Maryland could be without both its starting quarterback and its starting running back when it hosts Ohio State at Capital One Field on Saturday at noon.
Quarterback Kasim Hill and running back Ty Johnson both left the Terrapins’ 34-32 loss to Indiana on Saturday early with injuries. Hill suggested in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had suffered a season-ending injury, but it has yet to be confirmed what exactly their injuries were and whether they will be able to play this week.
Regardless of whether either of them is able to play, Ohio State should expect to see a run-heavy offense on Saturday. The Terrapins have run the ball nearly twice as many times (403 carries) as they have passed the ball (204 pass attempts). They’ve done so successfully, averaging 5.83 yards per carry – the 11th-highest average in the Football Bowl Subdivision – and they have a multitude of running threats beyond just Johnson.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State will face a Maryland defense that ranks 30th nationally in yards allowed per game (343.2) and 18th in passing yards allowed per game (181.8). The Terrapins lead the entire FBS with 17 interceptions this season and have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete only 51.3 percent of their passes, tied for the seventh-best mark among all FBS defenses.
The Terrapins are just 5-5 this season, and their first four losses (Temple, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan State) each came by 21 points or more. That said, they also have a win over Texas and four other wins each by 27 points or more (Towson, Bowling Green, Minnesota, Rutgers), and they’ve been strong enough in the run game and on defense that the Buckeyes still need to take them seriously as an opponent before they turn their focus to their rivalry game against Michigan next week.
We now take a closer look at the players who lead their offense, defense and special teams in this week’s Scouting Report.
Quarterback
3 Tyrrell Pigrome – 5-11, 205, Redshirt Sophomore
Assuming that Hill will be sidelined this week’s game, Pigrome is in line to take over as the Terrapins’ starting quarterback, which could actually bolster their run game. Pigrome has played in nine out of Maryland’s 10 games this season because of his ability to make plays as a runner, and has 38 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown this year.
Pigrome isn’t a great passer – he’s completed just 17 of 31 passing attempts this year for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception apiece – but it’s not as if Hill, who has completed just 49.4 percent of his passes this year, has lit it up through the air, either.
Don’t expect Pigrome to make many big plays with his arm as a downfield passer on Saturday, but he will force Ohio State’s defense to be constantly prepared for his ability to make plays himself with his legs.
Running Back
5 Anthony McFarland – 5-8, 193, Redshirt Freshman OR 24 Ty Johnson – 5-10, 212, Senior
8 Tayon Fleet-Davis – 5-11, 226, Sophomore
Maryland has three running backs who have each carried the ball at least 66 times this season, and although Johnson has started all but one of the Terrapins’ 10 games, their leading rusher has actually been McFarland, who has 724 yards and two touchdowns on 104 carries this year. McFarland broke Maryland’s single-game freshman rushing record against Indiana by carrying the ball 29 times for 210 yards against the Hoosiers.
McFarland isn’t a big back, but he has great speed, good moves and an impressive ability to finish through contact for a back of his size.
If Johnson is out, the Terrapins will be down one of their top assets not only in the running game, but also in the kickoff return game. Johnson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State last year, and had a 98-yard return touchdown against Michigan this year.
Maryland will still have a solid one-two punch, though, in McFarland and Fleet-Davis, a stouter back who has 287 yards and four touchdowns on 66 carries.
Sophomore running back Javon Leake (6-0, 210) is another speedy back who has shown big-play ability in limited action this year – he has 245 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on just 17 carries this season, along with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown against Illinois (in a game in which he also scored three of his rushing touchdowns) – but he also left Saturday’s game against Indiana early with an injury, leaving his status for this week’s game uncertain.
Wide Receiver
12 Taivon Jacobs – 5-11, 170, Redshirt Senior
6 Jeshaun Jones – 6-2, 190, Freshman
9 Jahrvis Davenport – 5-9, 190, Senior
7 Dontay Demus – 6-4, 202, Freshman
Jacobs, a sixth-year senior and one-time Ohio State commit, is the veteran leader of Maryland’s receiving corps. A small but fast and shifty receiver, Jacobs leads the Terrapins with 21 receptions for 253 yards this season, including two touchdowns.
