2017 B1G Previews: Maryland Terrapins

Maryland Terrapins (East Division)

Location: College Park, MD

Stadium: Maryland Stadium (51,802)

Coach: D.J. Durkin (2^nd year): 6-7 at Maryland/7-7 overall, 3-6 v B1G

2016 Maryland Terrapins (6-7)(3-6)                         2017 Maryland Terrapins

52        Howard                       13                                S2        at Texas

41        at Florida International14                               S9        Towson

30        at Central Florida        24                                S16      idle

50        Purdue                           7                                S23      Central Florida

14        at Penn State               38                                S30      at Minnesota

10        Minnesota                   31                                O7       at Ohio State

28        Michigan State            17                                O14     Northwestern

36        at Indiana                    42                                O21     at Wisconsin

  3        at Michigan                 59                                O28     Indiana

  3        Ohio State                   62                                N4        at Rutgers

  7        at Nebraska                 28                                N11      Michigan

31        Rutgers                        13                                N18      at Michigan State

30        Boston College            36                                N25      Penn State

            (Quick Lane Bowl)

            Coach D.J. Durkin made progress in his first season as Maryland’s coach, doubling their win total from a dismal 2015 and there are signs of steady improvement with the program. 

Finding the right quarterback will be essential for that improvement to continue and here we will witness what will probably be the most intriguing preseason competitions in the conference.  Three signal-callers are up for the starting role.  North Carolina transfer Caleb Henderson is the newcomer and will battle with returnees Tyrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager, both sophomores.  Pigrome played in 11 games in 2016, completing 52 percent of his passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns.  Bortenschlager played in two games, threw for two scores, and had the Terps longest play from scrimmage, a 92-yard scoring toss to D.J. Moore, who returns as Maryland’s leading receiver, hauling in 41 receptions for 637 yards and five other scores.  Seniors Talvon Jacobs and Jacquille Vell figure to be the other WRs in the Maryland passing attack, as well as Derrick Heyward at TE.  Maryland should rack up better numbers on the ground, thanks to junior RB Ty Johnson, who was a 1000-yard runner last year, averaging over nine yards per carry and six touchdowns.  The offensive line, led by junior RT Damian Prince, is a mix of highly touted recruits.  Juniors Derwin Gray (LT), Sean Christie (LG), and Brendan Moore (C) all have at least some game experience.  Sophomore Terrance Davis appears to have won the RG position during spring practice.  Last year, the Terps averaged 25.8 points per game.  Look for that to improve in 2017.

                                            RB Ty Johnson

Maryland runs a 4-2-5 defense, and the front four features senior DE Jesse Antebonam, who led the team with nine sacks a year ago.  He is joined by classmate Chandler Burkett at the other end spot.  Burkett contributed 4.5 tackles for loss among his 35 stops.  Perhaps the most mobile player along that D-line, he also broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles.  Seniors Cavon Walker and Kingsley Opara are also back on the interior of the line.  Opara had 41 stops with an impressive 11.5 tackles for loss, while Walker had 30 tackles with eight TFLs.  Senior linebackers Jermaine Carter Jr. and Shane Cockerille are back after each of them reached the century mark in tackles.  While the front seven is solid, the secondary loses versatile William Likely and had only five interceptions last year.  Junior JC Jackson and freshman Deon Jones should be at the corner spots.   Jackson started 11 games last year and turned in 40 tackles and an interception.  Jones was a four-star recruit from Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, MD who enrolled in January and had an exceptional spring practice.  Senior Josh Woods returns at FS, after starting five games in 2016 and managing 41 tackles, while another four-star freshman, Markquese Bell, looks to be the favorite to get the starting nod at SS.  Bell, out of Bridgton (NJ) High School, also enrolled early.

                                             LB Jermaine Carter Jr.

Senior Adam Greene is back to handle the kicking chores after making nine of his 14 field goal attempts with a long of 37, while it appears sophomore Wade Lees will get the nod at punter, taking over for the departed Mike Shinsky.

The Terrapins are 0-9 against ranked conference teams the last three seasons and the schedule does them no favors.  They open on the road at Texas and also play Ohio State and Wisconsin on the road in October before Michigan and Penn State visit in November.  Maryland’s depth will be severely tested, but with the experience up front on both sides of the ball, Maryland has a chance to improve on last year’s finish.

PREDICTION: 6-6 (4-5) 5^th in B1G East