Maryland was able to set multiple feats on Saturday as head coach Mike Locksley noted the win “was probably the most complete game that we played in all three phases.”
“Started fast finished strong. Playing to our standard. And usually if you play the standard, you usually end up with the win. And today, we were fortunate to be able to do that.”
We take a look how Maryland fared against Indiana per PFF’s grades.
Quarterback
Taulia Tagovailoa: 57
After recording his second 300-yard passing game of the season on 24-of-34 passing, Taulia Tagovailoa became the first Maryland quarterback to throw for five touchdowns since Scott Milanovich did so back in 1994. His PFF grade reflected that, finishing with an 92.6 overall offensive grade on a largely efficient day. Taulia was kept clean on Saturday as the offensive line didn’t allow a sack, allowing the veteran to finish 22-of-30 for 334 yards in a clean pocket.
Taulia also finished the day 4-of-7 on throws 20 yards or more downfield, while finishing a perfect 15-of-15 on his short throws, as the Terps’ star finished with the highest grade (92.6) among any offensive player.
Running Backs
Roman Hemby: 42
Antwain Littleton II: 11
Eli Mason: 1
On 19 combined carries, no sign of Colby McDonald on Saturday as Hemby and Littleton combined for 106 yards on 19 carries, including 64 yards on 11 carries as Maryland leaned on the duo through the second half. The run game struggled early, a combination of protection and the backs hitting the holes, but the efficiency from the aerial attack was enough to overpower Indiana and mask the early concern.
Hemby finished the day with 54 yards on 14 carries, including 47 yards after contact, while Antwain Littleton finished with the third-highest offensive grade (79.2) despite just five carries.
Hemby finished with the sixth-highest grade among any offensive player (68.9), though drew a 6.2 grade in pass protection.
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
Tai Felton: 38
Kaden Prather: 37
Jeshaun Jones: 36
Rico Walker: 20
Corey Dyches: 20
Tyrese Chambers: 17
Preston Howard: 16
Shaleak Knotts: 14
Dylan Wade: 12
A career day for Tai Felton, setting multiple individual and program records. Not only did Saturday mark Felton’s first career 100-yard receiving game, but his three first half receiving touchdowns made him the first Maryland player to ever accomplish the feat. Felton wasn’t the only wideout recording 100 receiving yards, finishing the day with 121 yards on six catches, as Maryland recorded two 100+ yard receivers in the same game for the first time since 2021.
So it wasn’t a surprise to see Felton (86.4) and Jones (79.2) grade as the second and fourth-best players on offense. Felton saw 26 snaps as an outside receiver in the passing game, compared to just three in the slot, with Jeshaun Jones primarily working inside on the day. Kaden Prather joined Felton as the lone Terps playing at least 20 snaps outside, finishing with 45 yards on four catches and six targets, while finishing with an overall 68.1 grade.
Dylan Wade recorded his first career touchdown and despite playing the fewest snaps, Wade (70.4) was the fifth Terp to eclipse a 70 grade in the win.
Offensive Line
DJ Glaze: 56
Kyle Long: 54
Gottlieb Ayedze: 48
Corey Bullock: 47
Mike Purcell: 39
Aric Harris: 18
Conor Fagan: 18
Amelio Moran: 4
Marcus Dumervil: 1
Maryland slightly adjusted their starting offensive line in Saturday’s win with Mike Purcell drawing the start over Aric Harris at center, while the rest of the line remained intact with (L-R) Glaze, Long, Bullock and Ayedze back in the starting lineup. After trimming the rotation a bit a week ago, Maryland saw Purcell and Harris rotate series through the game while Fagan made his first appearance of conference play in the second half at right tackle.
Overall, a clean day for Maryland’s offensive line after not allowing a sack in the win and just three through five weeks. In fact, per PFF, the offensive line didn’t even let up a QB hurry or pressure while being called for just one penalty in the win.
Purcell also graded as the top run blocker (62.7) with Aric Harris behind him (62.7). Ayedze drew a 57.7 grade in run protection, while no other offensive lineman recorded a grade higher than 75. Pass protection was a different story with DJ Glaze (89.6) one of three players to record a grade of 80 or better. Bullock graded as second-highest (86.2) to Purcell (82.1), while Fagan (79.1) and Ayedze (78.4) graded just outside.
Defensive Line
Quashon Fuller: 39
Jordan Phillips: 36
Tommy Akingbesote: 34
Lavon Johnson: 28
Taizse Johnson: 25
Dillan Fontus: 23
Tre Colbert: 23
Daniel Owens: 14
Christian Teague: 13
Quashon Fuller was the lone defensive lineman to register a sack as he, Taizse Johnson and Christian Teague all registered a TFL, but it was Teague (76.1) who graded as the highest defensive lineman and his team-high 79.1 grade in run support is a big reason why.
Akingbesote (73.5) was the lone lineman to grade above 70, with Phillips drawing a 58.4 overall grade. Maryland, meanwhile, didn’t have one player grade above 70 in pass rush. Lavon Johnson saw his first increased workload of the season and registered a pair of tackles, along with one missed tackle, as he drew a 61.1 overall grade and 63.7 grade in run defense.
Linebackers
Caleb Wheatland: 31
Ruben Hyppolite: 30
Fa’Najae Gotay: 28
Daniel Wingate: 27
Kellan Wyatt: 27
Riyad Wilmot: 27
Donnell Brown: 30
Gereme Spraggins: 20
Mike Harris: 18
Dylan Gooden: 8
DJ Samuels: 6
Ian Maloney: 2
David DeGuzman: 2
If you had Mike Harris as your highest-graded player on defense, then you nailed it. Harris (82.4) topped Gereme Spraggins (81.9) in the PFF player grades, two of three defensive players to grade above 80 in the win, as Harris finished with four tackles and two solo.
Wheatland and Wyatt were both credited for sacks on the day, while Fa’Najae Gotay (80.1) and Ruben Hyppolite (80) were the lone two linebackers to record a grade of 80 or higher in tackling as the duo tied for second on the team with five tackles and four solo. With Jaishawn Barham sidelined in the win, another Maryland freshman was able to step up into an increased role as Daniel Wingate added a pair of tackles in 27 snaps, drawing a 69.3 overall defensive grade and 77.3 tackling.
Ruben Hyppolite also led the defense with four stops, a metric PFF uses to define tackles that “constitute a “failure” for the offense,” compared to Wheatland (3) and Spraggins (2).
Defensive Backs
Tarheeb Still: 47
Dante Trader Jr.: 45
Beau Brade: 45
Ja’Quan Sheppard: 43
Glen Miller: 40
Corey Coley Jr.: 21
Avantae Williams: 20
Gavin Gibson: 19
Lionell Whitaker: 18
Lavain Scruggs: 16
Perry Fisher: 16
Kevis Thomas: 14
Chantz Harley: 13
Alex Moore: 11
Rex Fleming: 10
Glen Miller (81.3) graded as the best defensive back in Saturday’s win in 25 coverage snaps, while Coley, Brade and Sheppard all registered one forced incompletion each. Still left the game early with an apparent injury, but struggled on the day as he allowed a 118.8 QB passer rating against him on 29 snaps in coverage, per PFF.
Maryland was also credited with six missed tackles in the win, an area that’s drastically improved since year one under Locksley, yet five came from the secondary in the win.
Per PFF, here’s how the following DBs fared:
Sheppard: 3 catches on 5 targets, 36 yards
Fisher: 3 catches on 4 targets, 22 yards
Gibson: 1 catch on 3 targets, 1 yard
Brade: 2 catches on 3 targets, 28 yards
Still: 2 catches on 2 targets, 27 yards
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