Ahmed Ghafir

Aug 11, 2022

Second Edition: Projecting Maryland Football's Two-Deep

Welcome to the second edition of Maryland’s projected two-deep. Maryland put the pads on for the first time last Friday and are now two days into camp with full pads. With the first scrimmage set for this Saturday, we unveil the latest projections with a few tweaks.

Quarterback

Starter: Taulia Tagovailoa

Backup: Billy Edwards Jr

Skinny: No changes here. This is the first season where there’s truly no competition for the starting quarterback position while Edwards gets his first camp in College Park. Jayden Sauray and Cam Edge have been able to participate in their first fall camp as they round out the depth.

Running Back

Starter: Colby McDonald OR Roman Hemby

Backup: Antwain Littleton OR Ramon Brown

Skinny: Challen Faamatau won’t be available any time soon as McDonald and Hemby are ahead of the pack. Four-star freshman Ramon Brown will have himself a role in the rushing attack while Littleton has made himself available in the rotation.

Wide Receivers

WR-X

Starter: Dontay Demus

Backup: Tai Felton

WR-Z

Starter: Jacob Copeland

Backup: Jeshaun Jones

WR-H

Starter: Rakim Jarrett

Backup: Marcus Fleming

Skinny: No changes in the latest edition. Demus takes over at the X like he did last year while he and Jeshaun Jones have sported the yellow jersey with the staff keeping an eye on their rehab process. Tai Felton has drawn praise at times through the first week of camp, too.

Tight Ends

Starter: Corey Dyches

Backup: CJ Dippre OR Weston Wolff

Skinny: No changes here but Dyches drew praise from Jacob Copeland following Tuesday’s practice. “He’s most definitely another us. He’s a receiver for sure, he’s just at [the] tight end position. He works smooth in everything he [does].”

Offensive Line

Starter: Jaelyn Duncan

Backup: Andre Roye

Starter: Mason Lunsford

Backup: Ja’Khi Green OR Khris Love

Starter: Johari Branch

Backup: Aric Harris

Starter: Spencer Anderson

Backup: Amelio Moran

Starter: DJ Glaze

Backup: Max McCree

Skinny: The change has been made for Anderson at right guard and DJ Glaze at right tackle. The two have flip-flopped through the first week and change of practice but Glaze reclaiming the tackle spot opposite of Duncan seems more likely as things stand. Anderson was credited for being a versatile piece along the offensive line by the staff during media day and while there was a time when he didn’t want to play guard, it’s where his NFL future sits and could be why he shifts back inside.

Defensive Line

END

Starter: Greg Rose OR Quashon Fuller

Backup: Tyler Baylor

NOSE

Starter: Ami Finau

Backup: Henry Chibueze

TACKLE

Starter: Mosiah Nasili-Kite

Backup: Tommy Akingbesote

Skinny: I expect Chibueze to become the primary backup nose tackle where, in time, he could line up at defensive tackle next to Ami Finau especially during conference play. Quashon Fuller has come on strong as this weekend’s scrimmage could settle things outside.

Linebackers

JACK

Starter: Durell Nchami

Backup: VanDarius Cowan OR Greg Rose OR TJ Butler

MIKE

Starter: Ruben Hyppolite

Backup: Jaishawn Barham

WILL

Starter: Gereme Spraggins OR Fa’Najae Gotay

Backup: Caleb Wheatland

SAM

Starter: VanDarius Cowan

Backup: Ahmad McCullough OR Kellan Wyatt

Skinny: Noticeable change from last week following TJ Kautai’s departure, but with the progression of Barham and Wheatland, it’s a departure that the linebackers can certainly absorb. This has not been said to me, but Barham as a situational outside linebacker maybe on third downs could be where he fits in to mix up the front seven, but the instinctive linebacker continues to stand out during practice.

Secondary

Starter: Tarheeb Still OR Deonte Banks

Backup: Corey Coley OR Chantz Harley

Starter: Dante Trader

Backup: Glen Miller OR Isaiah Hazel

Starter: Beau Brade

Backup: Lavain Scruggs OR Gavin Gibson

Starter: Jakorian Bennett

Backup: Lionell Whitaker OR Perry Fisher

NICKEL

Starter: Glen Miller OR Isaiah Hazel

Backup: Jayon Venerable

Skinny: The addition of Harley gives Maryland some added depth at the position, but the starting cornerbacks remain the same. The change here is Dante Trader as the starting free safety where he saw ample time last fall. Isaiah Hazel gives the unit quality depth and he can also fit in as a nickel corner, where both he and Glen Miller can line up.

Special Teams

K: Chad Ryland

P: Anthony Pecorella

KR: Roman Hemby OR Tarheeb Still OR Jacob Copeland OR Deonte Banks OR Octavian Smith

PR: Tarheeb Still or Octavian Smith

Skinny: No changes at kicker, Pecorella could prevail as the full-time starting punter this fall. I expect to get more clarity on the returners following the first scrimmage this weekend.