Maryland is set for its second practice in Nashville as they prepare to take on the Auburn Tigers in the Music City Bowl on Saturday. It’s been 21 years since Maryland defeated Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, 30-3, as head coach Mike Locksley looks to guide the Terps to a second consecutive bowl win against an SEC team in as many tries. A potential bowl win could secure consecutive eight-win seasons for the first time since 2002-03, while securing a third postseason win in as many years for the first time in program history. After opening as a 2.5-point underdog, Maryland enters Tuesday as a seven-point underdog following news that Taulia Tagovailoa has opted out, ending his Maryland career. Maryland will likely turn to Billy Edwards Jr. to take the first snap under center, but as Locksley routinely cites the bowl game as a preview for the 2024 season, we take a look at ten potential breakout Terps in Nashville. QB Cam Edge The buzz for the better part of the last year has been that Edge, a former four-star who transferred from DeMatha to Smyrna, had taken strides as the biggest challenger to Billy Edwards Jr. as the backup. Nearly all season long, though, it’s been Edwards Jr. whose been tasked with backing up former starter Taulia Tagovailoa. Edge’s lone appearance this season came in the season opener against Towson, posting 18 yards on 2-of-3 passing, but the Music City Bowl will be the first chance where he can showcase his big arm and test his high IQ against Auburn. WRs Octavian Smith & Shaleak Knotts You could make an argument that Smith, a 5-foot-11, 174-pound wideout originally out of Burtonsville, has already shown flashes through his first two seasons. The shifty receiver wideout has played in every game as a Terp and registered a career-high five catches against Penn State, while scoring on a 31-yard screen pass against Michigan State for his lone touchdown on the season. Smith reeled in a touchdown in last year’s bowl win vs. NC State. As for Knotts, the former four-star has appeared in 18 games through his first two seasons, posting 11 catches for 78 yards as he became an increased part of the rotation through the end of conference play. Despite a handful of veterans ahead of him in the wide receiver room, Knotts fits the description of the bowl game serving as a preview for potential playmakers in 2024 as they look to get him more involved in the offense. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound wideout has been showcased as a vertical threat for Maryland and capitalizing on his deep targets is the next step, and how he fares against a talented Auburn secondary will be intriguing. TEs Preston Howard & Dylan Wade After redshirting due to a lower leg injury that sidelined him through his freshman year, the second-year tight end has become a staple in the room with starts in 12 appearances in 2023. But while Howard was able to showcase his raw athleticism in the open field, Corey Dyches was the undoubted primary passing option in the room through the season. Now that Dyches is gone, it’s Howard’s turn as the 6-foot-5, 238-pound athlete has been able to show traits that make him capable of becoming the next passing threat to thrive in Mike Locksley’s offense. Howard tallied a career-high 49 receiving yards on a pair of catches against Rutgers while also posting two catches against Nebraska, Penn State and Ohio State. His hurdle on a 33-yard catch against Virginia was enough to make the SportsCenter top ten, but now, he’ll look to become the clear-cut passing threat. As for who’s behind him, now it’s time for Dylan Wade to capitalize as the second passing threat in the room. Despite arriving in June, the 6-foot-3, 222-pound freshman is the prototypical type of athlete that head coach Mike Locksley wants at the position. It’s a big reason why Wade, who at one point in time was set on switching to the defensive side of the ball, was always a wide receiver for the Terps. Wade’s two catches for three yards on the season was enough to haul in a one-yard touchdown catch against Indiana, and after reeling in a jaw-dropping one-handed catch in practice, he’ll get his chances to showcase his athleticism in bunches. LBs Mike Harris & Daniel Wingate Despite enrolling in June, both Harris and Wingate have elevated the floor of Maryland’s inside linebacker room as the pair of freshmen have been able to showcase themselves in spurts through 2023. Harris, who split with his brother during the February signing period last year, hit the ground running and benefitted from enrolling in great shape. The athletic former three-star prospect would play in seven games in 2023, posting one TFL and nine tackles as he showcased his ability to shoot the gaps and pressure opposing quarterbacks through non-conference play. Wingate, one of two signees out of Pallotti in the 2022 cycle, has routinely drawn praise from Locksley ever since enrolling and posted one TFL and eight tackles in eight games in 2023. Maryland’s inside linebacker room will have veteran LBs Ruben Hyppolite and Fa’Najae Gotay available against Auburn, while Caleb Wheatland will look to reinforce himself as the next man up in the room after playing in every regular season game. With a void in the room, the pair of freshmen could look to capitalize on increased roles against the Tigers. CBs Kevis Thomas & Perry Fisher If there’s any position where ‘next man up’ applies most, it’s the cornerback room. Maryland will be without Tarheeb Still, who opted out and will head to the 2024 NFL Draft, while Gavin Gibson and Corey Coley Jr. both entered the transfer portal following the Rutgers game. One boost for the unit is the availability of CB Ja’Quan Sheppard, who will close out his lone season with the program against Auburn. Maryland will now turn to a host of underclassmen to fill the void and Perry Fisher is among the primary names. Fisher lined up as a defensive back in high school but was signed as a wide receiver despite playing quarterback as a senior at Lincoln (FL). It didn’t take long for Fisher to make the move to the defensive side of the ball when he enrolled to give the room a high ceiling prospect given his athleticism for his 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame. After spending the 2022 season learning the intricacies of the position under assistant Henry Baker, Fisher tallied seven tackles in ten appearances in 2023. Thomas burned his redshirt opportunity after playing against Indiana, his fifth game appearance of the season, and finishing with one tackle this season. Thomas was among the names that Locksley pointed to as potential candidates to fill the void in the secondary. Locksley also pointed out Mykel Morman, a track star who shined as a jack of all trades in Wise’s secondary before appearing in two games as a freshman. A potential bowl snap would mark the first appearance for CB Jonathan Akins as a Terp. “The young corners, we signed, I think three corners. Kevis and and Morman. These are all three dudes that can run. We were running Chantz Harley this past season. He’s got great length and size. Those guys have, Kevis played some, obviously Lionell’s back. He’s played a bunch for us. Ja’Quan Shepard’s playing in the game. I don’t see this as, Perry Fisher, who’s been kind of a nickel in the corner. We’ve got a lot of experienced guys. That’s why when you said a bunch of guys going in the portal that we’re playing, but like is about the one guy that kind of leaving that has a lot of game experience. And then obviously Corey Coley leaving as well. But we’ve recruited well. Those three young corners as well as Chantz Harley and Lionell, I think, give us a tremendous chance going into the game. They all can run. They all got length. This will be a great opportunity for us to see just what they are capable of doing. That’s how we want to utilize this game.” https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Dq3JZnhHg4djlEoSF19yl?si=a1d4cd61c2ba4286 Related Links Maryland vs. Coppin State: how to watch, listen, game previewPractice notes from Nashville (+)Beau Brade talks opting in, QB Payton Thorne, young secondaryMaryland trending for local guard with decision expected (+)Evaluating Maryland football’s remaining roster needs in 2024 (+) Scouting Maryland’s bowl opponent: Auburn’s offenseVIP: bowl prep, OL developments, confidence in vet (+)
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