Maryland backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has shown he can be a successful college signal-caller following a 31-24 win against Northwestern Oct. 22, his first collegiate start.
Edwards threw for 166 yards and one touchdown while completing 64.3 percent of his throws. He also showed great mobility, running for 66 yards on 16 attempts. The 6-foot-3, 207-pound redshirt freshman has thrown for 263 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions this season.
Edwards has been sprinkled into games throughout the course of the 2022 season, playing briefly against Buffalo, Charlotte, Michigan and Indiana before starting against Northwestern. However, the first high-pressure appearance for Edwards came when he replaced an injured Taulia Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter at Michigan Sept. 24.
Edwards led a drive late in the game that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end CJ Dippre and a pass to receiver Jeshaun Jones for the two-point conversion. Even though Maryland wound up losing that game, 34-27, Edwards still led the offense 75 yards down the field for a touchdown against one of the best teams in the nation.
Edwards said he was ready for the moment.
“My mindset when I went into [the Michigan] game … was really just do my job,” Edwards said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 26. “I have plenty of playmakers around me, both that I can hand the ball off to [and] throw the ball to, [plus] we’ve got a good offensive line. Just do my job and don’t make it bigger than it is.”
“We executed the offense at a high level in that fourth quarter,” Edwards added, regarding Maryland’s final drive against Michigan. “So I think that definitely gave me some confidence for this next game that we just played, but also going forward.”
Edwards came to Tagovailoa’s aid again at Indiana on Oct. 15, when he directed the Terps’ final two touchdown drives of the game. He didn’t complete a pass but ran for 53 yards and a score. This carried over into Edwards’ first college start at home against Northwestern, which was as successful as his other appearances.
Edwards said Tagovailoa has had a positive impact on him and has been a great resource for him this season.
“Just try to pick his brain on stuff, because he has played a whole lot more football than I have, especially at the collegiate level,” Edwards said.
Tagovailoa is the brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and many believe Taulia could be on his way to the NFL, too. Taulia set single-season program records at Maryland last year in passing yards (3,860), completions (328), completion percentage (69.2), passing touchdowns (26) and 300-yard passing games (seven). He also is already second in passing in program history (6,872 yards).
“He’s been around the block and he’s done some really good things in college football,” Edwards said of Tagovailoa. “So just trying to learn as much as I can from him so whenever he goes on to the next level, I can take as much from him as I can and use that to my advantage.”
Edwards noted that the talent surrounding him, from breakout running back Roman Hemby to a wide receiver corps that includes Rakim Jarrett and Jacob Copeland, also played a large part in his comfort level.
“I have nothing but full faith in whatever receiver is out there that they’re going to get open, they’re going to run the route and they’re going to make the play,” Edwards said. “So definitely, it’s a little bit settling when I go in there [and] I just have to get the ball in their hands.”
How did the Maryland football staff find such a young player who has had so much early success? The answer is not too far away.
Edwards entered the transfer portal following spring ball at Wake Forest. (He did not take a single snap during the 2021 season.) The Burke, Va., native then committed to Maryland on May 29 for a couple of big reasons, including the offensive scheme created by head coach Michael Locksley, offensive coordinator Dan Enos and tight ends coach Mike Miller as well as the close proximity to home.
“The major factors that I took into consideration [were] obviously the scheme, and my familiarity with it, with the coaching staff, with Coach Locksley, Coach Enos, Coach Miller and obviously it being close to home,” Edwards said. “I think it was a perfect fit in the sense of I could do everything I wanted to do on the field and off the field here while also doing it 35 minutes away from home.”
Edwards said those factors made it an easy decision for him to shift to Maryland, even though he was aware he would not be a starter as long as Tagovailoa was around. Edwards likely could have gone to another college and been a starter from Day One, but he seems to like the process of competing for the top job.
“At the end of the day, it’s college football,” Edwards said about choosing Maryland. “You’re going to have to compete regardless of where you go. You’re never really going to go somewhere and be handed the job or gifted the job in that sense. You got to earn whatever you get.”
Tagovailoa is expected to start for the Terps at Wisconsin on Nov. 5. This will not stop Edwards from preparing like a starter in case he is needed to lead Maryland forward.
“[I need to] really continue what I’ve done the whole season,” Edwards said of his current role on the team. “Prepare like I’m the starter and if I’m not, I’m not. I’m obviously going to be one play away, so you’ve just got to prepare like the starter and obviously just make sure if my number gets called, I’m ready.”
For more from Edwards, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox