Big Ten Network analyst Jake Butt has been impressed by the strides the Maryland football program has taken in 2022. The Terps are now bowl eligible following a 31-24 win against Northwestern but look to raise the bar even higher with some tough matchups looming.
Maryland (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) has developed into a dangerous offensive unit in 2022, averaging 34.1 points and 454.4 offensive yards per game. The Terps have scored 30-plus points in five of their eight games. They averaged 27.3 points across 30 games from 2019-2021.
Butt, who was a tight end at Michigan from 2013-2016 and later for the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, attributes Maryland’s success to head coach Michael Locksley and coordinators Dan Enos and Brian Williams.
“[Locksley] has done a great job of recruiting out there in his backyard [and] developing talent,” Butt said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 21, one day before calling Maryland’s win against Northwestern. “The coordinators are doing a good job of scheming toward the strengths of that talent.”
“So the pieces are in place,” Butt explained. “I don’t think any team is going to feel good about playing Maryland at any point in the season because they have so much talent and do so many things well that they can beat anybody on any Saturday.”
The Terps have an abundance of talent, particularly on offense. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, whom Butt referred to as “the heart of the team,” boasts a 72.5 completion percentage and 2,001 passing yards. Running back Roman Hemby has dominated in the backfield, especially against Northwestern Oct. 22, when he posted 179 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The veteran offensive line group has been outstanding as well.
A former tight end himself, Butt noted the talent of Maryland’s tight ends, particularly Corey Dyches, who has 26 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns. Dyches is a freak of nature after the catch, mixing size and speed as he drags defenders into the end zone.
“[Dyches] can run any route,” Butt said. “Whether it’s underneath [or] intermediate … and then I think his best attribute is really what he does after the catch. He’s almost impossible to bring down upon first contact. So he’s just checking boxes across the board.”
Butt believes Maryland is on the path to becoming relevant again in the college football landscape. But this is a process and will not happen immediately. Maryland has progressively gotten better under Locksley, from 3-9 in 2019 to 2-3 in 2020 to 7-6 in 2021 and now 6-2 so far in 2022.
“Well, it kind of happens in steps,” Butt said. “You take your program where you are and you’re not going to become Ohio State overnight or Michigan overnight.”
Butt noted that Maryland was 4-40 all time against Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State entering the season. Maryland is 1-1 against those four historic programs this season, losing to Michigan and beating Michigan State thus far. Maryland has a chance to make statements against Penn State on Nov. 12 and Ohio State on Nov. 19.
Maryland needs to limit penalties in order to have a chance at beating those teams. The Terps have committed 67 penalties in eight games, compared to Penn State’s 39 in seven and Ohio State’s 35 in seven. Maryland has talent, but the Terps cannot beat themselves in these games.
“It’s ultimately about going out there and [playing well] on a consistent basis,” Butt said. “Especially going against Ohio State and Penn State, you have to limit as many mistakes as possible just to put yourself in a position to potentially win at the end of the game.”
For more from Jake Butt, listen to the full interview here:
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