Maryland showed flashes on offense during the 2020 season with Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback, where the former four-star product started in four of the Terps’ five games last fall. The former four-star quarterback started in all four games made available and finished with just over 1,000 passing yards and seven touchdowns in a season that flashed both the highs and the lows. The offense fed off Tagovailoa’s performance, such as the former four-star quarterback accounting for over 450 yards of offense in a one-point win over Minnesota. Tagovailoa followed that up with a 300-plus yard outing in the road win against Penn State as the Terps’ offense was seemingly trending in the right direction—until Tagovailoa accounted for all three turnovers in the home loss to Indiana the ensuing week.
The inconsistent showing left Maryland fans hopeful for the future as they dissected the positives from their starting quarterback but took note of the areas where Tagovailoa can grow to maximize the offense’s potential. While the week one performance can be attributed to an inconsistent practice schedule, opt-outs and players made unavailable due to COVID, the upcoming season provides Maryland fans with a sense of optimism given Tagovailoa basks in a full offseason alongside a deep, talented stable of wide receivers.
That’s why Tagovailoa was one of two Terps tabbed as a potential breakout candidate this season, joining wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, as the second-year starter has an opportunity to surpass last season’s accomplishments. PFF also ranked Tagovailoa as the 37th-best starting quarterback in the FBS, good for fifth in the Big Ten behind Michael Penix (5), CJ Stroud (20), Graham Mertz (26), and Tanner Morgan (36).
“The best way to describe Tagovailoa’s four games for the Terps in 2020 after his transfer from Alabama is optimistically inconsistent,” PFF wrote. “He produced PFF grades of 40.8, 90.2, 74.3 and 41.1 in those outings. Tagovailoa was an accurate passer in rhythm, extended some plays with his athleticism and did a good job of leading receivers across the field on horizontal concepts, earning a 78.3 passing grade on such plays. At the same time, though, his decision-making was far from where it needs to be — as his 5.9% turnover-worthy play rate can attest. Putting the ball in harm’s way like that is usual for a first-time starter, but displaying such a high ceiling is uncommon. Expect a breakout year from the 2019 four-star recruit.”
The synopsis summarizes both the mentioned highs and lows that fans saw in 2020, but Tagovailoa has established weapons in place to take the next step. Fans are eager to see the revamped rushing attack with Jake Funk off to the NFL, but Tagovailoa has a future NFL wideout at his disposal with Dontay Demus returning as the Terps’ go-to target. Maryland also returns Jeshaun Jones, Brian Cobbs, Rakim Jarrett, and Darryl Jones while also welcoming former four-star and Nebraska receiver Marcus Fleming. The Terps have young weapons waiting behind the established playmakers in Dino Tomlin, Deajaun McDougle, Nick DeGennaro, and Tai Felton but the potential receiver sets at wide receiver coach Zohn Burden’s disposal is exactly why the offense has a chance to surpass expectations.
With Tagovailoa eligible for the 2022 NFL Draft, a strong season could be what elevates his draft prospect as Maryland hopes to have their first quarterback drafted since 1991 when Scott Zolak was selected by the New England Patriots with the first pick in the fourth round.
Maryland also underwent a key change on the offensive side of the ball this offseason with Dan Enos replacing Scottie Montgomery as the offensive coordinator, yielding changes to the offensive terminology as they search for their identity heading into the season. “I think obviously, there may be a difference there in the run game in terms of what we’re doing and then obviously in the pass game, between the RPO game, we want to become a very good play-action team,” Enos said during spring practice. But the first-year coordinator recognized that Tagovailoa is a “very detailed quarterback” who “already shown me the ability to be a very good ball-handler and he’s very athletic.”
The Alabama-Tagovailoa connection will help Tagovailoa through the offseason as the two established a relationship during Enos’ time with the Crimson Tide and that feeling was shared by anonymous coaches in Athlon’s magazine. “Taulia Tagovailoa will benefit from Locksley and Enos being together,” one anonymous coach said. “That's the brain trust that turned his brother into a star. If you want an idea of what they want to do, look at that Bama offense, minus the O-line play."
Offensive line play will be the biggest determining factor in Tagovailoa’s success this fall as position coach Brian Braswell is tasked with replacing two starters following the departures of Marcus Minor (Pitt) and Johnny Jordan (VT). With incoming lineman Aric Harris expected to start at center and Spencer Anderson slotted at right tackle, the play of the offensive line will be a talking point all season, but all eyes will be on how Tagovailoa takes a step forward in year two as the starter.
With a deep stable of receivers and the return of dynamic tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, head coach Mike Locksley knows he has his franchise quarterback in place.
“To say that it’s happened this quickly, we’ve had some glimpses of what we can look like,” Locksley said on Glenn Clark Radio back in January. “I did think we’d be able to show that we’ve taken the next step as a program. Now, do I feel like we have a franchise quarterback in ‘Lia? There is no doubt in my mind that he has the skill set, his work ethic, his drive, and competitiveness. And it’s really contagious because you see it in some of the players that kind of gravitate toward him.”