Maryland football notebook: dominance on defense, statement win, Washington-to-Knotts connection

Ahmed Ghafir
Sep 21
5 min read

Dominating performance by the defense

While Maryland’s defense showed signs of dominance through nonconference play, Saturday solidified the early season buzz to help quickly take momentum in its first road test.

It helped that Wisconsin's quarterback play was severely handicapped with Billy Edwards ultimately limited and Danny O'Neil average at best with the Badgers eventually trotting out Hunter Simmons for the final minutes of the game, leading the Badgers to their lone touchdown of the day.

Prior to Wisconsin’s final drive, Maryland’s defense allowed just 165 yards passing and three points. Though local product RB Dilin Jones was inactive for the second half, Maryland controlled the LOS to hold Wisconsin to just 1.5 yards per carry, the fewest allowed by a Maryland defense in three seasons.

Still, it was a convincing performance after showing flashes of what could blossom into a dominant, athletic defense under head coach Ted Monachino.

Maryland’s ten points allowed marked the fewest in a Big Ten game since holding Nebraska to the same total in 2023. The front seven, anchored by a blend of young on the outside and a veteran presence along the defensive line in Cam Rice and Dillan Fontus, dazzled with six sacks – most since 2021 – and ten TFLs – most since 2020 – with multiple pieces emerging in a deep unit.

Sidney Stewart logged a first quarter sack to become the first freshman in 20 years to record a sack in each of his first four games, while Daniel Wingate led the way once again with a team-high 11 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and one sack as he puts together an NFL profile weeks after head coach Mike Locksley compared to Pallotti product to Maryland legend EJ Henderson.

But maybe most impressive? Maryland held Wisconsin to just 3-of-17 on 3^rd downs, the defense’s lowest conversion rate since the 2022 regular season finale.

Maryland’s defense will now get a chance to get a few pieces back with CB Jamare Glasker expected to return after the bye and prepare for what should be a more competitive week six opponent in Washington and QB Demond Williams Jr.

Early season statement win

In its first road test of the season, Maryland dominated for its first win against Wisconsin with the national recognition trickling in through the second half.

“I believe in us from the start, really, we put in so much work in the offseason and during camp and during spring ball that we just got to go out here and show it and execute,” QB Malik Washington said. “So for me, I think the confidence as the team, I think it is rising, and that's a good thing to see, just because you want to see guys laughing and smiling and having fun with the game because at the day, it's still the game that we all love to play and we're here collaborating together and going out there and putting the best product on the field.”

Jalen Huskey secured the game’s lone takeaway after reeling in an errant Danny O’Neil pass, setting up the game’s first score. For the senior safety in his second season with the program, one season after undergoing a position change amid a one-win Big Ten season, Saturday’s road win proved the 2025 team is ready to take the next step in the conference.

“We just came to this game super confident and wanted to show everybody that this isn't the same old Maryland that we've been,” Huskey added.

Huskey wasn’t the only safety to dazzle after safety Messiah Delhomme notched a blocked punt for the second consecutive week, helping Maryland reset a pair of program records on special teams.

“A lot of poise. He starts on every single special team [play] and then he goes out there and gets starter-like reps on defense. So his composure, his stamina, and then him being out there, going out there and making plays, he's out there wanting to be the best he can be. And when the games come, he shows up.”

The Washington-to-Knotts connection remains strong

With all the talk of the top two in the room, senior wide receiver Shaleak Knotts has arguably been the brightest spot through four weeks of 2025, including again on Saturday.

Knotts connected with Washington with a nine-yard touchdown to end a five-play drive for the game’s second touchdown before reconnecting for a 62-yard deep ball in what proved to be the killshot in Madison – while also marking Washington’s longest pass through four games.

“I had a vision for what was going to happen. Came out my start very fast, broke on the post, took three steps, looked up, balls up there,” Knotts recalled of the play.

Knotts, who leads the team in both receiving yards (276) and touchdowns (5), served once again as a big boost where the big-bodied receiver is capitalizing as a deep threat in a passing attack that has developed a stronger vertical threat compared to 2025.

“He stayed down and trusted the process,” Washington said of his senior.

“It’s something special about him. He just has a spark,” Knotts added of the freshman phenom at quarterback.

WR Jalil Farooq tallied three catches to add to his team-high 17 catches, while WR Octavian Smith recorded his second consecutive 100-yard receiving game while resetting a mark broken just one week prior with a career-high 113 receiving yards on six catches.

But arguably the biggest concern from Saturday's convincing win was the drop after posting a season-high six by six different players. Maryland will look to clean that up ahead of a Washington squad hoping to move to 4-0 as they're set to host Ohio State next weekend.

Stats & Notes

2^nd: Shaleak Knotts recorded his second multi receiving TD game of the season after posting 3 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns
T-3^rd: OLB Sidney Stewart became the first true freshman in 20 years to record a sack in each of his first four games
T-5^th: LB Daniel Wingate sits tied for fifth nationally with 39 tackles through four games. Wingate already has three games with 10+ tackles, leading the team in that category in each of those three games
16: Maryland is tied with Oklahoma and Buffalo to lead the nation with 16 sacks in four games
20: Maryland’s 20 first-half points are the most in a first half in a Big Ten game since 2023 vs. Rutgers
2007: Maryland’s 20-0 halftime lead was the largest shutout mark in a conference road game since NC State in 2007

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