Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley believes the Terps have shown the necessary improvement on and off the field to compete for a Big Ten championship in 2023.
Now entering his fifth season as the full-time head coach, Locksley has led the Terps to steady improvement each year since 2019. Locksley has also guided Maryland to back-to-back winning seasons and bowl wins in each of the last two seasons. Locksley now has the confidence in the players in his locker room to make another leap in 2023 with the goal of a championship in sight.
“When we came in, this place was at rock bottom and we’ve continued to build a foundation that now has put us in position as we enter Year 5 … where I see us being a team that now displays some of the habits necessary to win championships,” Locksley said on Glenn Clark Radio Aug. 10. “I use this term a lot, but let’s not let the goal of competing for Big Ten championships get in the way of doing the work.”
Last season, the Terps finished 8-5 and placed fourth in the Big Ten East. It was the program’s most wins in a season since 2010 but Maryland still finished with a conference record below .500 (4-5). Maryland was competitive with the top teams in its division, but turning those close games into wins is the next step.
Maryland fell to Michigan, 34-27, and the Wolverines went on to go undefeated in the regular season and reach the College Football Playoff. The Terps’ 43-30 loss against Ohio State was a closer game than the score indicates. The Buckeyes also reached the CFP. Locksley says his team must eliminate unforced errors to take down the top teams in the division.
“You have to give yourself a chance to win and good teams, the top teams in this league very rarely beat themselves and that to me is where our biggest area for improvement is,” Locksley said. “To find a way to minimize the penalties that popped up at the most inopportune times a year ago and maybe cost us some games, some of the miscues and turnovers.”
Locksley’s confidence in his squad begins on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa remained loyal and returned for his fourth season with the Terps despite lucrative opportunities to play elsewhere.
Tagovailoa became Maryland’s all-time leading passer in yards and touchdowns last season, having tallied 7,879 passing yards and 51 passing touchdowns across three seasons. Locksley believes Tagovailoa is primed for his best season yet.
“I think you will see him take another step in the right direction to where he’s not just a guy that we know is a really talented player for Maryland, but somebody that nationally will hopefully open up some eyes and put the spotlight on our program,” Locksley said.
Tagovailoa is throwing to a new-look wide receiver corps but still one with plenty of depth. Top receivers Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrett left for the NFL, opening plenty of targets. However, Jeshaun Jones returned for his sixth season as a veteran presence for the group.
Transfers Tyrese Chambers and Caden Prather should add immediate production as upperclassmen. Junior Tai Felton and sophomores Octavian Smith Jr. and Shaleak Knotts provide depth to round out a talented wide receiver room.
Defensively, the Terps return many players who received significant playing time last year, though the losses of cornerbacks Deonte Banks and Jakorian Bennett are significant. Cornerback Tarheeb Still and safeties Dante Trader Jr. and Beau Brade return to the defensive backfield.
Joining them are transfers Avantae Williams and Ja’Quan Sheppard. The development of Glendon Miller adds some depth to the secondary.
The linebacker corps for Maryland also features many returning players. One of those players is Jaishawn Barham, who was named to the watch list for the 2023 Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.
“The linebackers to me [are] the strength of our defense,” Locksley said. “That’s where the leadership needs to come from and we feel good about the veteran players we’ve got on the back end of the deep parts of the field for us.”
Maryland’s defensive line will rely on players stepping up with Ami Finau, Greg China-Rose and Mosiah Nasili-Kite departing. The men in the trenches often rotate throughout a game, and as such depth at the position is key. The top returners are Tommy Akingbesote and Taizse Johnson.
Locksley named two defensive linemen who have stood out during the offseason thus far and are primed for significant roles.
“Two guys that really jump out to me are Jordan Phillips and Dillan Fontus, the two younger D-tackles that were both here this spring and I think you’ll see those guys play roles similar to how Tommy and Taizse have been over the years for us,” Locksley said.
For more from Locksley, listen to the full interview here:
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