QB Caden Veltkamp serves as test for Maryland football's 2025 secondary + FAU's expectations for Maryland's offense

Ahmed Ghafir
Aug 28
3 min read

While the offense has drawn the most eyeballs around College Park through the offseason with head coach Mike Locksley staying consistent with no announced starter ahead of the opener, the defense could face its first early test against a new-look Florida Atlantic squad.

With Zach Kittley set to make his debut as the youngest head coach in college football, he’ll do so with an experienced quarterback leading his offense in redshirt sophomore Caden Veltkamp.

The 6-foot-6 redshirt sophomore transferred from Western Kentucky, where Kittley coached prior to his three-year stint most recently at Texas Tech, and is set to step in as the starter with hopes of picking up where he left off in 2024. After appearing in just four games through his first two seasons, Veltkamp replaced an injured TJ Finley to step in as the Hilltopper’s starting quarterback in 2024, throwing for over 3,100 yards and 25 touchdowns in 13 games en route to a C-USA Championship Game appearance and conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. Now looking to lead a revamped Owls offense with Easton Messer a familiar face to throw to in 2025, a Maryland secondary that has drawn buzz as much improved this offseason will get a chance to translate that buzz onto the field in game one.

“His ability to process the defense, he’s shown that at his last school, Western Kentucky. He was an elite processor which led him to be the conference player of the year,” safety Jalen Huskey said. “His ability to get the ball out fast and run the offense on time is something that led them to have great success so I think his brain is something that’s really good. He does well completing passes when they need to be made.”

Huskey will lead a backline alongside third-year safety Lavain Scruggs and portal addition Gavin Edwards, though the top of the cornerback room has been cemented since spring ball with Jamare Glasker and Dontay Joyner anchoring a unit featuring several underclassmen ready to shine. How the Terps’ front seven looks to attack Veltkamp with several pass rush candidates available gives defensive coordinator Ted Monachino a chance to be creative, though head coach Mike Locksley noted “the ball comes out quick so pass rush may not be as efficient against the guy.”

“Now this is what we think we're going to see because there's not a full body of work. And so again, for us, when you don't know, we're going to focus on what we need to do and that's the communication on defense, getting lined up, the ability to maybe take away the quick hitting passes from a coverage standpoint to not allow them to get the ball on the perimeter. And then obviously tackling well. I feel good about us going into game one tackling because we had a really physical camp and I like the way our guys were able - if you can full speed thud tackle or full speed thud, tackling is usually a lot easier.”

As for the offense, FAU head coach Zach Kittley noted the expected emphasis on Maryland’s rushing attack with Pep Hamilton now stepping in as the new offensive coordinator.

“Very multiple run package. I think that's gonna be something different that you probably haven't seen from Maryland last couple years. And again, Coach Locksley is going to have his fingerprint on it in a heavy, heavy manner because he's kind of more of your pass game specialist, if you will. Not that he couldn't run the ball in the past, but Pep Hamilton is an NFL, power football kind of type of guy. So I think we're going to see some 12 personnel. Think we’re going to see some under center. Think we're going to see some heavy run package or some deeply action pass from that regard. But then I do think you're going to see some split air raid concepts, if you will. And some could be ten, probably, if you're unattached, 11 sets probably. So again, a very, very multiple scheme on the other side of the ball as well.”

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