Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo opened up in the spring about missing the 2020 season due to myocarditis, but the senior has been cleared to return and adds a big wrinkle to the Terps’ passing attack. Okonkwo was fully cleared and rejoined the team during spring ball as first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos began working on play and concept installation, but with ‘the real thing’ now ahead of him, Okonkwo is ready to show out this fall.
“I’m really excited, man. I got to come back in the spring but now, it’s the real thing and the whole team is here and we got to grind 30 days straight,” Okonkwo said on Friday. “I’m really excited for what’s to come because the mindset of this team is well ahead of like any team that we’ve been on. We expect to win now; before it was hoping to win. Now we go out there and we expect to win every time we play. The young guys are super mature, we didn’t have any young guys come in and doing some BS. Everybody came in to work, we had an amazing summer program. A lot of player-run practices. I cannot wait to see this because we’ve been putting in the work.”
The shift in the team’s mentality has generated consistent buzz through the offseason as head coach Mike Locksley begins to see the culture he once aspired now coming to fruition. Okonkwo explained how the more positive mindset amongst his teammates has translated in offseason workouts. “You don’t have the guys always complaining…the guys on the team, they all understand they’re here to play football and here to win. That honestly is just huge because when the whole team isn’t on board like that, you can’t win. Having the whole team on board and knowing what they want to accomplish—I don’t want to say too much but this season is about to be really good."
While the program’s culture hasn’t been battle-tested just yet, Maryland knows what’s at stake heading into the September 4 showdown against West Virginia. After finishing 2-3 last season, fans have taken note of the Terps’ offense potential to become explosive with Enos and quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa at the helm. While Tagovailoa is competing with transfer addition Reece Udinski for the starting spot this season, there’s optimism that Tagovailoa can make the natural progression as a second-year starting quarterback with a full offseason under his belt and familiar verbiage back in the offense alongside Enos. Though Okonkwo did not meet Tagovailoa until October of last season, the veteran playmaker knows the Terps have a driven quarterback in the system.
“I could tell he’s a very humble, hardworking dude and then he started playing and I said damn, he’s a gamer. When you think the play is dead, the play is not dead with him. Players like that are awesome and hearing the things he speaks about and the visions he has for the team…he gives us great speeches, like I’m motivated. He’s a guy you want to play for, he’s very hard working. He’ll be here at 11 at night on a school night watching film, he just works that hard.”
That diligence is why fans are hopeful that the Terps’ passing attack can reach its full potential given the deep stable of talent in the wide receiver room. During Enos’ one season at Cincinnati, the Bearcats saw tight end Josh Whyle finish as the team’s leading receiver; tight end Brevin Jordan played a focal point in Miami’s offense during Enos’ season with the ‘Canes as the current NFL tight end finished second on the team in receiving yards. Current NFL tight ends Irv Smith and Hunter Henry also had productive college careers being coached under Dan Enos, paving the way for a breakout season for Okonkwo as he returns to the field.
“I know I’m going to be touching the ball more, I know that. We’re involved in everything. If it’s run game, we’re involved. If it’s pass game, we’re involved. We know we have to block inline, swings, linebackers corners, ability to beat corners on routes, safeties, linebackers. We’re using every little thing and that’s why I really respect coach [Dan] Enos. A lot of times the tight end isn’t the most respected position but he really does respect us and he gives us an opportunity, I cannot wait to play alongside his offense.”