2024 Terps Football – Quick Hits As The Season Starts

The University of Maryland begins their 2024 season Saturday at Noon, as they host the UConn Huskies.

This will be Year 6 for Head Coach Mike Locksley.

In 2021, Maryland went 7-6 overall, with a win in the Pinstripe Bowl (54-10 over Virginia Tech).
In 2022, Maryland went 8-5 overall, with a win in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl (16-12 over NC State).
In 2023, Maryland went 8-5 overall, with a win in the Music City Bowl (31-13 over Auburn).

This year, Maryland moves on without Taulia Tagovailoa who started 41 games for the Terrapins, and left College Park as the Big Ten’s All-Time leader in passing yards.
Some MD fans weren’t in love with Tagovailoa, noting his propensity for compounding errors when things went sideways; but I think everyone can acknowledge that moving on from his experience will be a change.

You Play Who You Play

Taulia moving on was probably the primary discussion point in most preview articles for the Terrapins this Summer.

The other oft mentioned topic was that with the arrival of the former Pac 12 teams (Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA) the Big Ten has disbanded the East / West Divisional format the Terps have experienced since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

It’s a bit overblown, because while Michigan and Ohio State are not on Maryland’s 2024 slate, Oregon and USC are.

There are always going to be high-quality teams, and long-time powers on Maryland’s schedule.
The MD program can’t spend time fixating on who they’re facing.
Their sole focus as a program has to be continuous self-improvement.
Controlling what they can control.
How are you better today, than you were yesterday?

Realistic Goals

Locksley has built some stability to the program.

For the most part, MD is winning the games they should.

Locksley is recruiting at quality levels both from the High School ranks, and within the portal.

There are numerous articles to be found of existing players, prospects, and the Coaching staff touting the culture that has been built.

The vibes are good.

One realistic goal is getting through the year, with that many more people buying in on what you are selling.

For that to happen, you can’t step-back, and you also can’t plateau now.

You can’t sell the fanbase, and your locker room that you are making incremental improvement as a program, if that incremental improvement isn’t readily apparent.

As we said above, for the most part MD is winning the games they should.
That said, they did leave some meat on the bones last year.
The Terps competed admirably vs. Ohio State and Michigan. No shame in those losses.
But Illinois at home, and at Northwestern were winnable games.
Losing both of them hurt.

This year, the schedule is:

UConn
Michigan State
@Virginia
Villanova
@Indiana
Northwestern
USC
@Minnesota
@Oregon
Rutgers
Iowa
@Penn State

ESPN’s Match-Up Predictor for each game currently shows:

MD with a 85% chance of beating UConn.
MD with a 70% chance of beating Michigan State.
MD with a 61% chance of beating Virginia.
MD with a 91.5% chance of beating Villanova.
MD with a 63% chance of beating Indiana.
MD with a 68.5% chance of beating Northwestern.
MD with a 45.3% chance of beating USC.
MD with a 49.1% chance of beating Minnesota.
MD with a 7.4% chance of beating Oregon.
MD with a 55.3% chance of beating Rutgers.
MD with a 49.5% chance of beating Iowa.
MD with a 13.1% chance of beating Penn State.

The Terps are expected to beat UConn, Michigan State, Virginia, Villanova, Indiana, Northwestern.
The Terps are expected to lose to Oregon, and Penn State.
The Terps are slight underdogs vs USC, Minnesota, and Iowa.
The Terps are slight favorites vs. Rutgers.

Win the six games you are expected to win, and split the four games vs. USC, Minnesota, Iowa, and Rutgers; and you’ll be positioned for a 9 win season with a bowl win.
Win the six games you expected to win, and take three of four games vs. the aforementioned; and you might crack the Top 25.

Losing to UConn, or Villanova would obviously be an unfathomable disaster. Just can’t happen.
Dropping a game or two vs. Michigan State, Virginia, Indiana, or Northwestern could certainly happen; but having a clean slate there is likely the difference in how we will feel about the program at year end.

