The Terps had some up and down moments from their special teams in 2021, largely on the coverage side. They’ll have a new coordinator this fall with James Thomas stepping into his first season as special teams coach for the Terps, working alongside Ron Zook last year. Maryland needs to replace kicker Joseph Petrino, who was a four-year starter for them. The kick returner job is also something to keep an eye on in fall camp with several available options.
Kickers:
Chad Ryland: A grad transfer from Eastern Michigan, Ryland set numerous records there. He holds the records for most extra points made and attempted, career points, field goals made in a game, and is second in career field goals made. Maryland is hoping that Ryland will be the dependable kicker that he was at Eastern Michigan. Ryland was named third-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports in late May.
Harrison Beattie: Beattie played in two games last year, made one field goal, and had 248 yards on four kickoffs. The sophomore will be in a battle with Jack Howes for the backup job.
Jack Howes: Howes appeared in the bowl game against Virginia Tech and made an extra point, and attempted two kickoffs that went 124 yards. With Ryland only being around for one season, he and Beattie are auditioning for the main kicker job next year. Howes is also listed as a punter.
Punters:
Anthony Pecorella: Pecorella has been a steady punter since he got to campus in 2019. He ranks third all-time in career punting average with 42.4 yards and will fill a void as the power punter when the Terps look to flip the field this fall. He should continue to be reliable in 2022.
Colton Spangler: Spangler arrived with Pecorella, and they have split punting duties. Last year, Spangler set the school record for punting average with 45.52. The two sharing playing time has been good for Maryland, and it should be no different this year as Spangler holds the reigns as the punter looking to pin opponents within their own 20.
Branden Segovia: Segovia hasn’t been on the field yet. The redshirt freshman will be behind Pecorella and Spangler this year and could be the future of the position.
Long Snappers:
Ethan Gough: Gough played in two games last year. He’ll have the upper hand in the long snapper battle with Jake Foggia, as he’s the only one that saw any game action last year.
Jake Foggia: Foggia didn’t play in any games in 2021. The battle between him and Gough will be an important one if a little unnoticed.
Kick Returners:
Deonte Banks: Banks is coming off a shoulder injury that cost him all but two games in 2021. However, the redshirt junior corner will be back on the field by week one. Head coach Mike Locksley praised the Edgewood native during the spring after he returned a kick for a touchdown in the second closed scrimmage and with Tarheeb Still most likely the punt returner, both starting corners could be returners this year.
Jacob Copeland: Maryland’s new receiver has a chance to make an impact in more than one phase of the game. He returned two kickoffs during his time at Florida, combining for 43 yards.
Roman Hemby: Hemby is one of the fastest players on Maryland’s roster and flashed exactly that during the spring game. The redshirt sophomore serves as a backup candidate as a with the running back room wide open and Hemby possessing great top-end speed.
Rakim Jarrett: after Dontay Demus went down with a season-ending injury last fall, the then-sophomore wideout lined up on special teams and led the team with nine returns for an average of 17.6 yards per game. The shifty speedster gives new special teams coordinator James Thomas a reliable option along the backline again where he’ll look to flash his game-changing ability as an all-purpose threat in preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Marcus Fleming: another who missed time last fall due to injury, the slot receiver possesses quick twitch and has the skillset to make defenders miss in the open field. Fleming had just four attempts last fall, but led the team with 22 yards per attempt as Maryland looks for more gamechangers in the third phase.
Punt Returners:
Tarheeb Still: Still had a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown against Virginia Tech. In total, he returned 22 punts for 172 yards and the one touchdown in 2021. The punt returner job is Still’s to lose in 2022.
Marcus Fleming: just like in the kick return game, the former four-star product serves as another option alongside Still with several weapons on both sides of the ball (see above).
Verdict: Maryland’s special teams are just about set for next year. The punting game should be effective with two seniors at the position. The return game could lead to some surprises with the players back there. Kicking, meanwhile, is all going to depend on if Ryland can handle the pressure of the Big Ten as he’s expected to.
Up Next: We end the roster reviews with the quarterbacks.