Nine days into fall camp, Maryland football made their annual trip to Baltimore to take in a Ravens game as head coach Mike Locksley had a chance to make the night special once more.
After putting running back Challen Faamatau on scholarship during last year’s outing, Locksley announced that punters Anthony Pecorella and Colton Spangler have been put on scholarship for the 2022 season.
The two seniors split punting duties one season ago with Spangler averaging just over 45 yards per punt on 29 kicks, while Pecorella averaged 44 yards on 28 kicks. Spangler, a Maryland native, has appeared in all 30 games through his first three seasons after joining the program as a former all-county punter. Pecorella, a New York native, has appeared in 28 games through the last three seasons. Pecorella is currently third in Maryland program history in punting average (42.4 yards).
— Inside the Black & Gold (@Insideblackgold) August 12, 2022
“We’ve got a guy given us great success throughout the last three years—holder, punter. And so we want to put Colton Spangler on scholarship this year,” Locksley said during halftime. “We’re fortunate to have two punters. We’re putting Anthony Pecorella on scholarship too.”
Pecorella was named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List last month, award to college football players who serve others in the community and inspire greater service in the world. Pecorella has been a consistent advocate for mental health awareness during his time at Maryland and is the owner of Healthy Minds, an Instagram account that encourages student-athletes to share their battles with mental health.
With Maryland football checking out tonight’s Ravens game, former #Terps TE Chig Okonkwo sees his former teammates during his first NFL appearance pic.twitter.com/iYYTZFe3aM
— Inside the Black & Gold (@Insideblackgold) August 12, 2022
The news came on the same night that Maryland got a chance to watch a pair of former teammates in action during his first NFL game as tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu suited up for their first preseason game with the Tennessee Titans. Okonkwo finished with one catch for five yards while Okuayinonu registered one tackle. Former Maryland and Ole Miss linebacker Chance Campbell also registered a pair of solo tackles in the loss.