https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg2oF5u462w
The Maryland Terrapins are losing a ton of production at the wide receiver position. This includes three undrafted NFL free agents: Rakim Jarrett, Dontay Demus, and Jacob Copeland. Returning for his sixth season as a Terrapin is veteran Jeshan Jones. There is a plethora of young talent at the position including Tai Felton, Octavian Smith, and Shaleak Knotts. However, head coach Mike Locksley knew he had to dip into the portal to grab established receivers in order to remain competitive in the Big Ten and to keep star quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa, around. Locksley snagged West Virginia starter Kaden Prather as well as Florida International star Tyrese Chambers. Chambers posted fantastic numbers for the Panthers in Conference USA and I am personally super high on the product from Baltimore Poly High School.
In two seasons at FIU, totaled 96 receptions for 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns. Last season he posted Tallied 51 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns. He had a phenomenal 2021 season, earning Second Team All-CUSA honors and setting FIU single-season records in receiving yards (1,074) & touchdown receptions (9). He also Ranked second nationally with an average of 23.87 yards per reception in 2021. This included a career performance against Terrapins 2023 opponent Charlotte, where he posted 3 receptions for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. In 2022 against Charlotte, he also posted his best game of that season with 10 receptions for 143 yards. He began his career at Sacred Heart where he tallied 50 catches for 811 yards and eight TDs and earned the 1019 NEC rookie of the year. The question now is will the incredible production from the two-time Biletnikoff Award Watch List recipient translate to a Power Five level? We take a look at what he brings to the table.
The first thing that stuck out to me watching the tape is his ball-tracking ability despite his smaller stature at 6’0 192 pounds. These are not necessarily jump balls, but his ball-tracking skills put him in a position to make catches on deep balls. In this first clip he positions himself perfectly to make a catch on a long pass from his quarterback. He stacks the cornerback to make it difficult to defend him. It is similar to a boxout in basketball. This is against Texas Tech so this displays he has potential at the next level.
This next clip also shows how he perfectly tracks the deep ball. With a defender draped on him; Chambers finds the ball in the air and positions himself where only he can make the play.
Again, Chambers is in a perfect position in this next play. It is a back shoulder throw where Chambers has to adjust his route and make a play on the ball. Since the ball is on his outside shoulder, he uses his body positioning to box out the defender where he has an easier path to make the play.
I really like this part of Chambers’ game as he can fill the “deep threat role” similar to what Rakim Jarrett had last year. When Locksley wants to take a shot downfield, he knows he has Chambers that can separate from his defender and make a play. Chambers also can use his speed and route running to separate from his defender on these plays. This next play is a great combination of showing Chambers’ burst off the ball and his ball-tracking skills. It is a straight-go route one on one with the defender. Chambers creates separation through pure ball tracking. He again stacks the defender which makes him able to be in a spot where only he can get the ball. If Tagovaiola can throw a good ball to him, you know he is going to be in great position to go and get it.
This next play is a crisp corner route to fool his defender. Nothing too special to point out besides just how good the route is. He knows that he has outside leverage on the defender in man-on-man coverage. He is using his inside shoulder to lean towards the inside to fool the defender and then quickly cuts to the corner route which leaves the defender useless, and he is able to walk into the endzone for the touchdown.
Chambers also has a deadly slant route that he can parlay with his great YAC skills to create big plays. This next play has shades of prime Odell Beckham Jr. where he is so quick on a slant route that he can turn it into a game-breaking play.
Chambers can also use this deadly slant route to create separation in the redzone. This play shows he can also make plays in short-yardage situations. A simple slant route, but his positioning and route running is crisp and on time. Look for Tagovaiola to look for Chambers in these situations.
Finally, I just wanted to showcase two more plays from Chambers that do not need much explaining. They are just pure skill. The first one is just pure speed where he blows by his defender on a seam route and takes it for the touchdown. He quickly gets the inside leverage and uses it to beat the defender and get to his seam route responsibility. The final play is just a masterclass on ball tracking. A jump ball that Chambers gets up for (something I did not see a lot out of him). The quarterback has the trust to chuck up the deep ball to Chambers despite two defenders in the area. Again, I think it's Chambers's positioning and ball-tracking skills that get him in the right spot to make the play. Highlight reel stuff.
Overall, I am really high on Chambers and people in the Terps community could be overlooking this transfer. Ja’Quan Sheppard was my favorite addition on defense, but Chambers is my favorite on offense. I think he has a skillset that really fits college football well. No, he is not going to be a guy to throw jump balls to and look for fade balls in the redzone. He is not that big-bodied receiver like Demus, but more similar to Jarrett. He is going to use his excellent route running and ball-tracking skills to make plays. He is also extremely versatile as he is great on the deep ball but also has the route running skills to create separation in tight spaces. I really loved Kaden Prather’s hands and route running as well and I pegged him as a go-to receiver on got-to-have-it 3rd downs. I think Chambers can do this as well. Chambers can line up on the outside or in the slot and we project him to be the starting 'Z' receiver this season. With a deep wide receiver room, I still believe Chambers is going to be on the field more often than not based on his versatility. Not many fans have their eye on Chambers and I think that will soon change. I predict he is going to lead the team in receiving yards and touchdowns this upcoming season.
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