The most dangerous weapon among Maryland’s wide receivers, though, is Jones, a true freshman who leads the Terrapins with four receiving touchdowns, with 244 receiving yards on 18 catches. In addition to emerging as one of their top pass-catchers, the tall young athlete has also been utilized on running plays, going for 190 yards and another two touchdowns on 14 carries so far this season.
Davenport and Demus have each caught nine passes this season. Davenport has started eight games for the Terrapins this year and has 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Demus, who has 187 receiving yards on the year, led the Terrapins with 98 receiving yards on four catches against Indiana.
Tight End
17 Chigoziem Okonkwo – 6-2, 235, Freshman (F-Back)
82 Avery Edwards – 6-4, 240, Senior
Okonkwo is listed as a tight end on Maryland’s roster, but lines up primarily at the F-back position, so you’ll see him flexed out as a slot receiver or in the backfield more than you’ll see him lined up as a traditional tight end. He has a catch in each of Maryland’s last three games, and five total catches for 61 yards and a touchdown this season, but he’s not a consistent target for the Terrapins in the passing game.
Edwards, the Terrapins’ starter at the traditional tight end position, is used almost exclusively as a blocker. He has only three catches for 13 yards this year, and is not a significant threat as a receiver.
Offensive Line
55 Derwin Gray – 6-5, 330, Senior (Left Tackle)
70 Sean Christie – 6-4, 294, Senior (Left Guard)
64 Brendan Moore – 6-3, 302, Senior OR 73 Johnny Jordan – 6-1, 304, Sophomore (Center)
75 Terrance Davis – 6-3, 310, Junior OR Brendan Moore (Right Guard)
58 Damian Prince – 6-3, 320, Senior (Right Tackle)
Led by a pair of massive offensive tackles in Gray and Prince, Maryland’s offensive line has been strong in the running game, as evidenced by their 5.83 yards per carry. In pass protection, however, the Terrapins have struggled, allowing 21 sacks despite getting off only 204 passes.
Moore is the leader of Maryland’s interior offensive line, but it’s uncertain which position he will start at this week – he’s been the starting center for most of the season, with Davis starting at right guard, but moved to right guard last week in place of Davis with Jordan taking his place at center.
This group typically opens up some holes between the tackles in the run game, but there should be opportunities for Ohio State’s pass-rush to penetrate this line and make plays in the backfield.
Defensive End
9 Byron Cowart – 6-4, 293, Senior
6 Jesse Aniebonam – 6-3, 260, Redshirt Senior (BUCK)
One of the top overall recruits in the class of 2015, Cowart never came close to living up to the hype at Auburn, but transferred to Maryland for his senior season and has had the best season of his college football career, recording 32 total tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a team-high three sacks. He’s not the superstar he was once expected to become, but he’s still a big, athletic defensive end who’s a challenging matchup when he’s on his game.
Aniebonam, who plays the “Buck” position as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker and Maryland’s primary pass-rusher, is an athletic edge player who has recorded 37 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks this season and returned a punt block 27 yards for a touchdown against Temple. He hasn’t been quite as productive as he was earlier in his career after suffering a fractured ankle in Maryland’s season opener last year and missing the rest of the season, but combined with Cowart, he gives the Terrapins a pair of players on the edge who can put Ohio State’s offensive tackles to the test.
Defensive Tackle
50 Mbi Tanyi – 6-1, 290, Senior
91 Adam McLean – 6-2, 305, Junior (Nose Tackle)
Tanyi has started every game for Maryland at defensive tackle this season, while McLean has started all but one game at nose tackle, but their play hasn’t been spectacular. Tanyi has only two tackles for loss this year, while McLean has just one, and opponents have had a fair amount of success running the ball between the tackles against the Terrapins.
Linebacker
33 Tre Watson – 6-2, 236, Senior (WILL)
22 Isaiah Davis – 6-1, 245, Redshirt Junior (MIKE)
Maryland uses its nickel defense as its base defense, so the Terrapins typically only have two linebackers on the field at once, and Watson and Davis have taken the vast majority of snaps for the Terps’ defense this year.
Watson, who transferred from Illinois for his senior season, has been the Terrapins’ most productive defender this year, leading the team with 98 total tackles and five interceptions, including a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota. He’s an athletic linebacker who’s a sound tackler in space and is very good in coverage.
