Maryland football's rushing attack looks to establish consistency vs. UConn

5 hours ago

2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFOuDvq0LV8

After two consecutive seasons where Maryland struggled to establish a rushing attack, the beginning of the 2026 regular season now offers a chance to establish consistency.

Maryland’s 365 rushing yards in the 62-0 win vs. Hampton marked the team’s most since rushing for 444 yards against Bowling Green in 2018. DeJuan Williams kicked it off with a 94 yard run in the opening minutes of the game to secure the second-longest rushing touchdown in program history, but he wasn’t alone as second-year RB Iverson Howard joined Williams with two touchdowns each in the win. Harry Dalton and Jianni Davis punched in one touchdown each in their first games as a Terp with the offense’s six rushing touchdowns marking the most since matching 2019.

Maryland posted three 20+ yard runs in week one, a notable feat given the offense amassed just 11 through the entire 2025 season.

“When you run the ball efficiently, it forces the defense to creep up and it spreads out the back end and now you can take shots,” wide receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding said. “It just opens up the entire game, especially when you’re running the ball effectively, it’s kind of diminishing to an opposing team as well because ground and pound, just imposing your will. It allows the whole game to open up.”

Williams pointed to Trickett tapping into his versatility where the redshirt sophomore is “moving around in the backfield, not just having me in the backfield but go out in the slot, go outside at times as well.” Running back Iverson Howard pointed to Trickett knowing “how to get the ball to his playmakers” ahead of the chance to carve out an impact role in year two.

“I like how everybody gets to touch the football,” Howard told IBG.

Though the rushing attack’s efficiency came against first-year head coach Van Malone and Hampton, week two will offer a similar opportunity for Maryland as they prepare for first-year head coach Jason Candle and UConn. Yet the week two matchup offers a chance to build on success in hopes of creating the balanced offense. UConn allowed just 64 total yards and 2.1 yards per carry – including one run over ten yards – in their blowout win over Lafayette, but Maryland’s three-man rushing attack poses a much different test. The offense will look to eclipse 150 rushing yards in consecutive weeks for the first time since Nov. 2023.

“We're fortunate because I think we have three [running backs] that all can be the starter,” head coach Mike Locksley said during fall camp. “There's no doubt that they've really improved over the course of the last six months and I'm excited to see what they do.”

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