Who’s The Quarterback?

Locksley isn’t announcing the starting QB prior to kickoff Saturday.
I’m not sure it matters who is the starter to begin the year.
I’m going to be surprised if we don’t see each of MJ Morris, Billy Edwards, and Cameron Edge getting time during this season.
You hope they all stay relatively healthy and continue to push each other in practice.
Everyone loves Edwards’ legs, and his leadership. Everyone seems to question his arm.
Everyone loves Edge’s arm. Everyone seems to question how well he moves in the pocket.
Everyone seems to think Morris brings the most to the table overall, but having transferred in this Summer, he’s the one with the least time in the system.

Looks to me like MD has three viable options. Think MD can win games with each.
None of them have to put up the yardage Taulia did, but like Taulia; I want to see whoever is under Center for MD utilizing the weapons on the roster.
Get the ball out, and move the ball around.
Which QB shows the best ability at working through his progressions, and making the right decisions?
One thing I’m interested in is how long of a leash does the ‘starter’ get?
Are all three getting time each week?
If the starter throws a couple of picks, or the offense stalls; is there a quick hook?
It should also be noted that Locksley will be coaching up the QBs himself this year.

What About The Blocking?

When we talk about the QB’s ability to be successful, we have to start with the blocking in-front of him.
MD added a bunch of O-Lineman in the recruiting class they really like, but typically it takes several years in the program for lineman to emerge.
Do any of the Freshman jump immediately into the 2 Deep?

It’s Year 3 for Andre Roye. He was a heralded recruit, and it looks like he should be the LT.
6’5, 324lb Kyle Long was in all 13 games last year, starting 6 for MD. He appears to be the LG.
Josh Kaltenberger is a Graduate Transfer from Purdue, he should be the starting C.
6’5, 331lb RS Sophomore Aliou Bah went to IMG Academy, and got into 3 games at Georgia before transferring to MD. He should be the starting RG.
At RT, I’m thinking the starter will be Junior Alan Herron, who transferred from Division 2 Shorter University. Herron is 6’5, 323lbs, and started every game the last two years.

Unfortunately Buffalo transfer Isaiah Wright was lost to injury for the year.
That’s too bad, as Wright had started 24 games for Buffalo the last two years.

Marcus Dumervil is a RS Senior with good size.  He didn’t play much last year, but would expect him to get more time this season.
Isaac Bunyan is also a RS Senior. He was previously a D-Lineman, starting in 2 games last year.
Tamarus Walker is a RS Freshman, who got into 1 game last year, and was the top ranked Guard in the State of Maryland as a Recruit.
Billy Molloy is a RS Freshman, who got into 1 game last year.

A lot of the Freshman have great size.
With multiple O-Line coaches this year, maybe their development is sped up.
If the starters can stay healthy, I think it can be a solid group.
If you lose any of the starters to significant injury, things start to look a little dicey.

The Skill Position Talent

Most years, Maryland has quality skill position talent.
This year is no different.
The RB’s are strong with Roman Hemby, and Colby McDonald leading the way.
The WR’s have speed and playmaking ability with Tai Felton, Kaden Prather, Octavian Smith Jr., and Shaleak Knotts.
I like Preston Howard, and AJ Symanski at TE.

Oregon probably has a better group.
Penn State’s group probably has greater accolades.
But most weeks, Maryland’s skill position talent will compare favorably to the opponents across them.
If the O-Line gives the QB’s time, opens up holes on the ground, and the QB’s make quality decisions; this is a group that can again put up points.

There are a number of younger guys behind these guys who have the ability to emerge as the year progresses.

The Defensive Depth Continues To Improve

Quashon Fuller, Jordan Phillips, and Tommy Akingbesote up-front looks solid.
Lots of people are high on Phillips.

Taizse Johnson was in all 13 games last year, and represents good depth.
Dillan Fontus got into 10 games last year as a Freshman.
Lavon Johnson got into 6 games last year as a Freshman.

