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Maryland Terapins: Big Ten East preview
Maryland played a total of five Big Ten games out of a possible nine in 2020 after the Terapins saw four games canceled. Maryland's key victory came against a struggling Penn State football team during Week 3 last season.
Maryland has a lot to look forward to heading into the 2021-2022 season. Here's a look at the Maryland Terapins' strengths and weaknesses heading into the campaign.
2021-2022 Big Ten East Conference preview: Maryland Terapins
Maryland's strengths: The success of the Maryland Terapins is their passing offense. Taulia Tagovailoa was entering his second season as the starting quarterback and showed promise last season. The former Alabama quarterback will look to take his game to the next level in 2021. Tagovailoa has the fourth-ranked receiving group in the Big Ten heading into the season.
Maryland's weaknesses: It's hard to believe that the Terapins' strength is also a weakness heading into the upcoming season. Taulia Tagovailoa looks likely to be a boom-or-bust prospect in 2021. The Terapins have the 11th-ranked running back position and the 11th-ranked offensive line in the Big Ten conference.
Maryland Terapins key players: Offense
QB: Taulia Tagovailoa - In the four games Tagovailoa played in 2020, he threw for 1,011 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Unfortunately, the seven touchdowns were trumped by Tagovailoa's seven interceptions.
WR: Dontay Demus - Maryland returns its top pass-catcher from the 2020 season. Dontay Demus caught 24 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has come into his own over the last two seasons, catching 65 passes for 990 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Maryland Terapins key players: Defense
S: Nick Cross - Maryland's top defender from the 2020 season was junior safety Nick Cross, who appeared in 15 games and registered 44 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. One of the more impressive stats from Cross' career at Maryland is the eight pass breakups from his safety position.
Edge: Durel Nchami - Maryland's defensive line is a positive heading into the 2021 season. Durel Nchami is a massive piece of that line and has put together three successful seasons with the Terapins. Nchami has registered 20 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for Maryland's defense.
2021-2022 Maryland Terapins schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. Howard Bisons
Week 3: Friday, September 17, at Illinois Fighting Illini
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
Week 5: Friday, October 1, vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, at Ohio State Buckeyes
Week 7: Saturday, October 23, at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Week 8: Saturday, October 30, vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Michigan State Spartans
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Michigan Wolverines
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2021-2022 Maryland Terapins Prediction (4-8 overall, 2-7 Big Ten)
Taulia Tagovailoa will have one more year before the Terapins start to see his true talent. Tagovailoa isn't his older brother, Tua, but he also doesn't have the talent around him that Tua had at Alabama. There are too many holes in the Terapins' offense and defense to compete in the Big Ten this season.
