Maryland vs Howard Preview

Maryland 0-0 vs Howard 0-0

When: Saturday, August 31st, at Noon

Where: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network, Radio: Maryland Sports Radio

Injury

Terps – WR Jeshaun Jones (Out for the season/torn ACL) 

Howard – N/A

Terps – (2018/5-7)

28.5 – Points per game 

28.7 – Points against

Howard – (2018/ 4-6)

33.6- Points per game

34.1- Points against 

Notes

Michael Locksley era begins. DMV native arrives with with over 20 years of coaching experience, including 10 years with the Terps. Locksley was the winner of the 2018 Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football, while as an assistant at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide win the 2017 National Championship. 

Keep an eye on

Howard’s Offense: Led by QB Caylin Newton, senior wide receivers Kyle Anthony/Jequez Ezzard and redshirt sophomore running back Dedrick Parson is explosive. 

Newton was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. During his sophomore campaign that resulted in him being Player of the Year in 2018, Newton finished among the nations leaders in numerous categories. Newton finished first in passing yards completion (16.85) and was seventh in total offense (313.3). He was tops in the MEAC with 2,629 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games, including passing for 532 yards against Ohio which stands as the third highest output in the history of the program. 

Anthony and Ezzard Arenas dangerous a wide receiver tandem you will see in the MEAC. Anthony led the MEAC In receptions per game (5.3) and finished third averaging 65.9 receiving yards per game. Ezzard led the COUNTRY with 26.6 yards per reception and set a school record with 223 receiving yards in a game against Ohio. Both were named to the 2018 MEAC All Conference Team. 

Parsons comes off a freshman season that saw him earn MEAC rookie of the year honors, the second consecutive Bison to do so. Parsons finished third in the MEAC in rushing yards (729), third in scoring (10 TD’s) and sixth in all-purpose yards (932). Parsons was named to the 2018 MEAC All Conference First Team. 

Terp duo: of Junior Transfer quarterback Josh Jackson and redshirt sophomore Anthony McFarland could emerge as an elite 1-2 punch in the Big Ten. Jackson, a transfer from Virginia Tech, replaces the starting quarterback from 2018 Kasim Hill who transferred to Tennessee. Jackson had an outstanding freshman season at Virginia Tech in 2017, finishing with 2,991 passing yards and 236 completions, each led all Power Five freshman QB’s. Jackson also set Virginia Tech freshman records in touchdown passes (20), passing yards and 200+ yards passing games (9). 

Mcfarland Jr was the heart and soul of the Terps last season. McFarland Jr became the first freshman in Maryland post four 100-yard games during the 2018 season, including back to back 200 yard games against Indiana (210 yards) and Ohio State (298). He also finished with 100 yard games against Temple and Minnesota, ending his freshman campaign with 1,034 yards. A program record by a freshman. 

Both can be a devastating combo for opponents all season and one combo that can get  the program back to among the nations best.