Maryland’s offense has its star back for one more season.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has announced his return to Maryland, solidifying Maryland’s offense heading into the fifth year under head coach Mike Locksley.
The senior quarterback rewrote Maryland’s record book as he stands at the top in single season passing yards (3,860), completions (328), completion percentage (68%), touchdowns (26) and 300-yard passing games (7). Taulia also holds career records for completion percentage (68%), passing yards (7,658), passing touchdowns (50), 300-yard games (12) and total offense (7,841) while sitting second in career completions (646).
Head coach Mike Locksley expressed confidence in his star quarterback heading into the 2022 season. “I don’t think there’s a more underrated player in the country than Taulia Tagovailoa, and I’ll continue to say it, as he’s a guy that has really been the catalyst to making us go on offense,” Locksley added during Big Ten media day last summer. After firing away through the nonconference slate, Taulia suffered a sprained MCL in the week four loss versus Michigan that he battled through the rest of the season. Taulia was sidelined for the Northwestern game, just the second game missed since arriving in College Park, but rejoined the starters following the bye week.
Taulia led Maryland through the final four games of the regular season before entering the bowl win on the second series of the game, finishing 19-of-37 for 221 yards and a touchdown. With 14 attributed to Taulia, Maryland’s 15 wins over the last two seasons are the most over a two-year span in 15 years for the program.
Taulia’s decision to return also bolsters a Maryland offense that will replace the bulk of their wide receivers, though there’s confidence that Jeshaun Jones will return for a sixth season in College Park as a final decision is made this week. Maryland also returns two-year starter Mason Lunsford and DJ Glaze in 2023 while the running back room will be headlined by the same names that paved the way in 2022. His return is also met with a pair of new receivers from the portal in Tyrese Chambers and Kaden Prather.
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