The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 125 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Last season marked a breakthrough for Maryland in its third season under head coach Michael Locksley. The Terrapins won seven games, posted a winning record for the first time since 2014 and appeared in a bowl game for the first time since 2016, thrashing Virginia Tech 54-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl. They did it, largely, with offense. Maryland scored 29.3 points per clash and averaged 441.3 yards per game, which ranked 31st in the country and was the pro- gram's highest mark since 1992. The defense, on the other hand, struggled. The Terrapins ranked 85th nationally in to- tal defense (403.5 yards allowed per game) and tied for 97th in points allowed (30.7 per outing). While Maryland took the next step after winning just five total games in Locksley's first two seasons (including going 2-3 in the abbreviated 2020 campaign), once the Ter- rapins got into the meat of their schedule, they struggled. In a seven-game stretch from Oct. 1 to Nov. 20, they went 1-6, with all four opponents scoring more than 30 points. To be fair, five of those tilts were against ranked foes, but Maryland averaged just 16.8 points to the other team's 49.4. Even the best offenses will have trouble outscoring the latter figure. Redshirt junior quarterback Taulia Ta- govailoa and a loaded receiving corps are certainly going to try, though. The third- year starting signal-caller was an All-Big Ten honorable mention pick last season, and he tops the school's record book in single- season passing yards (3,860, 2021), single- season completions (328, '21), career com- pletion percentage (67.6) and single-season completion percentage (69.2, '21), among other categories. Maryland, which attempted the 16th-most passes per game in the country last season, will look to air it out. And Tagovailoa has options to throw to, even after losing tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, a fourth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans. Senior Dontay Demus Jr. was sidelined with injury in the final seven games after hauling in 28 receptions for 507 yards and 3 scores and averaging 84.5 yards per contest, which would've ranked fifth in the Big Ten had he qualified. He and junior Rakim Jarrett make up a dynamic receiving duo. Jarrett led the club with 62 grabs for 829 yards and 5 touchdowns a year ago. Five offensive linemen who started six or more games last season are back, and a duo of running backs should replace the produc- tion left behind by Tayon Fleet-Davis, who's off to the NFL. Senior Challen Faamatau and sophomore Colby McDonald combined for 560 yards and 5 scores last season. A defense that lost its top two returning tacklers and starting safeties has a new man in charge. Brian Williams, an internal hire, took over for Jon Hoke, brother of former U-M head man Brady Hoke, after the de- fensive coordinator took an NFL job on the Atlanta Falcons' staff. The strength of the Terps' defensive unit is expected to be at linebacker, where two key players return. Junior Ruben Hyppolite II is the team's leading returning tackler with 62 stops, including 2 for loss. He's joined by fifth-year senior Fa'Najae Gotay, who suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the 2021 campaign but tied for third on the team with 23 tackles in 2020. In front of that pair is defensive tackle Mo- siah Nasili-Kite. The 6-2, 310-pound fifth- year senior notched 7 tackles for loss and 4 sacks last year. Redshirt junior cornerback Deonte Banks is another who missed most of the 2021 cam- paign with injury, appearing in just two con- tests. He's started 11 career outings, with 39 tackles, 4 pass breakups and 1 interception, and he'll line up across the field from senior Jakorian Bennett. Bennett is looking to build off last season, when he registered 3 intercep- tions and a team-best 13 passes defended. Just about anything will be an improve- ment for the Terrapins' pass defense, which gave up 248.8 yards per game, ranking 100th in the land. Notes Tagovailoa threw a Big Ten-high 11 interceptions last season … The Terrapins gave the ball away 18 times and had a minus-0.54 average turnover margin per game, which ranked 107th in the country. ❑ 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Sept. 3 BUFFALO — Sept. 10 at Charlotte — Sept. 17 SOUTHERN METHODIST — Sept. 24 at Michigan L, 59-18 Oct. 1 MICHIGAN STATE L, 40-21 Oct. 8 PURDUE — Oct. 15 at Indiana W, 38-35 Oct. 22 NORTHWESTERN — Nov. 5 at Wisconsin — Nov. 12 at Penn State L, 31-14 Nov. 19 OHIO STATE L, 66-17 Nov. 26 RUTGERS W, 40-16 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Taulia Tagovailoa, R-Jr., QB The younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 300-plus yards seven times last year, a single-season program record. Defense: Jakorian Bennett, Sr., CB The 5-11, 195-pounder ranked ninth nationally with 13 pass breakups in 2021. GAME 4 • MARYLAND TERRAPINS • SEPT. 24 • 12 P.M. (FOX OR FS1) QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 9-1 First Meeting: U-M 20, Maryland 0 (Sept. 28, 1985 at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 59, Maryland 18 (Nov. 20, 2021 at College Park, Md.) Head Coach: Michael Locksley, 12-18 (4th year) at Maryland, 15-49 overall (7th year) 2021 In Review: 7-6, 3-6 Big Ten (5th East) Final 2021 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 13 (6 offense, 5 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2021 (Pinstripe Bowl vs. Vir- ginia Tech, W 54-10) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Taulia Tagovailoa (3,860 yards, 26 TDs) Rushing: Colby McDonald (325 yards, 2 TDs) Receiving: Rakim Jarrett (829 yards, 5 TDs) Tackles: Ruben Hyppolite II (62) Sacks: Mosiah Nasili-Kite (4) Interceptions: Jakorian Bennett (3) Terps Have Weapons, But Their Defense Remains A Question Maryland wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. is projected by CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson to be picked No. 19 overall in the 2023 draft. PHOTO COURTESY MARYLAND ATHLETICS