Notebook: Maryland prepares for UConn, second chances, Na'eem Gladding's debut, DL depth

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Maryland football dominated Hampton in its season opener, but this weekend’s opponent marks its first true test when they travel north for the first road game of the season to face UConn with kickoff set for 3:30 PM on CBS Sports Network. Takeaways from Tuesday:

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

An Overhauled Program

The Terps (1-0) visit UConn on Saturday, a program that offers intrigue after roster turnover in the offseason. The Huskies won nine games in 2024 and 2025, their first time reaching that mark in consecutive seasons in program history, but coach Jim Mora departed for Colorado State.

To replace Mora, UConn hired former Toledo coach Jason Candle — who Maryland coach Michael Locksley lauded for his program-building with the Rockets.

“A lot of respect for our opponent … [Candle] did a tremendous job at Toledo,” Locksley said. “He was able to bring a lot of the players that were successful for him there at Toledo to UConn.”

Toledo was bowl-eligible in all nine full seasons Candle coached, including an eight-win campaign last season. The Huskies roster 21 transfers from that 2025 team, including two defining players Locksley highlighted.

Second Chances

Though the first road game draws attention, head coach Mike Locksley had to answer for a pair of players battling in legal matters involving women with both cornerback Dontay Joyner and wide receiver Josiah Teasley with the program, able to practice yet not available on gameday.

While Teasley’s status became public over the last week, Locksley pointed to the roster as reason for the reversal decision regarding Joyner.

Defensive lineman Eyan Thomas and wide receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding confirmed they were among the players who advocated for Joyner.

“We decided as a team, and overall, that it was best for him to be a Maryland Terp and we believe in them. Like I said, we believe in second chances and that's our brother.”

Gladding admitted the meeting was “more internal” while declining to offer specifics but echoed similar comments to Thomas.

“He’s our brother. We support him and everybody feels like he needs a second chance.”

UConn’s Key Players on Both Sides of the Ball

Starting quarterback Kalieb Osborne was the first UConn player Locksley mentioned. The junior has limited experience — he’s played in eight collegiate games and attempted 78 passes — but has flashed dual-threat ability.

Osborne ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries in UConn’s season-opening 56-7 win over Lafayette.

“When you think about [UConn] on offense, it starts and ends with the quarterback,” Locksley said. “He’s a dual-threat guy, does a great job of operating their RPO system, extends plays with his feet and also adds value in the QB run game.”

Locksley also laid out his expectations for the front seven and the secondary against a mobile signal caller.

Maintaining rush lanes and keeping Osborne in the pocket as much as possible will be paramount for the pass rushers. The secondary has to stick to their assignments and avoid fixating on Osborne when he escapes the pocket.

“Coach Starks preaches rush lanes, not getting too wide or too far,” defensive lineman Eyan Thomas said.

“We got to do a great job in scramble situations, do a really good job of containing them and keeping them in the pocket,” Locksley said.

On the opposite side of the ball, Locksley labeled linebacker K’Von Sherman as UConn’s player to watch.

Sherman was named to the All-MAC First Team last season after totaling a team-high 94 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss. The senior continued his role as a game-wrecker against Lafayette, totaling five tackles, including two for loss, and a sack.

“[Sherman] is the guy that we have to make sure we know where he is,” Locksley said. “He does a great job in the blitz game as a pass rusher.”

With two new starters on Maryland’s offensive line, the unit’s performance in pass protection against Sherman will be telling.

A Five-Star’s Debut

The Terps are hoping a pass rusher of their own can also be disruptive.

Freshman edge rusher Zion Elee, the highest-rated recruit in program history, made his much-anticipated debut on Saturday. Elee’s statistics — one tackle and no sacks — do not pop off the page, but his impact didn’t go unnoticed.

“It was pretty good actually,” defensive lineman Eyan Thomas said of Elee’s debut. “On that first sack that I got, it was all because of him, actually. He made the quarterback step up right into my lap.”

Locksley said Elee was upset he didn’t fully finish that play and earn the sack, but the coach reassured Elee that he made an impact nonetheless. Locksley also praised the Baltimore native for efforts that don’t appear in the final box score.

“If you look at the tape, he had a bunch of double teams on him, but he forced some quick throws, some errant throws,” Locksley said. “The thing I was most impressed with was how he played the run, for a young player.”

That’s great news for Maryland.

Against an RPO-heavy offense orchestrated by a mobile quarterback like Osborne, the Terps’ run defense needs to be sound.

DL Depth Shows Up

It was only one game, but Maryland got a glimpse into the improved interior defensive line depth in its first game action.

Both DL Eyan Thomas and OLB DD Holmes registered two sacks each while Jayvon Parker and Nahsir Taylor were credited with an assist each. Derrick LeBlanc and Parker also teamed up for their first TFLs at Maryland, allowing the defense to allow under 100 yards of total offense for the first time since the Howard game in 2019.

Thomas returned as Maryland’s most productive returning lineman after he registered 1.5 sacks, five TFLs and 27 total tackles across 12 games, yet the inability to complete the season finale loss vs. Michigan State stuck with him. Now in year two under defensive coordinator Ted Monachino, Thomas sees a chance for the pieces to gel together better than 2025.

“We listen to him,” Thomas said of Monachino. “So I feel like if we do everything that we need to do, it will be different than last year, especially like takeaways, stopping the run. That's the emphasis this year with our bigger bodies.”

Gladding Makes SECU Debut

Maybe the most impressive debut on offense was senior receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, who tied Chris Durr for a game-high six catches with his 57 receiving yards standing alone at the top to go with his first receiving touchdown as a Terp.

The Virginia native and Old Dominion transfer arrived as an impact piece on offense, living up to those expectations in his first game under the lights at SECU Stadium.

“It was a great feeling. Especially being that it was nighttime, the environment is just that much more surreal,” Gladding said. “It's a great feeling. You get to do what you love, play football, and I can't ask for nothing more than that.”

Gladding was able to also flash as an electric returner after recording a 34 yard punt return, in addition to another big return that was called back after replay determined his knee was down. Yet for a phase of the game that has lacked many explosives during the Mike Locksley tenure, Gladding adds to the explosive play potential in 2026.

“I still feel like I want to take that extra step and actually return some and get to the end zone with them,” Gladding added. “But yeah, I definitely got kudos for my efforts.”

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