Linebacker also looks solid with Sr. Donnell Brown, Sr. Ruben Hyppolite II, Jr Caleb Wheatland, and Jr. Kellan Wyatt.

Brown was excellent last year as an EDGE rusher.
Hyppolite is on the Butkus Award List.
Wheatland jumped off the screen to me last year,  I expect him to have a big year.
Wyatt stated all 13 games, and had 4.5 sacks.

Neeo Avery is a RS Freshman, and was a Top 300 Recruit.
Sophomore Daniel Wingate was in 11 games last year.
Sophomore Michael Harris was a 4 star, Top 300 Recruit. He got into 8 games last year.
Sophomore DJ Samuels got into 7 games last year.
Dylan Gooden is a RS Freshman, and was a Top 300 Recruit.

Maryland has been putting Secondary players into the NFL.

This year the Secondary looks to be led by Sr. DB Dante Trader, RS Sr. DB Glendon Miller,  and Jr Jalen Huskey..

Trader is on all of the watch lists.
Miller isn’t far behind.
Both should be very familiar to MD fans at this point, as they’ve played a lot.
Huskey was a transfer from Bowling Green, where he was a 1st Team All-MAC player.

Lavian Scruggs got into 11 games last year as a RS Freshman.
Sophomore Kevin Thomas got into 6 games last year. Some are projecting him to start.
Jr. Lionell Whitaker got into 10 games last year.
RS Sophomore Perry Fisher got into 11 games last year.
RS Junior Chantz Harley got into 8 games last year.

Freshman Bradyon Lee was a 4 star via Rivals.
Freshman Brandon Jacob was a 4 star, Top 300 Recruit.
Freshman Kevyn Humes was a 4 star via Rivals, and ranked as the 5th best Recruit in the State of Maryland.
Freshman Lloyd Irvin III was a 3 star Recruit.
Freshman Judah Jenkins was a Top 20 player in MD according to Rivals.

Special Teams – Possibly Special?

Sophomore Braeden Wisloski was electric last year in the return game. He’s 1st Team Preseason All Big-Ten via Phil Steele.
Sophomore Bryce McFerson comes to MD, after serving as Notre Dame’s primary Punter last year. He was the Nation’s Top Ranked Punter prior to College.
PK Jack Howes was 13 of 19 on FG attempts last year as a RS Sophomore.
PK Gavin Marshall transferred in from Oklahoma.

Locksley’s Staff

Brian Williams is back at Defensive Coordinator / D-Line Coach.  He’s been part of the staff since 2019, and at-least the Co-Defensive Coordinator since ’21.

Josh Gattis is back for a 2nd year as MD’s Offensive Coordinator. This year, he’s also the WR Coach.  He won the Broyles Award in 2021 as the nation’s top assistant.

Kevin Sumlin is Maryland’s Assistant Head Coach. Formerly the Head Coach at Houston, Texas A&M, and Arizona.

Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is Maryland’s Co-Defensive Coordinator, Associate Head Coach for Defense / Cornerbacks. Back at MD for the first time since ’18.  Was Boston College’s Co-Defensive Coordinator last year, and known as an excellent recruiter.

The Game That Interests Me Most

I’m tempted to say it’s the regular season final vs. Penn State.
MD had good, competitive games vs. Michigan and Ohio State last year.
Not so much vs. the Nittany Lions.  Penn State demolished the Terps 51-15.
We posted the ESPN’s Match-Up Predictor odds for this years game above.
MD won’t be expected to win there.
Penn State is entering the year in everyone’s Top 10, and are a popular pick to reach the expanded CFP Playoffs.
Would be really enjoyable to win that game, and spoil their party.

Given the odds there, I’ll pick another and say USC at home for Homecoming.
MD will be a slight underdog, but it’s a game the Terrapins could steal.
They should have one of their better crowds of the year.
It’s a chance for a W vs. a blue blood program, and a game which could swing how the entire season is viewed.