ROSEMONT, Ill. – Six Maryland football players have been named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as the league announced its offensive all-conference selections on Wednesday.
Junior offensive lineman Spencer Anderson, senior wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr., junior offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan, sophomore wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, senior tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa were each selected. Jarrett, Okonkwo and Tagovailoa were chosen by both the media and coaches. Anderson was selected by the media, while Demus Jr. and Duncan were chosen by the coaches.
The six players selected are the most for Maryland on the offensive side of the ball since six Terps were named All-ACC in 2008.
Anderson, who has made a team-high tying 17 straight starts, showed his versatility in 2021 by making eight starts at right tackle and four at center. He leads all tackles in the Big Ten with a 86.0 Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade. Anderson blocks for the 14th-best passing offense in the country as the Terps are averaging 307.1 passing yards per game.
Demus Jr., who suffered a season-ending injury on October 1, had 28 receptions for 507 yards and three touchdowns in just five games. At the time of his injury, Demus Jr. led the Big Ten and stood 11th in the country in receiving yards. He ranked third in the conference in both receptions per game (5.6) and sixth in touchdowns. Demus Jr. has caught a pass in 27 straight games.
Duncan, who has started 28 games at left tackle during his Terps career, has been named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for the second straight year. He helps block for the 14th-best passing offense in the country as the Terps are averaging 307.1 passing yards per game.
Jarrett leads the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (769) and is tied for the team lead with five receiving touchdowns. The sophomore ranks eighth in the Big Ten in receiving yards and receptions, and is tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns. Jarrett has at least one reception in every game this season and has posted at least 50 receiving yards in eight games.
Okonkwo hauled in 49 catches for 433 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He ranks first among all Big Ten tight ends in both receiving touchdowns and receptions in conference games (41). Okonkwo’s touchdown mark ranks sixth among all Power Five tight ends. He hauled in 12 receptions against Penn State, the second-most in a game by any Big Ten player this season, and his 112 receiving yards at Michigan State were the second-most by any tight end in a Big Ten game this season.
Tagovailoa posted the greatest statistical season of any quarterback in Maryland history, setting the Terrapin single-season records for both passing yards (3,595) and completions (308). The junior completed 68.4 percent of his passes and threw for 24 touchdowns. Tagovailoa ranks Top Three in the Big Ten in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, completions, total offense (302.8) and 300-yard passing games (7). He boasts seven of the Top 30 passing games in the Big Ten this season.
Maryland will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 5.
Junior offensive lineman Spencer Anderson, senior wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr., junior offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan, sophomore wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, senior tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and junior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa were each selected. Jarrett, Okonkwo and Tagovailoa were chosen by both the media and coaches. Anderson was selected by the media, while Demus Jr. and Duncan were chosen by the coaches.
The six players selected are the most for Maryland on the offensive side of the ball since six Terps were named All-ACC in 2008.
Anderson, who has made a team-high tying 17 straight starts, showed his versatility in 2021 by making eight starts at right tackle and four at center. He leads all tackles in the Big Ten with a 86.0 Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade. Anderson blocks for the 14th-best passing offense in the country as the Terps are averaging 307.1 passing yards per game.
Demus Jr., who suffered a season-ending injury on October 1, had 28 receptions for 507 yards and three touchdowns in just five games. At the time of his injury, Demus Jr. led the Big Ten and stood 11th in the country in receiving yards. He ranked third in the conference in both receptions per game (5.6) and sixth in touchdowns. Demus Jr. has caught a pass in 27 straight games.
Duncan, who has started 28 games at left tackle during his Terps career, has been named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for the second straight year. He helps block for the 14th-best passing offense in the country as the Terps are averaging 307.1 passing yards per game.
Jarrett leads the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (769) and is tied for the team lead with five receiving touchdowns. The sophomore ranks eighth in the Big Ten in receiving yards and receptions, and is tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns. Jarrett has at least one reception in every game this season and has posted at least 50 receiving yards in eight games.
Okonkwo hauled in 49 catches for 433 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He ranks first among all Big Ten tight ends in both receiving touchdowns and receptions in conference games (41). Okonkwo’s touchdown mark ranks sixth among all Power Five tight ends. He hauled in 12 receptions against Penn State, the second-most in a game by any Big Ten player this season, and his 112 receiving yards at Michigan State were the second-most by any tight end in a Big Ten game this season.
Tagovailoa posted the greatest statistical season of any quarterback in Maryland history, setting the Terrapin single-season records for both passing yards (3,595) and completions (308). The junior completed 68.4 percent of his passes and threw for 24 touchdowns. Tagovailoa ranks Top Three in the Big Ten in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, completions, total offense (302.8) and 300-yard passing games (7). He boasts seven of the Top 30 passing games in the Big Ten this season.
Maryland will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 5.
