2024 Maryland Season Preview : What do the Terps look like Post-Taulia Tagovailoa?

Intro things are looking different in College Park Maryland for the first year since 2019 Talia Tonga aloa will not be under center for the turps oh and they don't play Michigan or Ohio State and have the big 10 e structure Amed cfir from inside the black and gold joins me to preview all things Marilyn terpens 2024 football Open season from LA to bcat all big 10 all year long this is Big 10 10 the realignment of the Big 10 Direction of Terps Post-Taulia conference equals No Big 10 East and I think Maryland's going to be okay with that but they enter 2024 looking to make that next step as a program to talk all things maryn terens we welcome in I'm Ed gair from inside the black and gold it's always great to talk with you and you do great work with that site over there so when I first talk about the Maryland terpens I look of course my eyes and I think everybody looks towards that quarterback position because Mike Loxley has been the head coach for five years four of them Talia Tonga vioa has been the quarterback of this team that first year in 2019 he did not have Talia he came over from Alabama in 2020 how do you anticipate the adjustment right they've been so used to Old Reliable number three back there at quarterback how how do you anticipate the adjustment for Maryland in terms of the leader of this team at the quarterback position yeah absolutely first off appreciate you taking the time and and bringing me on today and you know obviously like you said you know that quarterback room you know Tia has really um you know proved to be that program changing quarterback and now it's a little change changing of the tide a little bit for Maryland and obviously they went into the transfer portal brought in MJ Morris uh transfer from NC State who has experience starting over the last two seasons um so for right now you know I think with him you know he was able to get in through Spring ball um and the biggest thing really from the time he's gotten on campus till now has really just been about mastering the offense learning the concepts knowing everything inside out knowing the plays so it's about being just a master of loy's offense now Loy himself you know he's he's been transparent and open about the fact that whoever wins the quarterback battle is going to be the guy who also uh does a better job of taking care of the football now um not saying that MJ Morris can't do that but I think Billy Edwards where you know he has a little bit of familiarity especially within loxley's offense over his experience over the last two years I think that's kind of where it looms largest right now so um you know those two guys are battling it out and cam Edge is right in that room um third year wide or third excuse me third year quarterback uh former damaa went over to SME in Delaware before transitioning to Maryland um got a chance to Showcase what he's capable of in the bll game his first pass deep ball down to kayen freether set Maryland up for a touchdown One play later with which Mark K Ed's first career touchdown pass so um definitely you know I think right now that quarterback room still undecided if I had to guess you know my gut feel would probably probably be MJ Morris uh who ends up being that starting quarterback but not going to really be decided until at least that second scrimmage for Maryland uh during fall camp and definitely won't be announced until week one uh but I I kind of see you know the the longer that goes for Maryland the more time that MJ Morris gets the more reps that he gets the more comfortable he gets within the offense and I think that's kind of you know all eyes are on that right now but again you know like we saw with Billy Edwards last year he's he's showcased that he's able to provide a different element you know on the ground Wildcat go line formation so I think he'll be able to to find himself a role where MJ can also uh tap in into that athleticism um again you know really hasn't been much questions about MJ Morris whether you know from athletic standpoint whether he's a fit I think that those questions have kind of all all been answered since really since official visit since his commitment came um but like you said you know Tia you can't can't always replace experience and having a guy four years that's that's always a tall task so um you know I think that we'll we'll kind of continue to see this battle uh play out until the fall uh but we we'll see how MJ Morris takes the Reigns and and handles it the all-time leading passer MJ Morris = Next QB? in Big 10 history yeah that's not going to be easy to replace when I watched the spring game I heard Mike Loxley say that yeah when MJ Morris is is able to get more time he's able to get more experience I think he's going to be able to grasp things a little bit more when you watch MJ what is it about his skill set that really stands out that makes you believe that he's going to be the guy because when I look at him you know I see Billy Edwards and his Mobility I see maybe cam Edge and his throwing ability and then I see MJ it seems like those