For the last few years, the Maryland football program has been blessed with an abundance of talent at the running back position. Players like Ty Johnson, Anthony McFarland, Jr., and Javon Leake became stars during their times in College Park. But after losing McFarland, Jr. and Leake to the NFL after last season, the cupboard is rather bare and unproven at the running back position in 2020. Running backs coach Elijah Brooks will be hoping that his freshmen can step up to fill the void left by the team’s two leading rushers from 2019.
This is the second in a series of articles previewing Maryland football’s 2020 season on a position-by-position basis. Be sure to check in regularly, and give your thoughts on my projections at the link below.
(Discuss this article on the BSL Message Board here.)
This article has been edited to include Rashard Jackson, who signed with the team as a walk-on in mid-June.
The Big Three (Questions)
Will anyone return?
The Terrapins had five running backs on their roster last season. McFarland, Jr. and Leake have since left early for the NFL, and Lorenzo Harrison III has retired from football. There’s uncertainty surrounding Jake Funk and Tayon Fleet-Davis, with the former recovering from his second torn ACL in as many years, and the latter being charged with driving under the influence of drugs in November.
Who steps up?
Regardless of the status of Funk and Fleet-Davis, the Terrapins will need their new additions to step into a fairly large role in offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery’s system. The team added two freshman running backs and two transfers to the roster in their 2020 recruiting class.
What about a mobile quarterback?
With so many unproven faces at the running back position, the additional element of a mobile quarterback would certainly help the Terrapins’ rushing attack. While Josh Jackson isn’t much of a runner, Lance LeGendre is. No matter who wins the starting job, LeGendre is sure to see plenty of the field. When he’s in the game, defenses will have no choice but to pay attention to him on option plays, which will naturally leave more holes for the team’s running backs than when Jackson is taking snaps.
Tayon Fleet-Davis (Senior)
2020 Projection: Starter
2019 Statistics: 63 carries, 265 yds (4.2 ypc), 2 TD; 15 receptions, 181 yds (12.1 ypr), 2 TD
Fleet-Davis finished last season as the team’s third-leading rusher, despite missing the final two games. He’s a solid weapon as both a runner and a receiver, with surprising quickness for a player so large (6’0”, 217 lbs). As a sophomore, he recorded 6 total touchdowns and was former interim head coach Matt Canada’s go-to weapon on his patented fly sweep runs.
I’ve projected Fleet-Davis to serve as the team’s starting running back in 2020, though uncertainty looms due to his arrest last year. If he’s able to play, he ought to be a solid first option for Montgomery in what looks to be a somewhat rotational position.
Jake Funk (Redshirt Senior)
2020 Projection: Second-Team
2019 Statistics: 17 carries, 173 yds (10.2 ypc), 2 TD; 4 reception, 16 yds (4.0 ypr), 0 TD
Funk put up impressive numbers in 2019, and finished as the team’s fourth-leading rusher despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 3. He scored touchdowns in each of the first two games, and showed an impressive burst out of the backfield. Unfortunately this was his second torn ACL in as many years, and ended what looked to be a very promising season for him.
I’ve projected Funk to serve as the second-string running back in 2020, though uncertainty looms over him as well due to his knee injury. If he’s healthy, he’ll be an excellent option particularly on third downs.
Peny Boone (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Third-Team
2019 Statistics (High School): N/A
Boone comes to College Park ranked as the team’s third-best recruit in their 2020 class. He gives the Terrapins a physical presence at the running back position, standing 6’2” and weighing in at 225 pounds. Ranked as the 10th-best high school player in the state of Michigan last year, he chose Maryland over offers from Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, and Tennessee, among others.
I’ve projected Boone to serve as the third-string running back in 2020, but with the uncertainty surrounding the players above him on the depth chart, he could be in line to start. Regardless of where he falls in the pecking order, he’ll see plenty of the field as a true freshman.
Isaiah Jacobs (Freshman)
2020 Projection: Fourth-Team
2019 Statistics (High School): N/A
Jacobs comes to College Park ranked as the team’s fifth-best recruit in their 2020 class. He’s the brother of former Alabama and current Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, and the Alabama connection certainly helped Locksley snag him on National Signing Day in December. Isaiah is built very similarly to Josh when he began his college career with the Crimson Tide, and with a few years in Maryland’s conditioning program they’ll look nearly identical.
I’ve projected Jacobs to serve as the fourth-string running back in 2020, but like Boone he’ll probably see a lot of the field as a true freshman. A future one-two punch of the physical Boone and the shifty Jacobs would be music to the ears of Locksley.
Rashard Jackson (Junior)
2020 Projection: Fifth-Team
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 65 carries, 338 yds (5.2 ypc), 2 TD; 3 receptions, 20 yds (6.7 ypr), 0 TD
Jackson comes to College Park as a walk-on after spending the last two seasons at Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, PA. Originally from Leonardtown, MD, he had committed to UMass before some academic issues kept him from enrolling. In those two years playing for the Falcons, he averaged over 5 yards per carry and amassed over 700 total yards.
I’ve projected Jackson to serve as the team’s fifth-string running back in 2020. Most of his playing time will likely come on special teams, but if injuries pop up above him on the depth chart he could have an outside chance at cracking the rotation.
Jordan Castleberry (Redshirt Freshman)
2020 Projection: Sixth-Team
2019 Statistics (Michigan): Did Not Play
Castleberry transferred to Maryland from Michigan in January. He redshirted the 2019 season with the Wolverines and didn’t see game action after joining the team as a preferred walk-on. He becomes the smallest running back on the Terrapins’ roster, at 5’8″ and 185 pounds.
I’ve projected Castleberry to serve as the sixth-string running back this season, with most of his playing time coming on special teams for the time being.
Challen Fa’amatau (Redshirt Junior)
2020 Projection: Seventh-Team
2019 Statistics (Junior College): 99 carries, 362 yds (3.7 ypc), 1 TD; 7 receptions, 56 yds (8.0 ypr), 1 TD
Fa’amatau was a late addition to the 2020 roster, transferring from Coffeyville Community College after family friend Taulia Tagovailoa also transferred to Maryland. He began his collegiate career at Pima College before transferring to Coffeyville before the 2019 season.
I’ve projected Fa’amatau to serve as the seventh-string running back in 2020. He’ll primarily provide depth this season, and will have the opportunity to compete for snaps on special teams.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.