Ohio State's road trip to Maryland on Oct. 31, sandwiched between games against Michigan and Penn State, sits in a spot on the Buckeyes' new 2020 schedule that could make it a top candidate for a trap game. But that game is already looking less dangerous after the most recent news out of College Park.
Maryland coach Mike Locksley announced Friday that seven Terrapins players will not play this season, including potential starting quarterback Josh Jackson and three other projected offensive starters: tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and offensive linemen Austin Fontaine and Johnny Jordan.
Jackson, Fontaine and Jordan are among six Maryland players opting out of the 2020 college football season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, while Okonkwo is being held out due to a medical condition.
Head coach Mike Locksley notes that Jalen Alexander, Austin Fontaine, Johnny Jordan, Josh Jackson, Vincent Flythe and TJ Kautai have all opted out for Maryland this season.
— Ahmed Ghafir (@AGhafirSI) August 7, 2020
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo being held out due to a medical condition and will not play this 2020 season.
The loss of Jackson, who started nine games for the Terrapins last season as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech but has now “probably played his last football” according to Locksley, leaves Maryland without its most experienced quarterback. The Terrapins got some good news on Friday afternoon, however, when Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa's appeal for immediate eligibility was approved, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, making him the new frontrunner to be the Terrapins' starting quarterback.
Taulia Tagovailoas transfer waiver has been approved by the NCAA and the former Alabama QB is immediately eligible to play at Maryland, per source. Attorney John Long handled familys case over last three months, and Maryland coach Mike Locksley was notified of the news today.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 7, 2020
Redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre, a four-star recruit out of high school who was expected to compete with Jackson for the starting job, could also potentially be the Terrapins' starter in 2020. He's the only other scholarship quarterback on Maryland's roster.