two skill sets really mesh together what's kind of your viewpoint on why you think ncate transfer MJ Morris could be the guy when we start things off in September yeah absolutely and I think kind of he's kind of showcase it at times teny State and I think kind of just being more consistent I think is kind of that next step for him at Maryland but um again you know I think he he's able to kind of show off that that accuracy when on his short and intermediate routes um has the the capability to hit the long ball as well um but again you know it goes back to kind of that dual threat ability being able to you know similar to tiia you know tiia I wouldn't say was the fastest guy but he was able to you know extend plays with his legs and you know pick up the necessary yards at times if need be I think MJ Morris kind of fits that as well to a team Maybe probably a little bit more athletic than toas slly um so I think that that's kind of really where he he really you know Masters into into that locks the offense if I'm MJ Morris Will Felton / Prather be LEGIT? assuming like we kind of agree that he could be the guy going forth at the quarterback position but if I'm MJ Morris I'm pretty confident in what I have around me and it just seems like another reload at the wide receiver position they've had some really good players you know these last handful of seasons in College Park and then you look at Ty Felton coming back you look look at Kaden Prather coming to back a couple of 600 yard guys Octavian Smith Jr um is in that room as well you know you're coming off of losses to just sha Jones Cory daes he could also be slotted as a tight end as well but a pretty good pass catcher uh no matter where they lined him up um in the formation now considering that maybe what you have at quarterback do you still see some high level of production can you see a 1,00 yard receiver um in this wide receiver room yeah I I I could potentially see between you know kateen Prather and Ty Felton you know I think with those guys you know different types of receivers I think Ty Felton is um arguably one of the fastest if not the fastest receiver in the Big 10 probably in the country with that top end speed I believe he broke near 23 miles per hour during one of his runs last year I think it was in the Nebraska game um Kaden Prather has that big body uh deep threat uh just about every time he's on the field so um you know I think those two guys just kind of with their experience definitely going to be the alpha dogs in the room and that wide receiver room is definitely on and off the field led by them um so I think it's definitely a chance but I think the 2024 season um you know like you mentioned you know the last couple of years you know guys like Dante Deus R Keem Jared Deshawn Jones Jacob Copeland you know guys that that really came in and and were established uh when when they stepped into those starting roles um this is kind of that first year obviously you know Ty Felton and kayen Prather both those guys are coming off really good seasons in in 2023 U but I think this year we'll start to see more Octavian Smith Jr like you said and shalik is another guy to keep tabs on um guy that they really really wanted to see break out in the spring uh was a consistent name as a guy that's been sticking out in practices um so I think he he's another guy that really has a chance to uh make a make a name for himself in that wide receiver room um and then lastly Braden wasowski he's a slot guy super super fast and he made his Mark in special teams last year uh had the first kickoff or return for a touchdown believe since Stefon Diggs uh so it's been a while since Maryland's kind of had that explosive this so um again I I think being able to add a a thousand receiver I think that's going to be uh either Ty Felton or Kaden pther but um definitely some some intriguing names that maybe not have the experience behind them but uh are definitely capable or in line to play bigger roles in 2024 I believe Maryland you know when Is Maryland LEANING RUN this season? you look back at the early Talia tongoa years we'll call it 2020 in 2021 it seemed more it leaned definit something maybe like 65 35 pass or or whatever percentage you want to put around it it definitely leaned past it feels like as the years kind of went on this became more of a balanced offense and they can lean on a guy like Roman HMI who I think is maybe one of the more underrated running backs um right now in the Big 10 do you view this offense becoming even more balanced and maybe even leaning run considering maybe what you have from the inexperience at the quarterback position yeah I mean there's definitely an emphasis to um you know just be more efficient on the ground I mean Maryland last year really struggled at times to to establish much of a run game you know part of it's on the Run game uh itself and part of it's on the offensive line you know that's that's a question mark in 2024 but was you know uh definitely something that Maryl had to work through in 2023 um and you know Marill and brought in the second offensive line coach and Damen rowski uh RI excuse me um brought