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Maryland football will open up the 2019 campaign under the Mike Locksley era at home Saturday against the Howard Bison at Noon.
Earlier this week. Locksley named Virginia Tech grad-transfer Josh Jackson as the team’s starting quarterback after battling in training camp with Tyrrell Pigrome. Jackson started three games for the Hokies in 2018 before fracturing his left fibula, ending his season. During his redshirt freshman campaign for the Hokies in 2017, Jackson led all Power Five freshmen in yards (2,991) and completions (236), and ranked second among that group with 20 touchdowns.
Another Maryland offensive player to watch is redshirt sophomore running back Anthony McFarland Jr. He is coming off a sensational freshman season where he averaged 7.9 yards per carry, a number that was sixth among all running backs in the FBS and led all freshmen. McFarland also became the first Maryland running back since 1979 to have back to back 200 yard rushing games when he did so in November vs. Indiana (210 yards) and Ohio State (298 yards).
Anthony McFarland broke a huge TD run against Ohio State.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 17, 2018
Five minutes later, he did it again. pic.twitter.com/cU8eVYGvAB
On defense, cornerback Tino Ellis and safety Antoine Brooks Jr. make up a strong senior defensive back group. Ellis is coming off a great 2018 season. During his junior year he led the team in pass breakups with 11 and also recorded 23 tackles and an interception. Joining Ellis in the secondary is Brooks, who led the team in tackles for loss last year (9.5) and was voted Second Team All-Big Ten by coaches. The Terps defense also includes two impact linebacker transfers in Shaq Smith from Clemson, and Keandre Jones from Ohio State.
This matchup between Howard and Maryland is only the second matchup between the two schools. They first played in 2016 when the Terps defeated the Bison 52-13.
The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
The numbers (2018)
Maryland: 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten)
Howard: 4-6 (4-3 MEAC)
All-time series: Maryland leads 1-0
Odds: Maryland is a 29.5-point favorite
How to watch and listen
Saturday, Aug. 31, noon (ET), Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium, College Park
TV: BTN (Joe Beninati, play-by-play; Chuck Long, analyst)
Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt.) / 980 AM (DC), TuneIn Radio App, Sirius 105 / XM 202 (Johnny Holliday, CJ Brown and LaMont Jordan)
Stream: Fox Sports App (BTN has games streaming there now)