Maryland Terrapins 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: USCfootball.com/247Sports)

Key Players Returning:

RB Nolan Ray, WR/KR Octavian Smith Jr., OG Allou Bah, OT Alan Herron, LB Michael Harris, LB DJ Samuels, LB Daniel Wingate, FS Lavain Scruggs, SS Jalen Huskey, PK Jack Howes, and PT Bryce McFerson.

Key Players Departing:

QB Billy Edwards Jr., RB/KR Roman Hemby, WR Tai Felton, WR Kaden Prather, TE Dylan Wade, OC Josh Kaltenberger, OT Andre Roye Jr., DE Donnell Brown, DE Quashon Fuller, DE Kellan Wyatt, DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Ruben Hyppolite II, LB Caleb Wheatland, NB Glendon Miller, SS Dante Trader Jr, and KR/PR Braeden Wisloski.

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Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
QB Malik Washington (Severn, Maryland), OL Jaylen Gilchrist (Virginia Beach, Virginia), OT Rahtrel Perry (Central Connecticut State transfer), CB Jamare Glasker (Wake Forest transfer), ATH Messiah Delhomme (Newport News, Virginia), ATH Zymear Smith (Ridgely, Maryland), and DT Bryce Jenkins (Washington, DC).

3 Star Recruits:  WR Justin DeVaughn (Pikesville, Maryland), QB Justyn Martin (UCLA transfer), and OT Jayvin James (Akron transfer),

2024 Results:

G01  UCONN  W  50-7
G02  MICHIGAN STATE  L  24-27
G03  @ Virginia  W  27-13
G04  VILLANOVA  W  38-20
G05  @ Indiana  L  28-42
G06  NORTHWESTERN  L  10-37
G07  USC  W  29-28
G08  @ Minnesota  L  23-48
G09  @ #1 Oregon  L  18-39
G10  RUTGERS  L  17-31
G11  IOWA  L  13-29
G12  @ #4 Penn State  L  7-44

Misc. Team Information:

2023 Record:  4-8 (17th in Big Ten)

Home:  3-4
Away:  1-4
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  1-8
Non-AAC:  3-0

Head Coach:  Mike Locksley

Maryland:  33-41
Bowls:  3-0
Career:  35-67

(Photo Credit: Maryland Athletics)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  Champ Long (1-2, 10 yards, 50.0%, 5.0 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing:  Nolan Ray (75 car., 374 yards, 5.0 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving:  Octavian Smith Jr. (30 car., 315 yards, 10.5 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored:  Nolan Ray/Octavian Smith Jr. (2)
Sacks:
  Caleb Wheatland (4)
Tackles:
  Daniel Wingate (50)
Tackles For Loss:
  Daniel Wingate (7)
Interceptions:  Jalen Huskey (3)
Pass Deflections:
  Lavain Scruggs (2)
Forced Fumbles:
  Michael Harris/Lavain Scruggs (1)
Kick Returns:  Octavian Smith Jr. (7 ret., 95 yards, 13.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Ricardo Cooper Jr. (2 ret., 14 yards, 7.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Jack Howes (11-16 fg/fga., 69%, 30-31 xp/xpa., 63 pts.)
Punting:  Bryce McFerson (52 punts., 2343 yards, 45.1 avg., 21 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  6  Justyn Martin  (RS JR/TR)
RB:  25  Nolan Ray  (RS SO)
WR:  1  Jalil Farooq  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  84  Kaleb Webb  (RS JR/TR)
WR:  5  Octavian Smith  (SR)
TE:  9  Dorian Fleming  (RS SO/TR)
LT:  76  Rahtrel Perry  (RS JR/TR)
LG:  75  Ryan Howerton  (RS FR)
OC:  74  Isaiah Wright  (RS SR/TR)
RG:  66  Aliou Bah  (RS JR/TR)
RT:  71  Alan Herron  (SR/TR)
KR:  17  Josiah McLaurin  (SO)
PK:  91  Jack Howes  (RS SR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  0  Neeo Avery  (RS SO)
NT:  98  Eyan Thomas  (RS SO/TR)
DE:  46  Dillan Fontus  (JR)
LB:  3  Trey Reddick  (SO)
LB:  31  Michael Harris  (JR)
LB:  16  Daniel Wingate  (JR)
LB:  42  DJ Samuels  (JR)
CB:  14  Jamare Glasker  (RS JR/TR)
CB:  6  Dontay Joyner  (JR/TR)
FS:  13  Lavain Scruggs  (RS JR)
SS:  22  Jalen Huskey  (SR/TR)
PR:  26  Ricardo Cooper Jr.  (RS SO)
PT:  34  Bryce McFerson  (RS JR/TR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  A

Schedule:

08/30 
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS  |  First meeting.

09/06 
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES  |  Maryland leads the series 2-1.  The Terrapins won (23-20) the last meeting in 2004, and they lost (13-20) the prior meeting in 2003.

09/13 
TOWSON TIGERS  |  Maryland leads the series 3-0.  The Terrapins won (38-6) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (63-17) the prior meeting in 2017.

09/20 
@ Wisconsin Badgers  |  Maryland trails the series 0-4.  The Terrapins are 0-3 since 2015, and they lost (10-23) the last meeting in 2022.

10/04 
WASHINGTON HUSKIES  |  Maryland lost (20-21) the only prior meeting in 1982.

10/11 
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS  |  Maryland trails the series 1-2.  The Terrapins won (13-10) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (7-54) the prior meeting in 2019.

10/18 
@ UCLA Bruins  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Terrapins won (7-0) the last meeting in 1955, and they lost (7-12) the inaugural meeting in 1954.

11/01  
INDIANA HOOSIERS  |  Maryland trails the series 5-8.  The Terrapins are 4-6 since 2015, and their last series win (44-17) was in 2023.

11/08  @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights  |  Maryland leads the series 12-8.  The Terrapins are 7-3 since 2015, and their last series win (42-24) was in 2023.

11/15 
@ Illinois Fighting Illini  |  Maryland leads the series 2-1.  The Terrapins lost (24-27) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (20-17) the prior meeting in 2021.

11/22 
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES  |  Maryland trails the series 1-11.  The Terrapins are 0-8 since 2015, and their only series win (23-16) was in 2014.

11/29  @ Michigan State Spartans  |  Maryland trails the series 4-11.  The Terrapins are 3-6 since 2015, and their last series win (31-9) was in 2023.

Predictions:

Home:  5-2
Road:  0-5
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  2-7
Non-B10:  3-0

Overall:  5-7 (16th in B10)