Three takeaways from Maryland football’s spring game

Maryland football wrapped up spring ball with its annual Red-White game as the White Team pulled out the 34-3 win. Three takeaways from Saturday inside SECU Stadium:

Passing game has a long way to go

If you could only take away one thing from Saturday’s spring game, it’s that the passing game has a long way to go.

Maryland was never expected to come out of the spring with a clear-cut starter in the room, but spring has proven the ongoing quarterback battle remains wide open and very much undecided heading into the summer.

Billy Edwards Jr. and MJ Morris teamed up for the White team while Champ Long and Cam Edge took reps with the Red Team on Saturday, but ball placement and accuracy were a sore point for the quarterback room all day. Edwards and Edge were the first two to lead their respective teams, but in a bit of a surprise, Champ Long appeared to be the first quarterback who seized his reps after taking the offense into the redzone on his first drive, doing well getting the ball out quickly and accurately to his perimeter receivers. The offense would ultimately settle for three as the Red Team took the early 3-0 lead, but Long’s next drive had a different outcome after early enrollee LB Keyari James reeled in a pick-six on the very next throw.

As for Morris, his best plays in the first half came on the ground given his athleticism has never been in doubt, but he connected with TE Dylan Wade in the third quarter on a 34-yard gain in double coverage. On the next drive, Morris hooked up with Wade again to cap off his second touchdown drive of the day after finding his groove through the second half. But when it comes to the QB-WR chemistry, the passing attack has ample work to do in order to create more consistency through the air.

Locksley noted that one of the criteria for naming his ultimate starting quarterback was taking care of the football, and both Champ Long and Cam Edge tossed interceptions on the day. Jonathan ‘Uzi’ Akins capped off the spring game with a 94-yard pick-six on Cam Edge, cementing the blowout win for the White Team. Jayden Sauray did not draw reps in Saturday’s spring game.

The commitment to the run is evident

Before spring ball began, head coach Mike Locksley was crystal clear that creating a more balanced offense is a focus for the upcoming 2024 season: “I think it’s no secret that we didn’t run the ball as well as we probably needed to run the ball to win games in the Big Ten.”

Maryland was able to retain Roman Hemby for his fourth season with the program while Colby McDonald returns to stabilize the head of the room, but second-year running back Nolan Ray is as big a part of the rotation as he and the running backs got their fair share of reps on Saturday. Ray was arguably the best of the bunch after averaging over eight yards per rush through the first half while Roman Hemby recorded 26 yards on seven carries through the first half. MJ Morris struggled through the air, but it was his legs that helped set up the offense’s scoring drive in the first half after evading pressure to run down the right side of the field, setting up his first redzone opportunity of the day. Similar to Billy Edwards, Morris’ athleticism adds another element to Maryland’s potential rushing attack as both of them now look to take the next step as consistent passers.

The next step for Maryland is finalizing the offensive line, which was a weakness in Maryland’s ability to run the ball in 2023. With Damien Wroblewski teaming up with Brian Braswell to develop the offensive line through the spring, along with senior analyst Brian Ferentz serving as another set of eyes for the unit, the commitment to establishing a more consistent rushing attack this fall is clear. And with the quarterback battle still largely undecided, finding that success on the ground is integral to Maryland’s success in 2024.

The early confidence in Maryland’s defense is valid

Even considering the offensive struggles through the afternoon, Maryland’s defense showed signs of optimism that they can live up to the buzz they’ve built through the spring. With seven returning starters along the defense, Maryland had ample experience to turn to with guys like Glen Miller and Jalen Huskey making the seamless transition into the new starting cornerback and safety, while the return of linebackers Caleb Wheatland, Ruben Hyppolite and Fa’Najae Gotay behind the defensive line instills confidence in the front seven. Second-year LB Neeo Avery was able to shine in pass rush support on Saturday, while second-year LB DJ Samuels proved himself with a stop behind the LOS against the run early. Quashon Fuller and Kellan Wyatt were also able to find the backfield, though the QBs were not live in Saturday’s scrimmage, as the defensive line largely controlled the trenches through the day.

The biggest question mark on defense is the secondary, and a handful of players were able to turn heads on their respective reps. Former blue-chip safety Brandon Jacob recovered well in the second half to break up a flea flicker, while Jonathan ‘Uzi’ Akins ended the spring game with a 96-yard pick six. While the passing game remains a work in progress, Maryland’s defense was able to flash a few faces among an experienced defense.

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