in an offensive analyst and Brian baren um who you know obviously that Iowa offense didn't uh didn't really jump out to many people last year but his specialty is his the run run game and I think that's kind of where he's coming in and trying to be an asset for Maryland so I think Maryland has the capability of really establishing more balance on offense and I think Roman henby Kobe McDonald and definitely would not sleep on Nolan Ray I think I expect him to be a big factor in that running back rotation he was a guy really has that top end speed um really elusive tough tackle um and he he was a consistent top performer through the Spring ball um definitely expect him to be in the rotation but uh I definitely expect Maryland to whether they actually create a more balanced offense remains to be seen but I expect maryn to put uh much more of an emphasis on creating more of that balance boy when when I watched Nolan Ray in that spring game you can see the excitement of Maryland fans and why they kind of love this kid it didn't work out for maybe someone like Ramone Brown that was in highly recruited but getting a guy like Nolan Ray and seen and Kobe McDonald we know we've seen what he can bring to the table there's certainly a Trio of running backs that can certainly do some things in College Park Maryland we briefly talked about the offensive line Will O-Line Improve? let's dive into it a little bit more Allen Heron Josh calenberg a couple of guys that are experienced guys that transfer into this offensive line um is this the is this the group is this the guys that a couple of guys that they need to be able to make this offensive line a little bit better and give them the Boost and how much of a boost would it be for this offensive line to become um really good kind of go match up pretty well against some of the best defensive lines in the Big 10 yeah absolutely offensive line was arguably as much of a need as as the quarterback position was going into this offseason had to replace um all five starters you know Kyle long is the guy that he returned so he'll probably start at left guard um so he has that starting experience I believe he started in um 10 games last year don't hold me to that that might be off the top but he has a lot of starting experience but like you said Josh catburger he comes in he'll be that starting center very likely um and Maryland really split the Reps between Mike bcell Eric Harris in 2023 catburger really gets a chance to step in stabilize the position upgrade the position this fall so I I definitely expect him to be that asset leoa who's a transfer from Georgia um really athletic uh really carries his weight very well as well and uh I'd expect him to be an AET at Right Guard I think the big questions right now are kind of at tackle you know Mar like you mentioned Allen hon guy that they were able to flip from Penn State on Signing Day um I think right now is probably a more of a right tackle U you ask around some people at Maryland some people believe that he really has NFL potential you know he has two years of Val ability left I fully expect him to be here for two years uh at going into the season um so I think how he's being how he's able to adjust you know going from a shorter D D3 school to to to Maryland I think that you know just the tempo the the play I think that you know the pace of play I think that's kind of one question mark there and then maryn was able to add Isaiah Wright former Ruckers Buffalo offensive lineman started at left tackle also has experience at Center but he'll get a chance to come in at tackle that left tackle spot um and I think you know if maryn's kind of able to solidify both those tackle spots I think the offensive line will feel a little bit better you know how long he showed some promise I thought last year I thought I thought he was arguably the better lineman compared to Emilio Moran who I thought you know um should have been second string and again you know Catlin bger B I think both those guys are able to kind of upgrade their positions but you know right uh he just signed with the program uh during the spring so he he's now with the program but he'll be going through fall Camp working with the offensive line so the big question is how are they all going to mesh and mold together but uh like I mentioned earlier M Marilyn brought in Damen robowski to to team up with Brian BR as well to um really bolster the position um and and they know that uh it all starts in the trenches and they're they're they're working hard to to try and develop that but um I think that the offensive line might be as much of a question mark As of course quarterback spot right now What happens at TE Post-Dyches? what would you say kind of moving to the last spot really on the offense that we haven't talked about tight end I think one of the biggest losses for the turps was losing Cory dais right who was that tight end you could kind of split him out into the slot other parts of the formation what does the tight end room look like you know with the departure of Cory diges now yeah absolutely diges he was um definitely reliable he's going to be a a big big play guy over at Cal excited to see what he does um been rooting for him um in terms of the room Dyan Wade is the guy that he really really stepped up um was a guy even in high school you know I know that there was a time going into his senior year I believe during his senior year where he wanted to play defensive end and you know Maryland was very intent on you know just his skill set his athleticism for his size was a perfect fit as a tight end in Mike lass's offense uh he enrolled last summer was able to kind of get his feed a little bit freshman year recorded his first career touchdown and then he really built off of it this spring too where I think he could probably challenge you know Preston for those you know for those first team reps uh Bron Howard again you know he's another guy had tight end experience but really played quarterback in high school um so once he got to college it was really about learning the intricacies the uh the fundamentals of tight end um and you're really starting to see it you know last year behind Cory diges where he was able to really be an asset in the passing game um work in progress as a block blocking tight end but uh I think right now I think he he's you know proven to be um a Dependable piece in the passing game I think that tight end room big question there is you know that blocking tight end and you know like we talked about the offensive line is a question mark So when you're able to kind of find that blocking tight end um I think that kind of helps helps you know mitigate some of those concerns right there so right now keeping tabs on second year tight end ajc's mansky to kind of fill that role uh I think that that's kind of where that tight end room couple underclass and right now that they're kind of leaning on but uh that's a room that they're very very high on Most IMPRESSIVE part of DEFENSE? Maryland's evolution is fascinated in so many ways right they've put to they've put together back-to-back eight- win seasons have definitely raised the floor from where it was now with Mike loxley's head coach and now the evolution of maybe this year's defense being the best defense in recent memory that's kind of fascinating because you Lo T you lose tarhe still in the secondary you lose Bo bra in the secondary and you lose maybe their best defensive player in Jon Barham who's going to start at a great defense and a great program like the University of Michigan what part of this defense coming back in 20124 really stands out to you as most impressive yeah I mean it's still still the front seven I think you know even you like you said you know Jon baram uh you know that's definitely a loss but they return Ruben hippolite Caleb wheatland's a guy that has a lot of experience and Daniel Windgate Mike Harris both those guys in the middle both those guys were able to get a lot of playing time as freshman so really get a chance to step in uh in their second year and fill in the Gap so and then you have keesan flowers he's a guy who really proved to be an impact piece in balding's defense um anyone familiar with Spalding knows that they run Maryland's defense so he'll be able to to kind of settle in acclimate himself to Maryland style of play right now and um but again you know the defensive line you know they returned Jordan Phillips they returned Quan Fuller they returned ta Johnson Tommy kot all these guys um you know lot of ample uh a lot of returning experience right there and I think that's really where that that that confidence comes from um and then you look at the outside linebacker room denell Brown Kell Wyatt and you know they didn't even have Neo ay who was one of the state's best Edge rushers uh when he was an underclassman um or excuse me when he was a junior uh battling back from injury and whatnot so he's a guy that you know he's been able to to to work and and get himself acclimated with big 10 style play through Spring ball and he's going to be a factor in that outside linebacker room so there's just a lot of pieces a little bit more depth along the defensive line uh that really gives Mary confidence to arguably put their best front seven together since the early 2000s I look at um I look at Fuller and Will LBs be MOST IMPORTANT unit? I look at Phillips on the defensive line but and you mentioned the front seven but I take one step back in the linebacker room and to me that seems to be the key of how this defense um is really going to flow because you look at Kellen Wyatt coming back who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss last season you mentioned DaNell Brown Ruben hippolyte was second on the team in tackles last season how important is it to one having those guys stay healthy the entire year and really their production to see this defense um possibly reach the top potential that it has in 2024 yeah I would definitely I mean I would say all of those guys uh really just as important I mean ribbon hit poite you know he's just a stud um but beyond just the ex's the nose I mean he's he's really the quarterback of the defense he's that leader of the defense I me Dante Trader Jr I really look at both those guys as kind of being those key veterans um denell Brown you know he he not too many people have that type of speed off the edge and Kell Wyatt I mean he just continued to prove efficient um you know he the way he's playing now at Maryland is exactly how he was playing as an upper classmate when he was at Spalding so um I think all all three of those guys you know obviously Ruben being an inside guy denell and Kell being outside backers um all three of those guys are are really integral to to Maryland's rotation and really their success in uh in 2024 so we talked about the front seven What's NEXT for Secondary? now we're going to back up to the secondary right we talked about the receivers the last handful of Seasons they've had some good players that have gone off to the league and at the college level have put up some good production defensive backfield I think they've had a really good track record especially the last couple of years now you look at Dante Trader as maybe that next guy do you see him being that next guy that can be an NFL Draft pick from this Maryland secondary yeah he has the athleticism and and really I mean the range um to really showcased that I think you him and him and BR bra you know consistently were onew in Maryland's defense last year um I think Dante Trader really has that high ceiling and like you mentioned you know B that's a that's a big loss you know he started really the last two years um before that he played just about every game so um that's a lot of experience that you have to replace but I think Dante Trader I would also put Ruben hippolite in that in that group of Jordan Phillips as well of of guys who I think could potentially go on the NFL but uh Dante Trader is definitely the the leader in that secondary right now I want to look at the rest of the secondary because there are some newcomers one guy really stood out to me uh was transfer Jaylen husky he's transferring in from Bowling Green 43 tackles last year broke up six passes four interceptions for the Falcons over there in the max and I think he excites a lot of Maryland fans what impact do you expect him to make right away transferring from the group of live group of five level up to a the competition like the big 10 yeah absolutely I think he's I mean he was um even at Quince Orchard he was very well known as a Difference Maker um I think this is a guy that a lot of people locally are really excited about that he's coming back home now but in terms of Jaylen husky I mean he's coming in and I fully expect him to be that that top corner from Maryland going up against uh the the opposing team's top wide receiver week in week out you know he proved that was capable of uh you know matching up uh when he was at Bowling Green and since he's come to Maryland he's consistently been one of the top performers on defense right now um so I think just kind of with that experience the quarterback room you know behind him you know there's a lot of guys with a little bit less experience so I think husky really uh that that experience that he brings into the program uh there's a premium on that but um you know beyond that you know I think Perry Fischer he's another guy where um you know he play wide receiver quarterback uh and a little bit of defensive back as well in high school um but when he came to to College Park he signed on as a wide receiver quiu transition to Corner um and similar to you know Preston Howard where he's just a little bit newer of a position you know he was learning the the ins and outs the the technique of the position um really had his Breakout game in the spring game against Auburn and I think he's going to be that guy next opposite of husky uh to be that second quarterback um then you have you know another guy like liono Whitaker um Braden Lee as well to to kind of iron out the rotation but uh I think I think many are expecting husky to be that dominant piece that he showcased himself to be at Bowling Green Schedule Discussion/Expectations when I look at this schedule it's very intriguing to me for 2024 because if I'm a Maryland fan and I'm looking at this early season schedule I'm getting excited I'm looking at 1 and0 2 and0 3 and0 4 and0 could they get to 6-0 by the time they play USC and USC's got to travel all the way across the country to the east coast to take on that matchup maybe even a s and0 start would you consider it a disappointment if they lose somewhere somewhere like two games or more in that first half of the the first half of the schedule yeah I think it would be a little bit disappointing just because you know Yukon Virginia Villanova you know obviously Maryland should be able to you know go undefeated a non-conference play I think Michigan State you know it's a a little bit of a wild card you know you can't ever say you know what to expect out of a first year head coach and you know stepping in with so many new pieces so um especially with that being in College Park I think Mar has a good chance there um Indiana very similar but you know Indiana's uh they they can be sometimes a tough place to play Mar Indiana had some very exciting games of mar first during the Big 10 so