Five weeks after its initial decision to cancel the fall football season due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Big Ten Conference announced plans to play an 8 game regular season schedule beginning on the weekend of October 23-24. This reversal was a result of much petitioning by players, families, staff, media, and even politicians. Conference president Kevin Warren cited advances in testing capabilities as the primary reasoning behind this decision, but monetary concerns and the pressure of potential lawsuits certainly played a large role as well.
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The Schedule
10/24 — at Northwestern
10/31 — vs. Minnesota
11/7 — at Penn State
11/14 — vs. Ohio State
11/21 — vs. Michigan State
11/28 — at Indiana
12/5 — at Michigan
12/12 — vs. Rutgers
12/19 — TBD
Like every other team in the conference, Maryland’s schedule features 8 games in 8 weeks with an appropriately seeded 9th game during Championship Weekend. Their opponent in this final game will depend on their record.
As is typically the case, the Terrapins face an extremely difficult slate of games. Weeks 2-4 pose the biggest challenge, as they’ll be forced to play what may be the three best teams in the conference without any rest between games. Fortunately for head coach Michael Locksley, this season was always expected to be about development over wins and losses.
For a detailed look at the schedule, check out Mike Popovec’s article from earlier this week.
Opt-Outs & Eligibility
As the impacts of COVID-19 were being felt across the country this summer, many players made the decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Subsequently, the NCAA announced that no student-athletes would be penalized for not playing and would retain their scholarships for next year regardless of whether they take the field or not. Maryland had 6 players announce their intention to opt out, with just one reversing his decision recently.
- QB Josh Jackson
- OL Austin Fontaine
- OL Johnny Jordan (has opted back in)
- DL Jalen Alexander
- LB TJ Kautai
- DB Vincent Flythe
Most of these players were set to either start or play key roles for the team, so their losses are certainly not insignificant. Getting Jordan back is important, as he brings back valuable experience as the projected starter at center. None of the other players on this list have made any indication as of yet that they’ll be reversing their decisions.
Projected Depth Chart
I’ll be digging into the offensive and defensive units in future articles, but below is what I’m currently projecting for Maryland’s first two-deep of the 2020 season.
Offense
QB: 1. Taulia Tagovailoa, 2. Lance LeGendre
RB: 1. Tayon Fleet-Davis OR Jake Funk
WR-X: 1. Dontay Demus, Jr., 2. Carlos Carriere OR Darryl Jones
WR-Z: 1. Jeshaun Jones, 2. Brian Cobbs
WR-H: 1. Rakim Jarrett, 2. DeJuan Ellis OR Deajuan McDougle
TE: 1. Malik Jackson, 2. Tyler Baylor OR Kameron Blount
LT: 1. Jaelyn Duncan, 2. TJ Bradley OR Mason Lunsford
LG: 1. Evan Gregory, 2. Marcus Finger
C: 1. Johnny Jordan, 2. Spencer Anderson
RG: 1. Johari Branch, 2. Amelio Moran
RT: 1. Marcus Minor, 2. Ja’Khi Green OR Tyran Hunt
Defense
DE: 1. Lawtez Rogers, 2. Joseph Boletepeli
NT: 1. Oluwaseun Oluwatimi, 2. Ami Finau
DT: 1. Sam Okuayinonu, 2. Mosiah Nasili-Kite
SLB: 1. Shaq Smith, 2. Ahmad McCullough
MLB: 1. Chance Campbell, 2. Cortez Andrews
WLB: 1. Ayinde Eley, 2. Ruben Hyppolite II
JACK: 1. Durell Nchami, 2. Deshawn Holt
FCB: 1. Jakorian Bennett OR Kenny Bennett
BCB: 1. Deonte Banks, 2. Tahj Capehart OR Isaiah Hazel
FS: 1. Antwaine Richardson, 2. Jordan Mosley
SS: 1. Nick Cross, 2. Osita Smith
Special Teams
K: 1. Joseph Petrino, 2. Hunter Patrick
P: 1. Anthony Pecorella OR Colton Spangler
LS: 1. James Rosenberry, 2. Paul Mouring
KR: 1. Jeshaun Jones, 2. Jake Funk
PR: 1. Rakim Jarrett, 2. DeJuan Ellis
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.