Maryland running back Roman Hemby brought tenacity to the Terps as a redshirt freshman in 2022 and is embracing higher expectations for the 2023 college football season.
Maryland had its best season during the Michael Locksley era in 2022. The Terps finished the season 8-5 (4-5 in the Big Ten) and won their second straight bowl game, a 16-12 victory against NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Hemby was a big factor in the Terps’ success, as he led a productive ground game for a program forging a new identity.
“I feel like [last year’s bowl game] was definitely a statement win for us. We had the belief from the beginning, but I feel like it’s just one of those things where we’re getting everybody else on board,” Hemby said on Glenn Clark Radio June 23. “We’re building something special here and I feel like we’re taking steps in the right direction every year.”
Maryland’s successful 2022 season saw the Terps finish in fourth in the Big Ten East standings, but Hemby has much bigger aspirations as he prepares for next season.
“I feel like now we’re in the space where we’re talking Big Ten championships and we’re working hard to make that a reality around here,” Hemby said.
Standing at 6-foot and 200 pounds, Hemby rushed for 989 yards on just 188 carries (5.3 yards per carry) in 2022. He ran for 10 touchdowns, the second-most ever by a Maryland freshman. He also added value as a pass-catcher with 33 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Hemby ranked third among all FBS freshmen in yards from scrimmage (1,287), earning an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection for his efforts. He also received Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards twice, with one coming after he ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns against Northwestern.
“Last season meant a lot to me. Outside of what I put on the field Saturday, I gained a lot of trust from my teammates and that’s a big thing for me,” Hemby said. “We have a really close-knit football team here at the University of Maryland. We trust our guys and I feel like I gained a lot of people’s trust, a lot of the fan base’s trust as well.”
Hemby believes Maryland football is close to becoming a team that can contend for a Big Ten championship. He and the Terps want to become a team that battles through adversity to win big games.
“Going from an eight-win team to a 10, 11-win team, that’s a big step,” Hemby said. “And I feel like as we gel as a community around here and as a team, we got to build that into our culture to have a winning culture and to make it [normal] for us to win those types of games.”
Even with a Big Ten title on his mind, Hemby is still focused on giving back to his community. The Edgewood native and John Carroll School graduate hosted his first annual youth football camp in Joppatowne on June 24.
The football camp was available to ages 9-14. It was designed to teach kids the fundamentals of football and how to be positive role models in their community. The camp even had moon bounces, food trucks and DJs playing music.
“Before I had this season, I always knew that I wanted to give back to my community and be in the community, and having a good season like last year kind of gave me the opportunity to have a platform to outreach and become more of a community person in the area,” Hemby said.
Hemby wanted to help shape the next group of football stars in the community and pass along advice that he learned when he was younger.
“If you play at any Division I school you’re going to have that school aspect as well,” Hemby said. “And it kind of teaches you discipline, so I want to hit home with the kids and let them know that I’m an honor roll student and I work very hard to do that, and I take pride in it, and I think it translates to the field.”
For more from Hemby, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox