The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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132 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Maryland won eight games last season, its most since 2010, when it was a member of the ACC. The Terrapins still haven't finished with an above-.500 conference record since joining the Big Ten in 2014, but fifth-year head coach Mike Locksley has things trend- ing in the right direction despite being in a difficult division. The Terrapins have won two consecu- tive bowl games, including the 2022 Duke's Mayo Bowl over No. 23 NC State. In 2023, Locksley has the lux- ury of returning the best sta- tistical quarterback in program history — redshirt senior Taulia Tagovailoa, one of three return- ing starting quarterbacks in the Big Ten this year, joining Michi- gan's J.J. McCarthy and Rutgers' Gavin Wimsatt. He's started 28 games over the last three seasons and ranks first in Terrapin history in career passing yards (7,879), completions (665), completion percentage (67.4) and passing touchdowns (51). Tagovailoa's yards per attempt dipped from 8.1 in 2021 to 7.7 last season, but he'll look to once again lead a pass- happy offense that produced 259.8 yards through the air per game in 2022 (41st in the country). He's got playmakers around him, too, with sophomore running back Ro- man Hemby (989 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) and his top two receivers — graduate wideout Jeshaun Jones (44 receptions, 557 yards, 4 touchdowns) and redshirt junior tight end Corey Dyches (39 grabs, 494 yards, 3 scores) — all set to return. Locksley and Co. offset some losses at wide receiver by nabbing two talented players out of the transfer portal — junior Kaden Prather (52 catches, 501 yards and 3 scores in 2022) from West Virginia and graduate Tyrese Chambers (96 receptions, 1,618 yards and 13 touch- downs in two seasons) from FIU. The offensive line, which lost three starters to the NFL and one to transfer, is a big question mark. The Terrapins' staff brought in three transfers themselves and will have to piece things together. Another sign that Maryland is on the rise is its NFL Draft success. The Ter- rapins had five players picked this spring, their most since 2009 (also five). That included cor- nerback Deonte Banks at No. 24 overall to the New York Giants. Despite losing him and Jakorian Bennett (fourth round, Las Vegas Raiders) to the NFL, the Terrapins still have plenty of talent on the back end of their defense. That's led by a pair of safeties in senior Beau Brade and junior Dante Trader Jr., who topped the team last season with 85 and 62 tackles, respectively, and each notched 2 interceptions. Senior cornerback Ja'Quan Sheppard — the 18th-best transfer prospect at his position this offseason, per On3 — was a splash addition. He was first-team All-AAC at Cin- cinnati in 2022, totaling 50 tackles and 4.5 stops for loss in 2022. The Terrapins ranked tied for 12th in the nation with 6.2 passing yards allowed per attempt a year ago and should be able to continue their success in that department going forward. The entire defense improved last fall, in fact, with first-year coordinator Brian Williams leading the turnaround. Williams was the team's defensive line coach (and still leads that position group) from 2019-21 before be- ing promoted. Maryland went from 97th in the country in scoring defense in 2021 to 42nd in 2022. The unit lost all but one starter in the front seven, leaving some uncertainty toward the line of scrimmage. Notes Maryland allowed just 133.8 rushing yards per game last season, ranking 38th nationally … The Terrapins' offensive line gave up 3.3 sacks and 6.9 tackles for loss per outing a year ago, checking in 119th and 109th in the country. ❑ Maryland Terrapins Continue To Climb 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2022 Result Sept. 2 Towson — Sept. 9 Charlotte W, 56-21 Sept. 15 Virginia — Sept. 23 at Michigan State W, 27-13 Sept. 30 Indiana W, 38-33 Oct. 7 at Ohio State L, 43-40 Oct. 14 Illinois — Oct. 28 at Northwestern W, 31-24 Nov. 4 Penn State L, 30-0 Nov. 11 at Nebraska — Nov. 18 Michigan L, 34-27 Nov. 25 at Rutgers W, 37-0 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Taulia Tagovailoa, R-Sr., QB — He averaged 250.7 passing yards per game in 2022, the third-most in the Big Ten, with 18 TD throws (seventh). Defense: Beau Brade, Sr., S — In 2022, his 85 tackles ranked tied for 14th in the Big Ten, and his 77.2 Pro Football Focus coverage rating checked in eighth among the league's safeties. GAME 11 • MARYLAND TERRAPINS • NOV. 18 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 10-1 First Meeting: U-M 20, Maryland 0 (Sept. 28, 1985, in Ann Arbor, Mich.) Last Meeting: U-M 34, Maryland 27 (Sept. 24, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich.) Head Coach: Michael Locksley, 20-23 (5th year) at Maryland, 23-54 overall (8th year) 2022 In Review: 8-5, 4-5 Big Ten (4th East) Final 2022 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 4 defense, 3 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2022 (Duke's Mayo Bowl vs. NC State, W 16-12) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Taulia Tagovailoa (3,008 yards, 18 TD) Rushing: Roman Hemby (989 yards, 10 TD) Receiving: Jeshaun Jones (557 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: Beau Brade (85) Sacks: Jaishawn Barham (4) Interceptions: Beau Brade, Dante Trader Jr. (2) Sophomore running back Roman Hemby racked up 989 rushing yards in 2022, third among Big Ten freshmen, along with 10 touchdowns (second). PHOTO COURTESY MARYLAND ATHLETICS