The Maryland football team finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 4-5 in the Big Ten, clinching bowl eligibility for a second consecutive year. The Terps left a lot on the table throughout the season but still have a promising future.
Maryland will travel to Charlotte, N.C., to take on former ACC rival NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday, Dec. 30. This will be the first time the two teams have met in the postseason. NC State began the season well, getting off to a 5-1 start behind quarterback Devin Leary before he suffered a torn pectoral. The Wolfpack finished 8-4 overall and 4-4 in the ACC.
“This is an exciting matchup for us,” Maryland head coach Michael Locksley said. “Any time you have a chance to go down in our old footprint of the ACC country and play a rival like NC State who’s a really good team … I’m happy for our players, they’ve earned the right. They’ve laid a tremendous foundation that we’re excited to build upon, and our seniors [are] able to go out with an opportunity to play a great game down in Charlotte.”
Maryland began the season 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten but left much to be desired once returning from the bye week. The Terps went on a three-game skid before closing out the regular season with a 37-0 win against Rutgers on Nov. 26.
Losses to Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and even Wisconsin served as measuring sticks for how Maryland stacks up against some of the best teams in the conference. The losses to Penn State (30-0) and Wisconsin (23-10) weren’t pretty, but the games against Ohio State (43-30) and Michigan (34-27) showed how resilient and competitive the Maryland football team can be if it can put it all together.
Here are four thoughts on Maryland football following the bowl game announcement:
1. Maryland has a running back group for the future.
There were questions prior to the season about who would lead the way for Maryland at the tailback position. Redshirt freshman Roman Hemby turned out to be the answer.
Hemby burst onto the scene in the season opener on Sept. 3 against Buffalo with 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Hemby finished the season with 924 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. The 6-foot, 200-pound running back also had four games in which he finished with more than 100 rushing yards and three games in which he scored multiple touchdowns.
Hemby picked up a couple of accolades along the way, including Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 5 and Oct. 24. He was recently named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as well.
Although Hemby had a breakout season, so did fellow redshirt freshman Antwain Littleton II. The 6-foot, 235-pound back didn’t get as many carries as Hemby but he made every opportunity count. The Greenbelt, Md., native scored a rushing touchdown in six straight games from Dec. 29, 2021, to Oct. 1, 2022, the longest streak by a Terp since Lance Ball in 2005-2006.
2. Maryland’s defense has to be more consistent.
Early in the season, Maryland’s defense tended to stifle opponents during the second halves of games after tough starts. But as margin of error became slimmer as Big Ten play progressed, the Terps needed more complete efforts from their defense. That came to a head against Penn State Nov. 12.
Maryland played its best defensive game in the season finale against Rutgers when the Terps put together their first-ever shutout win against a Big Ten opponent. That was also their first shutout win against an FBS opponent since, coincidentally, a 37-0 win against West Virginia on Sept. 21, 2013.
Much like the offense, the defense has a standout freshman. True freshman linebacker Jaishawn Barham finished the season third on the team in total tackles (53) behind safeties Beau Brade (78) and Dante Trader Jr. (58). Barham was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
In addition, with redshirt senior linebacker Ahmad McCullough entering the transfer portal, Barham should have more opportunities in the 2023 season. McCullough finished with 45 total tackles (tied for fourth on team). He also had a sack and three tackles for loss.
3. Taulia Tagovailoa is in the midst of a career year …
Redshirt junior Taulia Tagovailoa broke several program records this season, solidifying himself as one the best quarterbacks in Maryland football history. During the 2022 season, Tagovailoa became the program’s all-time leader in passing yards (7,658) and passing touchdowns (50) and set the program record for 300-yard games in a career (12).
Tagovailoa managed these feats while nursing a sprained MCL, an injury he suffered at Michigan and re-aggravated at Indiana. Tagovailoa missed the Northwestern game, then struggled out of the bye at Wisconsin and Penn State. He combined for 151 passing yards and one touchdown pass in those two games.
Maryland could not get anything going in either game. Head coach Michael Locksley said postgame that it was time to take a “deep look at everything” after the Nov. 12 loss to Penn State.
Tagovailoa bounced back with 293 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) against Ohio State and 342 yards and one passing touchdown against Rutgers.
4. … but he will be without a few key weapons in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Junior wide receiver Jacob Copeland and senior receiver Dontay Demus both declared for the NFL Draft and have opted not to play in Maryland’s upcoming bowl game. Copeland finished fourth in the team in receiving yards (376) and had two touchdown receptions in 2022. Demus finished with 233 yards and one touchdown on the season after returning from a major knee injury.
Also, sophomore tight end CJ Dippre recently entered his name into the transfer portal. Dippre finished fifth in the team in receiving yards (314) and was one of four Terps to have at least three touchdown catches this season.
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