With the Terps set to have their second scrimmage of fall camp tomorrow with two weeks until the start of the season, I've decided to go ahead and predict the Terps' two-deep. Here goes....
QB1: Taulia Tagovailoa
QB2: Billy Edwards
Thoughts: Lia has the starting spot on lockdown while Wake Forest transfer Edwards is the expected backup after performing well in Wake's spring game.
RB1: Colby McDonald
RB2: Roman Hemby
Thoughts: Despite all of the praise for Hemby early on during camp, I think McDonald remains the starter and Hemby RB2 to start the season. I also expect Antwain Littleton and freshman Ramon Brown to be in the mix and get carries early and often. Challen Faamatau is the wildcard, as he is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
WR-X1: Dontay Demus
WR-X2: Tai Felton
WR-Z1: Jacob Copeland
WR-Z2: Jeshaun Jones
WR-H1: Rakim Jarrett
WR-H2: Marcus Fleming
Thoughts: Demus, Copeland and Jarrett are locked into the starting roles. Felton has received quite a bit of praise during fall camp, while Jeshaun Jones is a proven playmaker who appears to be back and fully healthy. Both Felton and Jones should get some looks in four-wide sets.
LT1: Jaelyn Duncan
LT2: Andre Roye
LG1: Mason Lunsford
LG2: Ja'Khi Green
C1: Johari Branch
C2: Aric Harris
RG1: Spencer Anderson
RG2: Amelio Moran
RT1: Delmar Glaze
RT2: Max McCree
Thoughts: Johari Branch, a former starter at both guard spots, remains at center after taking over the starting spot in the spring. The biggest takeaway here is Spencer Anderson at guard and Glaze at tackle. Anderson played both tackle and center last season but appears to be ready to man the right guard spot for his final season in College Park. Harris an experienced backup at center who started nine games a season ago while Moran saw snaps at right guard.
TE1: Corey Dyches
TE2: CJ Dippre
Thoughts: Dyches enters the season as the primary pass-catching tight end set to step right in and replace Okonkwo, who is now in the NFL. Dippre, while not technically a starter, should get plenty of snaps, seeing action any time the Terps go with a two TE set. Weston Wolff, Leron Husbands and Preston Howard are all battling it out for the No. 3 spot but it wouldn't be surprising to see one of them in the two-deep.
END1: Greg Rose
END2: Quashon Fuller
NOSE1: Ami Finau
NOSE2: Henry Chibueze
TACKLE1: Mosiah Nasili-Kite
TACKLE2: Tommy Akingbesote
Thoughts: Fuller, a newcomer from Florida State, should likely see significant snaps this season as part of the D-line rotation at DE. Chibueze, another newcomer from Liberty, should also see significant snaps at NT as part of a rotation there. The two newcomers give the Terps a lot more flexibility and depth along the defensive line this season.
JACK1: Durrel Nchami
JACK2: Terrence Butler
MIKE1: Rubben Hyppolite
MIKE2: Ahmad McCullough
WILL1: Gereme Spraggins
WILL2: Fa'Najae Gotay
SAM1: VanDarius Cowan
SAM2: Jaishawn Barham
Thoughts: Linebacker is where things get really interesting. The Terps have little depth on the edge behind Nchami and while I have Cowan listed as the starting SAM, he's likely to also spell Nchami often at the JACK position. It is also possible Greg Rose or even Quashon Fuller could see time at JACK. Spraggins and Gotay will continue to battle it out in camp and likely both see time at WILL, while Barham could possibly see time both inside and outside. Barham is likely the Terps' starting MIKE of the future, but with McCullough back, I project him as the backup SAM who should see significant snaps if Cowan is lined up at JACK.
CB1: Deonte Banks
CB2: Corey Coley
FS1: Dante Trader
FS2: Glen Miller
SS1: Beau Brade
SS2: Gavin Gibson
CB1: Jakorian Bennett
CB2: Lionell Whitaker
NICKEL1: Tarheeb Still
NICKEL2: Isaiah Hazel
Thoughts: The DB depth chart is a tad bit misleading, Tarheeb Still is a starting corner but I'm guessing he will likely be listed as the starting nickel. Isaiah Hazel should see plenty of time at nickel when opposing teams go four-wide.
K1: Chad Ryland
K2: Harrison Beattie
P1: Anthony Pecorella
P2: Colton Spangler
KR1: Tai Felton
KR2: Octavian Smith
PR1: Tarheeb Still
PR2: Octavian Smith
Thoughts: Newcomer Chad Ryland should give the kicking game a huge boost this year, while I predict freshman wideout Octavian Smith will be involved in the return games. Just a gut feeling that Felton will get a shot at returning kicks.
