Welcome back for the latest episode of Young Terps, where we dive into Maryland football’s homecoming opponent with the Illinois Fighting Illini headed to College Park.
After suffering its first loss of the season against fourth-ranked Ohio State, Maryland has a chance to bounce back and move to 5-0 at home this weekend, marking the first time the Terps have done so since 2008. While the Terps will look to pick up their third consecutive win against Illinois, Maryland will also look to set multiple program records with a chance to become bowl eligible at the earliest date since 2001 and become bowl eligible for the third-straight season for the first time since 01-03.
Maryland will also look to move to 3-1 in Big Ten play for the first time ever, but what stands in the way of doing so? A big piece of the Illini defense is defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton, a former Maryland verbal, as we take a look at what to watch for when Maryland has the ball. And what about Illinois’s offense? Can Luke Altmyer challenge the Terps’ defense? What type of challenge does Maryland face with wide receiver Isaiah Williams set to test the secondary? Does Maryland’s secondary have anything to prove one week after squaring off against Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka?
We wrap up the show highlighting betting odds, but showcase the Terps’ newest commitment in the 2024 class after Loyola Blakefield (MD) offensive lineman Trevor Szymanski went public with his decision to become the ninth commit on the offensive side of the trenches.
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