Tayon Fleet-Davis has departed from the program and since signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. Now, the Terps running group has one senior and a host of underclassmen. The group may be young, but they have complimentary backs that could help rejuvenate Maryland's rushing attack this fall.
The Senior:
Challen Faamatau: The lone upperclassman in the unit, Faamatau is recovering after suffering a notable leg injury during the first quarter of the spring game, but should be back early in the season. He finished third on the team in rushing with 235 rushing yards. Faamatau is a former walk-on who was put on scholarship during a Ravens game. This year, he should be considered the veteran leader of the unit. While there may be more talented players at the position, Faamatau will still have a role.
The Second-Years:
Head coach Mike Locksley has been complimentary of his young running backs as all three got a chance to flash their skillset during spring ball. “I know Colby McDonald played a lot of football for us last year and we picked our spots with Antwain and Roman Hemby in that we were able to preserve a redshirt year while also playing them in the bowl game, which, as I've said before, that bowl game is like the start of the ‘22 season for us,” Locksley said back on April 16. “Obviously the depth and experience we have at receiver kind of is one of the strengths of our offense, but these young running backs have continued to show us that they're talented enough and coach [Elijah] Brooks has done a good job of bringing those guys along.”
Colby McDonald: McDonald was one of three true freshmen who scored a touchdown in the bowl game against Virginia Tech. McDonald was second on the team in rushing with 325 yards and scored two touchdowns. He’s a one-cut and go back that is dangerous if he gets into the open field. Now it's about developing into an every down back, which was his focus during spring ball. "My coaches told me they always knew that I could run without a ball, they knew I could run with the ball and everything, they wanted me to work on how I play without the ball like pass game, pass blocking and my reads and everything and I feel as though I worked better to get on that and I worked better every day so I can be an every-down back for this team," he said after the spring game. McDonald's experience last season gives him the foundation to be a breakout performer this fall.
Antwain Littleton: “Baby Bus” has worked hard to reshape his body during the offseason and has made a night-and-day transformation over the last year. Littleton redshirted last year after playing in two games, having 15 carries and 74 yards. He also scored a touchdown during the bowl game against Virginia Tech. Littleton is a power runner who can also make people miss with his agility, just like he did while at St. John's. He’s a back that should be feared if he gets into the second and third levels. Going into 2022, he should be on the field often.
Roman Hemby: Hemby might be the fastest running back on the team and it's the reason why he's squarely in the mix in the return game. The former three-starproduct out of John Carroll (MD) once clocked running a sub-4.4 forty in high school and developed a reputation as a potential home-run hitter at the next level. After head coach Mike Locksley and the staff tactfully managed his reps as a true freshman, Hemby was able to showcase himself in four games after rushing for 71 years on 17 carries. He scored a touchdown against Howard and Virginia Tech. During the spring game, though, it was Hemby who opened up the game's scoring with a run down the sideline as he flashed the speed that so many have said he possesses. ""Coach [Elijah] Brooks has been talking about making that one person miss and who can ring the bell so I found my opportunity and just tried to make something happen, worked out for me," Hemby added after the game. Fans should expect him to be a receiving threat out of the backfield and has the hands to line up in the slot.
The Fullback:
Joseph Bearns: Who says fullbacks are not used anymore? Not Maryland’s offensive coaches. Bearns could have been on the field last year if he didn’t get hurt and missed the season. With him, healthy expect to see plenty of him during the season, especially in potential goal-line packages.
The Freshman:
Ramon Brown: Brown and his brother, walk-on linebacker RJ Brown, don’t arrive on campus until June 19. However, he was in Maryland often during the spring practice. The Terps stole Brown from Virginia Tech after the coaching change down there. A potential all-purpose back, he will run between the tackles while having the speed and burst to go around the edge. He’ll also catch passes out of the backfield. Despite the potential logjam at the position, the four-star recruit will be in the mix for playing time right away.
Verdict: The battle for the main back role is a major topic during fall camp. Even if Faamatau misses the start of the season, the young backs should be able to carry the load. Expect any one of the backs to have a big game at any time during the season.
Up Next: The secondary gets a deep dive.
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Ahmed- need the Truth here. When is RB Jacobs (#4) coming back to the Program? #LOXFAVORITE
I love the story of Challen and hope he eats my words, but from what I saw out of Mcdonald, Hemby and even Littleton I feel like all three of those guys are better. Our run game was not good last year when Challen and TFD were running the ball and that was very obvious. I know the three of them were freshmen and sometimes freshmen take time to learn the blocking part of the game, but what I saw out of them was that they hit holes a lot faster than TFD and Challen did. That is not even mentioning Ramon Brown and what he could potentially bring to the table!! I just know we have to have mor…
My hope for the offense this year?
- 33 PPG
- Rushing : 150+ YPG
- Passing : 300+ YPG
So many options with down and distance. Gotta showcase the run more
I think ultimately this season will be running back by committee but I expect McDonald to get the most carries. I think Hemby while playing RB also makes a lot of sense as the kick returners and hopefully he can have a big year similar to how Javon Leake did during his last year here.