For the first time in seven years, the Maryland Terrapins will not be holding a competition for the starting quarterback job when they take to the practice fields this summer. It’s likely a strange feeling for fans, who’ve become accustomed to a revolving door at the position for what seems like decades due to both poor performance and a wealth of injuries. While reinforcements are on the way in head coach Michael Locksley’s 2021 recruiting class, there are some concerns about depth on this year’s roster.
This is the first in a series of articles previewing Maryland’s 2021 football 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.)
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)
Can Tagovailoa take the next step?
Taulia Tagovailoa showed flashes of brilliance last season in just four games, but was inconsistent at times. With a full offseason under his belt, the team will be counting on him making a big leap in his development.
What difference does Enos make?
Locksley elected to move on from Scottie Montgomery during the offseason after he spent the last two years as Maryland’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He hired Dan Enos in his stead, and is hoping that he can improve the quarterback development in College Park.
Does the lack of depth hurt?
In just five games last season, three different quarterbacks took snaps for the Terrapins. With so few signal-callers on the roster, one injury could have a massive impact on the team’s chances.
Dan Enos – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Enos is in his first season on Maryland’s coaching staff after spending last year as Cincinnati’s associate head coach and running backs coach. He and Locksley spent the 2018 season together on Alabama’s staff, with Enos serving as the Crimson Tide’s assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He has 17 years of experience as a quarterbacks coach, which Locksley is hoping translates to better development at the position moving forward.
Taulia Tagovailoa (Junior*)
2021 Projection: Starter
2020 Statistics: 75/122 (61.5%), 1,011 yds, 7 TD, 7 INT; 26 carries, 44 yds (1.7 ypc), 2 TD
After transferring from Alabama before the beginning of last season, Tagovailoa quickly won the starting job and put up decent numbers in his first real collegiate action. His games against Minnesota and Penn State were particularly impressive as he threw for 676 yards combined, including 6 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Those games were bookended by lesser performances against Northwestern and Indiana, though many of his best offensive weapons missed the game against the Hoosiers after testing positive for COVID-19.
Tagovailoa enters the 2021 season as the clear starter behind center for the Terrapins. The team is hoping that he can become more consistent and take full advantage of the wealth of talent around him offensively. Enos has been working to streamline the offense and allow it to move more quickly, a process which begins and ends with the quarterback.
Reece Udinski (Senior)
2021 Projection: Second-Team
2021 Statistics (VMI): 123/172 (71.5%), 1,082 yds, 7 TD, 2 INT; 34 carries, 58 yds (1.7 ypc), 3 TD
Udinski is the only other scholarship quarterback on Maryland’s roster, and will join the team during the summer after transferring from VMI. He suffered a torn ACL during the spring, but is expected to be available when the Terrapins’ season begins. He had put up impressive numbers in the four games he played for the Keydets before suffering his injury.
I’ve projected Udinski to serve as the team’s second-string quarterback in 2021. If Tagovailoa stays healthy all year and decides to leave early for the NFL, Udinski would have the ability to redshirt this season and enter 2022 as the top option to start behind center for the Terrapins.
David Foust (Sophomore)
2021 Projection: Third-Team
2020 Statistics: Did Not Play
Foust joined the team before last season as a walk-on from South River High School in Edgewater, MD. He’s received a lot of praise from the coaching staff for his play in practice, but he looked every bit like a walk-on in the team’s Red-White Spring Game in April. I’ve projected Foust to serve as the team’s third-string quarterback in 2021, but he’d have the inside track to the second-string job if Udinski is unable to play.
Ryan Duell (Freshman)
2021 Projection: Fourth-Team
2020 Statistics (High School): N/A
Duell joins the team as a walk-on from West Chester East High School in West Chester, PA. He played five games during his senior season last fall and led his team to a 3-2 record. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s fourth-string quarterback in 2021.
Zachary Jackson (Freshman)
2021 Projection: Fifth-Team
2021 Statistics (High School): N/A
Jackson joins the team as a walk-on from John Champe High School in Aldie, VA, and has experience playing both quarterback and wide receiver. He played seven games during his senior season this spring and led his team to a 5-2 record. I’ve projected him to serve as the team’s fifth-string quarterback in 2021.
Eric Najarian (Junior)
2021 Projection: Injured
2020 Statistics: 12/23 (52.2%), 218 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT; 7 carries, -2 yds (-0.3 ypc), 0 TD
When Tagovailoa was forced to miss the team’s final game of the season against Rutgers due to COVID-19 and backup Lance LeGendre struggled in his stead, Locksley turned to the walk-on Najarian who nearly led the Terrapins to an overtime victory. He joined the team before the 2019 season after playing his high school football at nearby DeMatha Catholic High School, and looked like everything but a walk-on getting his first collegiate action.
Unfortunately, he reportedly suffered a torn labrum during spring practice and will undergo surgery that will force him to miss the entirety of the 2021 season. He saw action in the team’s Red-White Spring Game, but was only able to hand the ball off. Since Najarian is a walk-on, he’s unable to redshirt this season and will enter 2022 as a senior.
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.