The Maryland football team travels to Ann Arbor to open up conference play against No. 4 Michigan on Sept. 24.
Both teams will enter the matchup at 3-0, but there is more at stake than a 4-0 record. Maryland will look to avenge last season’s blowout loss and continue to prove it is a team to be reckoned with this year. The Terps are 1-9 all time against the Wolverines, with their one win being a 23-16 decision in 2014.
After a sloppy but gritty win against SMU on Sept 17, Maryland will look to take a step forward this week. Here are three things to look for in the Big Ten opener against Michigan at noon on FOX:
1. Can the Terps cut down on penalties?
Maryland has been on the wrong side of the penalty battle in each game this season. The Terps had eight penalties for 82 yards against Buffalo, then eight for 48 yards against Charlotte, and most recently a whopping 15 for 141 yards against SMU.
“We know it’s not who we are as a team,” junior wideout Rakim Jarrett said of the penalties. “We don’t go out there and say we’re going have 15 penalties going into the game. It’s just a matter of each player locking in and doing their job and not making mistakes before the play even starts, including myself.”
It’s no secret that players and coaches alike have stressed Terps vs. Terps, meaning Maryland must not limit its own opportunities for success.
“We feel like we kind of let [Locksley] down,” sophomore safety Dante Trader Jr. said. “We’re hurting ourselves and shooting ourselves in the foot. It’s like we’re playing against two teams every time we play because of the amount of penalties and yards we’re giving them.”
2. Can the defense generate turnovers?
Under head coach Jim Harbaugh, Michigan is 11-18 when losing the turnover battle. The Maryland defense created turnovers for the first time this season against SMU.
Safeties Beau Brade and Trader came away with three takeaways combined. Brade posted his first interception and forced a fumble. Trader had an interception.
“We always emphasize getting turnovers in practice and we finally got our hands on some balls,” Trader said.
Junior defensive back Tarheeb Still will also be available this week after playing in limited fashion against SMU because of finger surgery.
“I was not expecting him to play based off having that surgery,” Locksley said. “He’s a guy that stayed really active throughout the week. Even when he wasn’t able to participate … he was out there, almost like a player-coach.”
In Still’s absence, freshmen cornerbacks Gavin Gibson and Lionell Whitaker have developed into players Locksley can rely on.
“Both Gavin and Lionell Whitaker have done a wonderful job as young corners,” Locksley said. “We’re going to continue to develop those position guys behind those corners because going against the types of teams that have four or five wide receivers playing, having a guy like Gavin who’s very versatile that can play nickel, corner and a little safety if need be and Lionell’s ability to come in and play and compete, really creates great depth for us.”
3. Can Roman Hemby and the rest of the running backs continue their success?
Redshirt freshmen Roman Hemby and Antwain Littleton II have gotten the ball into the end zone for the Terps, scoring a combined seven touchdowns on the season.
Littleton’s four touchdowns this season are the most for a Terp in a three-game span since Anthony McFarland Jr. had five in 2019.
Against Michigan, the young backfield will look to help the Terps move the chains against a Wolverines defense that is allowing 102.7 yards per game on the ground and 3.0 yards per rush.
While the success of Hemby and Littleton may be a surprise for fans, Locksley knew the two would be solid contributors ever since he recruited them.
“It hasn’t exceeded it because I’ve quietly been confident in this group,” Locksley said of his expectations. “I’m not surprised because those guys coming out of high school were all highly recruited guys that we were very fortunate to get.”
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox