 yds (10.2 ypr), 0 TD

Felton came to College Park last season as a 3-star recruit from Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, VA. In a crowded wide receiver room, he saw the field in eight games and had at least one reception in four of the last five contests he played in. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s second-string split end this season.

Jeshaun Jones (Redshirt Senior*)

2022 Projection: Second-Team (Z)
2021 Statistics: 18 receptions, 224 yds (12.4 ypr), 0 TD

For the second time in three seasons, Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2021. He played in six games before tearing his ACL against Ohio State, with his best performances coming against Illinois and Kent State. All signs point to him being ready for summer practices, and he’ll be looking to put together a full and healthy campaign in what will likely be his last year in College Park. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s second-string flanker receiver this season, though he should receive plenty of playing time and could also see the field as a kickoff and/or punt returner.

Octavian Smith, Jr. (Freshman)

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

Smith, Jr. is one of three wide receivers that Locksley and his coaching staff added in their 2022 recruiting class. He comes to College Park as a 4-star prospect from Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, MD. 247Sports ranked him as the 15th-best athlete in the country and the 6th-best player from the state of Maryland. He committed and signed with the Terrapins on National Signing Day last season, choosing Maryland over offers from Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, and others. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s second-string slot receiver this season, a job he’ll have to battle with Marcus Fleming for. He also has the ability to return kickoffs and punts.

Leon Haughton, Jr. (Freshman)

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

Haughton, Jr. comes to College Park as a 3-star recruit from Benedictine College Preparatory in Richmond, VA. 247Sports ranks him as the 134th-best wide receiver in the country and the 25th-best player from the state of Virginia, with scholarship offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Penn State, among others. He was primarily recruited by Burden, but will still join the team this summer. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s third-string split end receiver this season, and the coaching staff will likely attempt to redshirt him.

Shaleak Knotts (Freshman)

2022 Projection: Third-Team (Z)
2021 Statistics (High School): 32 receptions, 616 yds (19.3 ypr), 11 TD

Knotts stands as the second-highest rated recruit in Maryland’s 2022 class, coming from Monroe High School in Monroe, NC. 247Sports ranks him as the 31st-best wide receiver in the country, and the 6th-best player from the state of North Carolina. He had scholarship offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. Recruited by Burden and co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Miller, he visited College Park last June and committed less than two months later. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s third-string flanker receiver this season.

Marcus Fleming (Redshirt Sophomore*)

2022 Projection: Third-Team (H)
2021 Statistics: 18 receptions, 197 yds (10.9 ypr), 1 TD

Fleming was a major addition to the team before last season, coming to College Park after spending one year at Nebraska. After injuries to Demus, Jr. and Jones he began to see more of the field, but suffered a season-ending injury of his own in the team’s game against Michigan State. He fully participated in spring practices however, and will be healthy as the team begins summer workouts. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s third-string slot receiver in 2022, but he’ll be battling with Smith, Jr. for the second-string role this summer. He could also see time as a kickoff and/or punt returner.

Robert Smith (Redshirt Freshman)

2022 Projection: Fourth-Team (X)
2021 Statistics: None

Smith joined the team as a walk-on before last year, and saw his first and only collegiate game action in the bowl victory over Virginia Tech. He came to College Park from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, TX. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s fourth-string split end receiver this season.

Kai Holloway (Redshirt Freshman)

2022 Projection: Fourth-Team (H)
2021 Statistics: None

Like Smith, Holloway joined the team as a walk-on before last year and only saw the field against the Hokies. He’s a local product, coming to Maryland from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s fourth-string slot receiver this season.