Maryland football’s defense was the catalyst in the bowl-clinching win against Nebraska after amassing five turnovers in Lincoln, the second time that Maryland has done so in conference play this season.
Cornerback Tarheeb Still played a big part in those defensive efforts and on Monday, the senior was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Still finished with a team-high seven tackles while both he and Dante Trader Jr. finished with two interceptions, making Maryland the only school to have two players with two interceptions in the same game. Still is now tied atop the conference and ranks ninth nationally in interceptions (5) and is one of three players in the FBS to have two or more interceptions in multiple games this season. Still becomes the first Maryland player to garner Defensive Player of the Week honors since Tre Watson.
Jack Howes was also named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after drilling a 24-yard field goal to hand the Terps the last-second win. It marked Maryland’s first walk-off win since beating Illinois back in 2021, while Howes converted both attempts in the win. Howes becomes the first player to be named special teams player of the week since Chad Ryland did so last season.
While both players were integral in Saturday’s road win, Maryland will shift its attention to Michigan in the home finale.
Maryland will then close the season against Rutgers on Nov. 25 as the Big Ten announced a 3:30 PM kickoff on the Big Ten Network for “rivalry” week.
Both teams enter week 12 already bowl-eligible despite the Scarlet Knights falling to Iowa, 22-0, on Saturday.
Maryland has won four of its last five matchups against Rutgers, with the Terps pulling out a dominating 37-0 win in SECU Stadium to close out the 2022 season.
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