QB1: Taulia Tagovailoa
QB2: Billy Edwards
Thoughts: Lia has the starting spot on lockdown while Wake Forest transfer Edwards is the expected backup after performing well in Wake's spring game.
RB1: Colby McDonald
RB2: Roman Hemby
Thoughts: Despite all of the praise for Hemby early on during camp, I think McDonald remains the starter and Hemby RB2 to start the season. I also expect Antwain Littleton and freshman Ramon Brown to be in the mix and get carries early and often. Challen Faamatau is the wildcard, as he is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
WR-X1: Dontay Demus
WR-X2: Tai Felton
WR-Z1: Jacob Copeland
WR-Z2: Jeshaun Jones
WR-H1: Rakim Jarrett
WR-H2: Marcus Fleming
Thoughts: Demus, Copeland and Jarrett are locked into the starting roles. Felton has received quite a bit of praise during fall camp, while Jeshaun Jones is a proven playmaker who appears to be back and fully healthy. Both Felton and Jones should get some looks in four-wide sets.
LT1: Jaelyn Duncan
LT2: Andre Roye
LG1: Mason Lunsford
LG2: Ja'Khi Green
C1: Johari Branch
C2: Aric Harris
RG1: Spencer Anderson
RG2: Amelio Moran
RT1: Delmar Glaze
RT2: Max McCree
Thoughts: Johari Branch, a former starter at both guard spots, remains at center after taking over the starting spot in the spring. The biggest takeaway here is Spencer Anderson at guard and Glaze at tackle. Anderson played both tackle and center last season but appears to be ready to man the right guard spot for his final season in College Park. Harris an experienced backup at center who started nine games a season ago while Moran saw snaps at right guard.
TE1: Corey Dyches
TE2: CJ Dippre
Thoughts: Dyches enters the season as the primary pass-catching tight end set to step right in and replace Okonkwo, who is now in the NFL. Dippre, while not technically a starter, should get plenty of snaps, seeing action any time the Terps go with a two TE set. Weston Wolff, Leron Husbands and Preston Howard are all battling it out for the No. 3 spot but it wouldn't be surprising to see one of them in the two-deep.
END1: Greg Rose
END2: Quashon Fuller
NOSE1: Ami Finau
NOSE2: Henry Chibueze
TACKLE1: Mosiah Nasili-Kite
TACKLE2: Tommy Akingbesote
Thoughts: Fuller, a newcomer from Florida State, should likely see significant snaps this season as part of the D-line rotation at DE. Chibueze, another newcomer from Liberty, should also see significant snaps at NT as part of a rotation there. The two newcomers give the Terps a lot more flexibility and depth along the defensive line this season.
JACK1: Durrel Nchami
JACK2: Terrence Butler
MIKE1: Rubben Hyppolite
MIKE2: Ahmad McCullough
WILL1: Gereme Spraggins
WILL2: Fa'Najae Gotay
SAM1: VanDarius Cowan
SAM2: Jaishawn Barham
Thoughts: Linebacker is where things get really interesting. The Terps have little depth on the edge behind Nchami and while I have Cowan listed as the starting SAM, he's likely to also spell Nchami often at the JACK position. It is also possible Greg Rose or even Quashon Fuller could see time at JACK. Spraggins and Gotay will continue to battle it out in camp and likely both see time at WILL, while Barham could possibly see time both inside and outside. Barham is likely the Terps' starting MIKE of the future, but with McCullough back, I project him as the backup SAM who should see significant snaps if Cowan is lined up at JACK.
CB1: Deonte Banks
CB2: Corey Coley
FS1: Dante Trader
FS2: Glen Miller
SS1: Beau Brade
SS2: Gavin Gibson
CB1: Jakorian Bennett
CB2: Lionell Whitaker
NICKEL1: Tarheeb Still
NICKEL2: Isaiah Hazel
Thoughts: The DB depth chart is a tad bit misleading, Tarheeb Still is a starting corner but I'm guessing he will likely be listed as the starting nickel. Isaiah Hazel should see plenty of time at nickel when opposing teams go four-wide.
K1: Chad Ryland
K2: Harrison Beattie
P1: Anthony Pecorella
P2: Colton Spangler
KR1: Tai Felton
KR2: Octavian Smith
PR1: Tarheeb Still
PR2: Octavian Smith
Thoughts: Newcomer Chad Ryland should give the kicking game a huge boost this year, while I predict freshman wideout Octavian Smith will be involved in the return games. Just a gut feeling that Felton will get a shot at returning kicks.