um I think Maron definitely like you said you know I think they do have that shot uh to to really kind of build that momentum I also say I think a lot of Maryland fans kind of recognized that in years past you know Maryland got off to that strong start and you know once November hits or mid October hits that's when the losses start to pile up and you know kind of that narrative that Mar has to win the big games um you know that's that's kind of where that wants to change but um like you said you know chance to go six and0 going into your homecoming game against USC and like you said you know think I I personally think Maryland's gonna beat USC for that homecoming game that's that's that one game that I have for for this season um so I think I think seven and0 is is a realistic possibility um if they lose one you know maybe or Northwestern you know Northwestern you know last year they played at Northwestern um and it was coming off the Buy it was awful weather it was just U just a miserable very for forgettable game so sometimes that stuff happens in the Big 10 so if there's one loss in there I think it would be you know Maryland fans would say you know six and one that that's okay five- one that's okay um two I think would definitely be disappointing but I personally think Maryland has a very realistic chance to open up seven to0 and this has been maybe a little bit of the norm they get off to hot starts maybe the last couple of years and they find more difficult games I'm glad you mentioned that us C game because I'm kind of feeling the same way a little bit because when you look at USC early in the schedule uh they got to play LSU early in the schedule they got to play Michigan early in the schedule they could have a couple of losses that Point Maryland RI in momentum we talk about this cross country travel you might have something there and I'm kind of on the same boat uh possibly with you there now you look let's look to the second half of the schedule you mentioned the big win that's needed for Mike Loxy now no East Division so you don't have to play Michigan Penn State Ohio State all in the same year you avoid Michigan this year and you avoid Ohio State this year but you do have Oregon on the schedule and we already mentioned USC how important is it to get that big win in the second half of the schedule I'm looking at that USC game at home I'm looking at Iowa at the friendly confines over there in College Park as well and then Penn State and Oregon are also in the back half how important is it for this year for Mike Loxley to get that big win in the second half of the year yeah yeah I think it would I think that's really the the the really the big thing that would really move the needle you know just talking especially in local recruiting talking to local coaches things like that you know a lot of people they they they recognize that Mike Loxley the the pro year-over-year progress um is undeniable the the The Vibes the the feedback around the program is night and day different than it was you know three four five six years ago so that I think is all kind of been set in stone um but again you know a lot of lot of the Elite guys that you know can go to the Blue Bloods they recognize that you know the big games that that they've been in attendance for um Maryland hasn't always been able to to live up to those expectations so um full disclosure I'm not sure how optimistic I am with uh Maryland at Oregon I think I personally believe I know how State reloaded but I I kind of view Oregon as that top team in the Big 10 and um we we'll we'll we'll see how it looks in November December but um Penn State you know out the regular season I think that'll be a really interesting game um I think every single Maryland fan will be appreciative to beat Iowa at home so if Mar's able to pull off that one I think that would be a big win but like you said you know avoiding Michigan avoiding Ohio State um I think that that kind of eases concerns a little bit but um you know I think granted you know like we said if Mary's able to beat USC I think I think some folks would be able to recognize that would be uh Marquee win I think I think USC is kind of entering a down year in 2024 I'm not too high on them um so I think Maryland would be able to to kind of could be potentially favored in that matchup but um if maryn's able to pull off that big win I think that's just the next Domino uh that would be able to drop for Mike Loxley and the turps to take that program and elevate it one more step boy I can't imagine beating Outro USC that would be that Marquee Victory and if they stand at seven and0 I think a lot of people around the Big 10 and a lot of people around college football would view the Maryland terpens a lot differently and medir always great to to talk to you from inside uh the black and gold and I'm sure we'll see you down the road absolutely appreciate you again having me on thanks for watching Big 10 Ted where it's all big 10 all year long make sure to like the video to spread the word of big 10 Ted to the masses And subscribe to the channel for updates on Big 10 content that drops every day [Music]