Pro Football Focus released its All Big Ten preseason teams on Wednesday as Maryland finished with the third-most selections behind only Michigan and Ohio State
Nine different Terps were named preseason all-conference with veteran wide receiver Dontay Demus the lone first-team selection. After missing the final seven games of the 2021 season, Locksley tabbed Demus as “ahead of schedule” during Big Ten media days as the veteran has been able to return to fall camp sporting a brace on his right leg. “Actually really, really been impressed with the way he’s returned,” Locksley said. Our training staff led by Brian Simerville has done a tremendous job getting Dontay back. I think last week he broke 21, 22 on the catapult which means he’s got that explosiveness back."
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, right guard Spencer Anderson and outside linebacker Durell Nchami were all second-team selections. Despite losing Demus, Jeshaun Jones and Marcus Fleming during conference play, Taulia rewrote Maryland’s record book last season as Locksley has consistently reiterated his confidence in Maryland’s returning starter. “I don't think there's a more underrated player in the country than Taulia Tagovailoa and I'll continue to say it as he's a guy that has really been the catalyst to making us go on offense.” Jarrett was named to Bruce Feldman’s top list of college football ‘freaks’ on Wednesday, checking in at 61st nationally and one spot behind cornerback Jakorian Bennett, while Nchami was cleared at the start of summer workouts as he embraces a veteran role this fall.
“Looking back freshman year, I used to be like, damn man, you're old but now I'm the older guy. So, it's kind of cool.”
Left tackle Jaelyn Duncan and kicker Chad Ryland were the two third team selections as Duncan’s return for the 2022 campaign solidified Maryland’s offensive line as offensive line coach Brian Braswell returns all five starters from one season ago. Ryland, meanwhile, transferred to Maryland from Eastern Michigan and gives the special teams room a strong leg. Maryland’s new starting kicker was seen knocking through a 65-yard field goal at Kohl’s camp in July but says his career long is a 75-yard field goal.
Both receiver Jeshaun Jones and left guard Mason Lunsford were named honorable mention selections. Jones has been “able to do pretty much everything for about a couple of weeks” as he, Demus and Jarrett give Maryland one of the best receiver rooms in college football this season. Lunsford, meanwhile, returns as a second-year starter and looks up to the senior-led unit.
"This is my first year where we're truly senior led," Lunsford said on Tuesday. "Especially in the offensive line room, we got three seniors and they've really been the driving force of the whole room."
Maryland kicks off the season on September 3 against Buffalo.
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