Following a successful first season in the NDL, Coach MortTheCow left the comfort of UTSA and takes his 9-4 record to the Big Ten and will lead the Maryland Terrapins.
A heavy task lays before coach Mort, as the Terrapins have one of the worst OVR scores in the P4 at 77 and a severe lack of top end talent. Coach Mort will have to get every ounce of the players on his roster.
Leading the charge will be freshman QB Malik Washington. The true freshman struggles with accuracy, but his 6'5 frame with 231 pound of muscle make the 18 year old a formidable player to tackle. However, the pure runner will be put to the test as Mort brings his Leach-esque Air Raid style to the offense.
Washington will have plenty of solid weapons at his disposal, led by talented TE Dorian Fleming. Washington repeatedly utilized Fleming's elite skills in scrimmages and looks to lean on the talented big man as the season begins. On the outside, Washington will lean on Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farooq and Octavian Smith Jr, as well as the big body of 6'5 WR Kaleb Webb, who has shown an ability to break tackles.
In the backfield, Nolan Ray and incoming freshman Zymear Smith will lead the charge, trying to take pressure off of Washington, wearing down defenses and acting as elite weapons in the flats.
The trouble, however, for the Terrapins will be in the trenches. Neither proficient in run blocking or pass blocking, the offensive line acts more as a preventative to the Maryland offense than an aid. Washington will need to make quick decisions and Ray/Smith will have to be quick through the small holes the offensive line creates, if the Terrapins are interested in meeting their team goals.
On the defensive side of the ball, the lack of standouts does not mean the Terrapins lack for playmakers. Ends Neeo Avery and Tarik Stanley have both shown promise in rushing the passer. MLB Michael Harris has proven to be a capable, if undersized, middle of the defense, cleaning up with his 88 speed. The secondary leans heavily on senior leader safety Jalen Huskey. The swiss army knife of a player is capable of covering the deep middle, locking down a slot WR, or blitzing in to the backfield to force a turnover.
The task is difficult, but the goals are not insurmountable. The Terrapins carry a the base 2-game win goal in to the season.
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