UConn likely to get veteran DL Esean Carter back vs. Maryland

8 minutes ago

2 min read

Maryland will get a chance to test its gameday operation on the road when they take on UConn in Storrs for the first time since 2013. While first-year head coach Jason Candle will look to build on a 56-7 win over Lafayette to begin his tenure, Saturday marks his first meeting against Maryland where he acknowledged the obvious that the opponent is “much tougher one” than in week one.

“Coach Locksley has done a great job of building a team from the ground up through recruiting, and you know, they look like a Big Ten football team,” Candle said this week. “They have great size. They got length at every position. They can run.”

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley pointed to linebacker K’Von Sherman as a name to know after registering five tackles, four solo, two TFLs and a sack in the opener, but maybe as big of a question for UConn’s defense sits in the trenches. Defensive tackle Esean Carter saw his ineligible ruling overturned by the NCAA to clear him for the 2026 season and opening the door for the sixth-year lineman to make his season debut this weekend. The Michigan native -- and high school teammate of former Maryland RB Peny Boone -- ended his tenure at Toledo tabbed a third-team All-MAC selection after registering three sacks and 36 tackles in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 292 pound interior lineman could pose its first challenge for Maryland’s interior offensive line as Carter works to get in shape.

“He just hadn't been to practice for the last couple weeks. Just to throw that guy in there on Saturday and make him play 12, 15, 20, 30 plays, that's not fair. So he's going to have a good week this week, and hopefully we’ll have him to full strength by Saturday,” Candle said.

UConn allowed just 64 total yards and 2.1 yards per carry against Lafayette, while Candle watched his Toledo defense lead the MAC and become one of ten teams nationally to allow under 100 rushing yards per game in 2025. Yet they’ll now have to prepare for a Maryland rushing attack that ran for 365 yards vs. Hampton, the fifth-most by any FBS team in week one, as first-year coordinator Clint Trickett looks to establish consistency in week two.

“They look like a team that has the resources to build a Big Ten football team. They're big at every position. They’ve got great speed, team speed. They’ve got playmakers at running back, at receiver. Exceptional quarterback play through this young man's career so far, he progressively gets better. I think they've done a good job as an offensive staff putting plans around him, especially Saturday where he could have early success,” Candle said.

“And defensively, there's the same traits at every position. They're big, they're fast, and they play really hard. You got to go beat these guys. You can't just expect them to give you plays.”

Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM on CBS Sports Network.

Related Links