The Maryland football team sits in fourth place in the Big Ten East at 3-2 and heads into the bye with a 6-2 overall record, the first time the Terps have held that mark since 2010.
After dropping its first conference game against Michigan by a 34-27 decision, Maryland went 3-1 in its next four games. Two were comeback wins against Indiana and Northwestern.
The Terps returned all five of their starting offensive linemen and an experienced quarterback in redshirt junior Taulia Tagovailoa, setting up the possibility for their best season in years. But some other storylines have emerged since the start of the season.
Here are four things we have learned about the Maryland football team so far this season:
1. The young running back group is legit.
Maryland is sixth in rushing yards in the conference (1,371) and third in rushing touchdowns (19). Redshirt freshmen Roman Hemby and Antwain Littleton II have formed one of the best tailback tandems in the Big Ten.
The 1-2 punch has already rewritten the program record books through eight games this season. Hemby ran for three touchdowns against Northwestern Oct. 22, the most from a Terps running back since Javon Leake had four against Illinois in 2018. Littleton scored a rushing touchdown in six straight games dating from Dec. 9, 2021, to Oct. 1, 2022, the longest stretch since Lance Ball’s 2005-2006 run.
Hemby has rushed for 681 yards and seven touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass. He has rushed 100-plus yards in four games and is on pace to rush for more than 1,000 yards. Littleton has rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns. He has topped 100 yards once this season.
“The offensive line does a great job opening up holes,” Hemby said after the win against Northwestern. “Most of the time it’s just me finding the right hole and running through it. But to have a 1,000-yard rusher is a goal that we have set as an offense. We’re well on our way, but it’s a lot of things that we can get cleaned up.”
Hemby has earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors twice this season (Sept. 5 and Oct. 24).
“I think it shows we’ve got some good young talent in the program,” Locksley said. “It’s great to see us be recognized by the conference. Roman is one of those guys who’s well deserving of the award.”
2. Maryland’s defense improves as the game wears on.
The Terps’ defense has been known this season for halftime adjustments and keeping opponents at bay in the second half. So far this season, Maryland has outscored opponents, 129-71, in the second half.
The Terps forced 12 takeaways in all of 2021. They already have 12 this season (nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries). Maryland is also tied for fifth in the Big Ten in sacks (18).
The Terps’ defense has several key players who have stood out this season, including freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who is fifth among freshmen in total tackles in the FBS (35). He received Freshman of the Week honors after recording five tackles, two sacks, a fumble and a fumble recovery against Purdue Oct. 8.
Senior defensive back Jakorian Bennett is having another solid year. He already has nine pass breakups this season (fourth in Big Ten) after finishing with 11 in 2021. He also has one interception.
Furthermore, after question marks surrounding the safety position for the Terps entering the season, junior Beau Brade and sophomore Dante Trader Jr. have proved to be a formidable duo.
“They’ve done a really good job communicating,” Locksley said. “We haven’t had as many of the big plays that happened where everybody isn’t on the same page on the back end which is a testament to how those guys prepare and how they take the coaching.”
Those two have combined for four interceptions, and Brade is sixth in the Big Ten in solo tackles (32) and 12th in total tackles (53).
“I think both those guys have done a tremendous job … from the leadership that comes with playing that position,” Locksley added. “The safety position is the quarterback of the defense. … Both those guys have displayed tremendous leadership at a young age.”
3. Penalties are still an issue for the Terps.
In 2021, Maryland ranked second in the conference with total penalties (88). This season, the Terps lead the conference with 67 penalties. Maryland’s 67 penalties have cost the Terps 75.3 yards per game.
In a 34-27 win against SMU earlier in the season, Maryland had 15 penalties for 141 yards.
Maryland has not had that many penalties since then, but the Terps have still have committed penalties that have cost them while inching toward the red zone. Locksley has mentioned he can accept competitive penalties, but there is no room for mental errors in tight spots.
For example, during the win against SMU, Maryland was threatening to score early in the third quarter before being called for four consecutive penalties, forcing the Terps to settle for a field goal.
Maryland has to clean up its mishaps after the bye before it takes on two of the powerhouses of the conference: Penn State (Nov. 12) and Ohio State (Nov. 19).
4. Everybody eats in the wide receiver room.
Maryland came into this season with one of the most promising wide receiver groups in the country. So far this season, the Terps have proven that even if opponents contain one of those receivers, they will not be able to contain all of them.
Maryland is second in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,264) and fourth in passing touchdowns (16). Taulia Tagovailoa has spread the wealth around to all of his receivers. Nine players have 10 or more receptions so far this season.
Junior Rakim Jarrett leads all receivers with 33 receptions, followed by redshirt senior Jeshaun Jones (25) and junior Jacob Copeland (21). Sophomore Tai Felton and senior Dontay Demus Jr. have 12 and 10 catches, respectively. Jarrett leads the receivers with 371 yards.
However, defenses also have to worry about redshirt sophomore tight end Corey Dyches. He has 374 yards and three touchdowns on 26 catches. Hemby has chipped in with 26 catches and 239 yards as well.
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