Maryland football's offense gets mixed injury news ahead of Nebraska

12 hours ago

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Maryland football is in Lincoln set to take on Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 3 with kickoff set for 4 PM ET. They will head into their first conference road game with one key player available and another sidelined for another week.

Running back Dejuan Williams has been ruled probable on Friday's injury report and is expected to be available on Saturday, paving the way for his first appearance since the week one win against Hampton. The redshirt sophomore amassed 116 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries, including a program-record 94 yard run on his first carry. Williams then added 35 yards on a pair of catches, proving why he's one of the offense's most explosive skill players.

Williams' absence put a strain on a thin running back room as Iverson Howard, listed as probable on Friday's depth chart, and Harry Dalton, ruled out vs. Nebraska, anchored the rotation. Yet the absence of Dalton forced OC Clint Trickett to get creative with backup QB Cardell Williams even drawing carries as a traditional running back, enough to enter the conference road opener tied for fourth on the team with former baseball utility Liam Wilson with 11 carries in 2026. Harry Dalton, meanwhile, remains sidelined in week five.

Tight end Preston Howard, meanwhile, is set to miss his second consecutive game with. Locksley expressed optimism during his weekly press conference ahead of the week five matchup after noting his absence in week four. Linebacker Trey Reddick has remained listed as doubtful all week, while DL Bryce Jenkins is also ruled inactive as the sophomore has struggled to begin the 2026 season.

"Being able to add him back gets Malik [Washington] back a couple of playmakers, a couple of guys that have had the ability to make plays and have made the plays for us, adds more weapons to his arsenal, which I think is something that, right now on offense, will help us get back in [a] groove."

Defensive lineman Armon Parker, twin brother of Jayven, is also in line to make his Maryland debut this weekend after battling a lower leg injury since fall camp.

The status of both cornerback Dontay Joyner and wide receiver Josiah Teasley remain unchanged ahead of week five.

On the other side, the Huskers could battle through a notable absence with running back Jamal Rule, Nebraska's leading rusher, listed as questionable ahead of Saturday. Rule is expected to warm up to determine his status, while he's joined by Mekhi Nelson as the two backs on the injury report.

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who will stand along the opposite sideline of his former quarterback, Maryland OC Clint Trickett, downplayed the possibility that Rule could miss Saturday's game. And rightfully so. The Huskers enter week five ranked second in the Big Ten -- behind UCLA -- and 18th nationally in rushing yards per game with four players averaging at least 35 yards and 4.8 yards per carry. For a defense fresh off allowing 266 rushing yards, Maryland's defense will once again be tested.

The status of Nebraska WR Jacory Barney Jr., who ranks second on the team in catches (16), yards (222) and touchdowns (2), was also worth tracking before being ruled probable on Friday's injury report.

Maryland is a 14.5-point underdog and will look for their first win as road underdogs since the week four win vs. Wisconsin in 2025, while Maryland is 4-15 as road underdogs since 2021. Maryland will also have a chance to avenge last season's three point loss in College Park, while also securing consecutive road wins against Nebraska.

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