Davis, who’s at his best as a run stopper around the line of scrimmage, is the Terrapins’ second-leading tackler with 74 total tackles this season, as well as two sacks.
Illinois transfer Tre Watson has been Maryland's leading tackler this season. Rick Osentoski – USA TODAY Sports
Cornerback
7 Tino Ellis – 6-1, 195, Junior
2 RaVon Davis – 5-10, 178, Senior
Ellis and Davis both had some struggles in the Terrapins’ last game against Indiana, in which they were targeted frequently by Hoosiers quarterback Peyton Ramsey, but they’ve both been solid for the most part this season.
Ellis is the Terrapins’ top cornerback, bringing good size and athleticism to the position, and leads the Terrapins with 12 passes defended (11 pass breakups, one interception) this year. Davis is an undersized cornerback who began his Maryland career as a walk-on, but he’s stepped up nicely this year as well, recording two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Behind Ellis and Davis, however, the Terrapins don’t have much depth after Marcus Lewis – who started four games earlier this season – made the decision to leave the program last week. Redshirt sophomore Rayshad Lewis (5-10, 177), a Utah State transfer and a son of Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis, is the Terrapins’ top backup at the position.
Safety
20 Antwaine Richardson – 6-0, 195, Junior
4 Darnell Savage Jr. – 5-10, 200, Senior
25 Antoine Brooks Jr. – 5-11, 210, Junior (Nickelback)
A versatile defender who lines up all over the formation from his nickelback position, Brooks is one of the Terrapins’ most active playmakers. A regular threat to blitz off the edge and use his speed to disrupt plays in the backfield, Brooks leads the Terrapins with 9.5 tackles for loss and ranks third on the team with 56 total tackles, while he also has an interception and three pass breakups.
Richardson, a converted cornerback, and Savage have both been solid on the back end. Savage, the Terrapins’ most experienced defender with 35 career starts, has been a playmaker in Maryland’s secondary once again this season, ranking fourth on the team with 42 tackles and second on the team with four interceptions, including a 23-yard return for a touchdown against Temple.
Specialists
27 Joseph Petrino – 5-11, 175, Freshman (Kicker)
88 Wade Lees – 6-2, 201, Junior (Punter)
Petrino (no known relation to the just-fired Louisville coach) has been on the money in his first season as Maryland’s kicker, making all 10 of his field goal attempts and all but one of his 35 extra point attempts. He hasn’t attempted a kick of longer than 40 yards, so his range is still in question, but he’s been consistently reliable on shorter kicks, resulting in Maryland scoring on every single one of its trips to the red zone (24-of-24) this year.
Lees, who most recently made headlines for an alleged altercation with backup punter Matt Barber in the wake of DJ Durkin’s firing, is a 30-year-old punter from Melbourne, Australia, making him the Big Ten’s oldest player and the second-oldest player in the entire FBS. He’s averaged 41.2 yards per punt on 55 punts this season.
Overall Outlook
With Pigrome likely to start, this will be another week that Ohio State will have to prepare for the threat of a dual-threat quarterback. The Terrapins have a multitude of running threats and will run the ball often, which will test the endurance of the Buckeyes’ defensive front as their opponent will try to wear them down and establish the ground game throughout the contest.
On the bright side, this shouldn’t be a tough test for Ohio State’s passing defense. As long as the Buckeyes stay disciplined, don’t leave receivers wide open and bring some pressure into the backfield, they should be able to hold Pigrome in check through the air.
Defensively, the Terrapins are good enough on the back end to challenge Dwayne Haskins – who will be playing in his home state of Maryland for the first time in his collegiate career – and the Buckeyes’ talented receiving corps. That will make the running game important for Ohio State once again, but the Terrapins won’t present nearly as tough a test in that regard as Michigan State did last week, so this should be an opportunity for the Buckeyes to get J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber going once again.
Ohio State hasn’t thoroughly dominated an opponent since September, so if the Terrapins can run the ball effectively and limit big plays by Haskins, they’ll have a chance to keep this game competitive in their home stadium. The Buckeyes are the substantially more talented team, though, and should be able to win this game comfortably as long as they limit self-inflicted mistakes.
