Five Breakout Candidates for Maryland Football
- diggsreport
- Jun 30, 2022
- 4 min read
One of the best things to see during the season is watching a player finally match their potential with their play on the field. Sometimes it’s expected, while other times it comes out of nowhere. Here’s a list of some breakout candidates for the Terps in 2022.
VanDarius Cowan: Cowan, a former four-star who began his career at Alabama, joins the program after transferring from West Virginia. He can line up on both the outside and inside, though inside might be where he fits in best. Cowan only played in 16 games in his four years at West Virginia. The linebacker room will have some new and familiar faces, but Cowan will be one that’s expected to see the field plenty. “You throw in the two freshmen and then Ahmad McCullough has had a really good spring and he's a versatile guy that plays some inside and outside as does VanDarius Cowan and the flexibility that both those guys give us with being able to play you know, Ahmad is more of a SAM, MIKE, WILL and then VanDarius is more of a JACK and a MIKE and so we're fitting those pieces together.”
Corey Dyches: Dyches will be taking over the number one tight end spot after Chigoziem Okonkwo declared for the 2022 NFL draft. He got to show off a little of what he can do last year. This included a two-touchdown performance against Rutgers. He can line up on the line or be moved out wide when the Terps go with two tight ends. Now with Dyches taking over the starting role, there will be pressure to replace Chig, but he should be up to the job. Dyches worked with the receivers this spring mainly due to low numbers given injuries and the full 2022 class not yet enrolled, but that gave him a chance to perfect himself as a receiving threat as he worked with position coach Mike Miller and receivers coach Gunter Brewer. “We moved him back outside with Coach Brewer, which to me helps his development as a receiver and as a receiving tight end which I expect him to become you know that movement H-guy and do some of the things we did with Chig [Okonkwo] kind of like we did last season but I saw both those guys really benefit from the extra reps that they get from due to the injuries.
Tai Felton: After losing his last two years of high school ball to injuries and COVID, Felton appeared in eight games last year, catching five passes for 51 yards. He could see a big role on the offense early on because of multiple players recovering from injury over the offseason. Head coach Mike Locksley has praised Felton many times and this could the year that he shows everyone why. “We saw [Tai] really come on strong during the middle part of our season and then he had the hamstring and kind of cut him short,” Locksley said back on April 23. “So, a guy we've got a high expectation for. He's got real speed. The ability to stretch the field, big time playmaker, you know, coming off of an ACL and in high school and, you know, I think again, you'll continue to see his best football ahead of him.”
Roman Hemby: One of the fastest players on the team, expect Hemby to impact both offense and special teams. On offense, he has the chance to become a home run threat every time he touches the ball. After Locksley cited the redshirt freshman’s “big top finishing speed” during the spring, Hemby had the first touchdown of the spring game and finished with 71 yards on 17 carries. He could also be the kick returner on special teams, which would cause opponents to worry about him breaking a long one at any point of the game. Like last season, Maryland’s running back room will have a veteran in Challen Faamatau leading the way but a guy like Hemby gives the unit a chance to have multiple complementary backs.
Glen Miller: Miller is the tallest defensive back on the team and is known as a hard hitter. He also made an impression during spring practice, being able to line up as both a nickel corner and strong safety. Miller played in 12 of 13 games last year and finished with eight tackles. Maryland will have a pair of new faces at safety in Beau Brade and Isaiah Hazel starting but Miller helps add versatility to the room where he can line up several different ways. “Beau [Brade] was one of those guys that has benefited from those type of reps. You know, Corey Coley getting in early, a January grad and being able to go to spring ball, I think that's really helped him. Guys like Glendon Miller, I'm really pleased with the way the young secondary has been playing. You know, they're doing a great job of communicating and I think that that'll be one of the strengths of our team.” Miller found playing time last season but is expected to play a bigger role this fall and with the secondary leaning on their vets, the Florida native will have a chance to stand out.
Bonus: Caleb Wheatland and Jaishawn Barham; Wheatland and Barham might have the best chance out of any of the freshmen to make an impact on the field. They are similar in size, with Wheatland being at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, and Barham at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. Barham can line up on both the inside and outside, while Wheatland is an inside backer. With both being early enrollees, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them in the two-deep week one.
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