Maryland football stock report: front seven among takeaways in Wisconsin win

rwelchie3
Sep 21
7 min read

A potential turning point for the program occurred in Madison on Saturday as the Terrapins “upset” Wisconsin on the road to improve to 4-0 and start 1-0 in conference play. The Terrapins were as much as a 10.5 point underdog heading into Saturday afternoon but Locksley and company dominated from start to finish to silence the critics. A monumental win for the program as they get a rare road conference win early in the season to kickstart the conference schedule. Former Terrapin Billy Edwards was only able to play one offensive series and the Terps defense took advantage of the Badgers incapable backup signal caller, Danny O’Neil. In the end it was a dominant performance for a full 60 minutes in all three phases of the game and it has led to the national media starting to take a look at this Maryland squad. We take a look at the stock report following Maryland’s big road victory.

Stock Up

QB Malik Washington

The phrase has been thrown around the Terrapin community and Saturday may have solidified it; Malik Washington is The Truth. The freshman quarterback was impressive yet again and this time did it on the road in the Big Ten. Washington finished 18 of 34 for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown. One word: poise; Washington’s poise and presence in the pocket is elite, especially for a freshman. Washington remained calm in the pocket all day and threw some of the most pretty passes we have seen a Maryland quarterback throw in a long time. Washington’s throw on the run to Octavian Smith on the right sideline was a seed that split coverage. He also followed it with a dart to Smith at the end of the half to set up Maryland with 3 more points. The final 62-yard touchdown pass to Shaleak Knotts was the dagger. The kid just oozes confidence and is not afraid of the moment. His stat line should have been even better with multiple drops from his receivers; however, Washington has arrived on the scene as the quarterback that was promised. The team this year and the future of the program will go as far as Washington will take them.

WR Shaleak Knotts & Octavian Smith Jr.

A fantastic story has been developing in College Park with the emergence of Shaleak Knotts, a former four-star now dazzling in year four in the program. In a rare occasion in modern college football, Knotts stayed the course and waited his turn at Maryland in order to earn the starting spot. Even during fall camp it seemed Knotts was not amongst the first team but through the first three weeks, Knotts had arguably been the Terrapins best weapon with 3 scores through 3 games. Knotts showed up in a big way in this one as well with 3 catches for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. The volume was not there for Knotts but the big plays were as he sealed the deal with a 62-yard score to put the Terrapins up 24 in the fourth quarter. Knotts scored in the first half on Washington’s first touchdown pass. The senior has proved to be a reliable pass catcher with the capability of being a deep threat.

On the other side there is senior Octavian Smith. Smith broke his own career record set last week as he reeled in 6 catches for 113 yards. Smith has established himself as the Terrapins volume receiver through the first month of the season. Smith made some fantastic catches as well stretching out on multiple occasions to connect with Washington on the long ball. The pair of receivers have installed optimism in the receiver room that was full of question marks in the preseason.

The Front Seven

Perhaps the most dominant front seven performance from a Maryland team this decade and that may not be even doing it justice. The Terps finished with 6 sacks, 10 TFLs, and held Wisconsin to 1.5 yards per carry on the ground on the way to victory. The usual suspects were dominant again as the pair of freshman pass rushers, Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart, combined for 11 tackles, 2 QB hurries, 2 TFLs, and a sack. Daniel Wingate continued to fly all around the field as he led the team in tackles with 11 and added a sack of his own. Wingate is now in the top 5 in terms of total tackles in the country and tied 1st amongst power 5 teams. Other names started to emerge from the front seven including Trey Reddick who had 4 tackles and a TFL, and veteran Dillon Fontus created a TFL. The interior depth acquired via the transfer portal also flashed in this one with Cam Rice, Joel Starlings, and Edwin Moore all recording sacks and stuffing the middle repeatedly. Depth linebackers CJ Smith and Keyshawn Flowers also filled up the stat sheet with the latter recording his first career sack. Add in the pressure on special teams that caused two blocks, one being by Mathis on the first Wisconsin field goal attempt and this equates to a dominant performance. O’Neil was in hell most of the day and Maryland took advantage of him holding the ball more. Another passing grade for the pass rush, but again it will not be the most electric offense they will face. More tests will come about with more talented quarterback play abound.

Special Teams

Improving all aspects on special teams has been a consistent point during the Mike Locksley era with guys like Chad Ryland providing a boost through the years, but Maryland may find itself in the best spot during the Locksley era. While Bryce McFerson was already a weapon, Sean O’Haire has proven to be exactly that as he sits tied for second nationally with already ten made field goals, drilling a 49-yarder in Saturday’s win. But it doesn’t end there. For the second consecutive week, true freshman safety Messiah Delhomme recorded a blocked punt. That came nearly ten minutes after freshman OLB Zahir Mathis recorded a blocked field goal on Wisconsin’s opening drive. Maryland became the first FBS team to record a blocked FG and punt in the same quarter since Boise State did so in 2020, while Saturday marked the first time Maryland accomplished both in the same game since at least 2008. Figuring out the explosive plays in the return game is the next part with WR Jalil Farooq the latest to draw reps there, but the Terps have significantly upgraded the unit under coordinator Andre Powell and assistant special teams coordinator Chili Davis.

Honorable Mentions

S Jalen Huskey: The leader of the secondary is embodying the program and has become a fan favorite. Humongous interception early in the game and many strong run fills and physical play throughout.

K Sean O’Haire: A perfect day for the transfer including a 49-yarder. O’Haire sits second in the country with ten made field goals.

Stock Down

RB Nolan Ray

The run game improved slightly but still lacked pop most of the day. Any positive run came from Dejuan Williams as Nolan Ray continued to struggle breaking a strong run. Ray finished with only 4 carries for 11 yards and 2.8 yards per carry. Ray has seemingly been passed by Dejuan Williams who got 15 carries in the victory. Ray has a lot of talent and was viewed as the lead back entering the season but has yet to show the burst that he flashed during last season. It is more of a testament to the run game as a whole but Ray is not helping the cause. Maryland will need to improve their overall run game first in order for Ray to get going.

TE Dorian Fleming’s Usage

Georgia State transfer Dorian Fleming was viewed as the lethal weapon to watch for the Terrapins offense entering the season. Fleming flashed in week 1 versus Florida Atlantic and broke out versus Northern Illinois with a 48 yard catch and run which included multiple broken tackles and added a touchdown as well. Over the last few weeks Fleming’s usage has diminished with the tight end only corralling 2 balls for 8 yards in Saturday’s win. I am not stock Fleming as a talent, more so the usage and production. Washington made the correct reads all day so it is not a total negative; however, Fleming’s talent is off the charts and feeding him the ball more should lead to a more explosive offense. Unlocking Fleming could lead this offense to an even higher potential.

Drops in the passing game

A huge issue that has reared its ugly head again is the consistent drops from pass catchers. The Terrapins dropped multiple catchable balls from Washington early on that killed momentum of drives. The plays were there to be made but multiple drops led to Maryland having to get off the field. The Terps could have put even more points on the board without these mishaps and Washington would have even better numbers. The drops have yet to catch up with Maryland in the loss column but this habit will have to stop before it costs Maryland in a huge spot.

A dominant performance against a perennial bad matchup for Maryland. A true bright point in the Locksley era as a new regime has arrived. Still some skepticism on the offensive talent they have faced so far as Wisconsin lacks a true game breaker on that side of the ball. Maryland will have a bye week before returning to College Park to host a talented Washington side. Maryland will undoubtedly face the most talented quarterback, running back, and receiver they have faced all year in Washington’s Demond Williams, Jonah Coleman, and Denzel Boston three-headed monster.

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