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It’s almost football season!
Testudo Times has spent the summer breaking down how Maryland stands entering 2018. For the second straight year, we devoted a week to each position group. It took us nine weeks, but we’ve made it all the way through. If you missed any of it, it’s now all in one place for you.
Below is the rundown for every group. Positional overviews and other important stories are included in the stream below, and any updates between now and Week 1 will be added.
QUARTERBACKS
- Maryland’s 2018 season hinges on the rehabs of Tyrrell Pigrome & Kasim Hill
- Max Bortenschlager started 8 games in 2017, but now faces an uphill battle
- Tyler DeSue enrolled early, but isn’t in the starting plans just yet
- FEATURE: Caleb Henderson’s next chapter
RUNNING BACKS
- Ty Johnson returns for one more year as Maryland’s feature back
- Lorenzo Harrison should remain a big part of the rushing attack
- Jake Funk will try to carve out a role in Matt Canada’s offense
- Anthony McFarland can to burst onto the scene
- Javon Leake & Tayon Fleet-Davis won’t be forgotten
RECEIVERS
- Taivon Jacobs should be Maryland’s No. 1 wideout
- DJ Turner and Jahrvis Davenport form a small group of veterans
- Four redshirt freshmen — Carlos Carriere, Jayden Comma, MJ Jarrell and Sean Nelson — can make an impact
- What to expect from the four true freshmen — Brian Cobbs, Dontay Demus, Darryl Jones and Jeshaun Jones
- TIGHT ENDS: An unproven group looks to bring Maryland’s tight ends back to relevance in 2018
- BONUS: Q&A with Cat Scratch Reader on Panthers first-rounder DJ Moore
OFFENSIVE LINE
- LEFT TACKLE: Derwin Gray is back to lead Maryland’s offensive line
- LEFT GUARD: Sean Christie looks to hold it down
- CENTER: Brendan Moore should be a reliable senior presence
- RIGHT GUARD: Terrance Davis has a stronghold
- RIGHT TACKLE: Damian Prince is locked in for one more year
DEFENSIVE ENDS
- Jesse Aniebonam’s return will be key for Maryland football
- Maryland took a chance on Byron Cowart, and it could pay off
- Maryland will count on Bryce Brand & Durell Nchami to boost its pass rush
- Brett Kulka will have to battle for the chance to repeat his 2017 numbers
- Maryland’s youngest defensive ends — Lawtez Rogers, B’Ahmad Miller and Tyler Baylor — will all be looking to break through in 2018
- The one departure: Melvin Keihn transferred to Richmond
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
- Three upperclassmen — Mbi Tanyi, Keiron Howard and Oseh Saine — all have something left to prove
- Maryland needs everything it can get from Adam McLean
- A trio of redshirt freshmen — Cam Spence and Breyon and Brandon Gaddy — can revitalize the position
- The two true freshmen — Austin Fontaine and Jalen Alexander — will try to break through in different ways
- Seun Oluwatimi saw rotational time as a walk-on last year. Can he join the fold again in 2018?
LINEBACKERS
- Isaiah Davis is the one known commodity
- Tre Watson gives this group much-needed experience
- Upperclassmen Nick Underwood and Brett Shepherd should provide key depth
(UPDATE: Shepherd left the program)
- FRESHMEN, PART 1: Nihym Anderson, Fa’Najae Gotay, Jordan Mosley
- FRESHMEN, PART 2: Ayinde Eley, Chance Campbell, Ahmad McCullough
DEFENSIVE BACKS
- Antoine Brooks will be the do-it-all weapon
- Marcus Lewis and Tino Ellis could form a dynamic cornerback duo
- Darnell Savage returns as the senior leader
- Qwuantrezz Knight and Antwaine Richardson bring plenty of experience into their junior seasons
- Maryland will turn to RaVon Davis (feat. Rayshad Lewis) at nickel corner
- The young safeties — Deon Jones, Fofie Bazzie and Raymond Boone — are developing for bright futures
- The youngest cornerbacks — Kenny Bennett, Vincent Flythe and Ken Montgomery — can break through