The DJ Durkin Era Begins Tomorrow - A Maryland Football Preview

It’s that time of year once again. Maryland football is back and ready to take on another grueling Big Ten schedule. They’re coming off one of their worst seasons in history, finishing 3-9 and throwing more interceptions than anyone in football. They got their doors blown off by every single Big Ten team they played not named Rutgers. But there is one saving grace to that abortion of a 2015 campaign.

They got rid of that turd Randy Edsall and replaced him with DJ Durkin.

Take yourself a minute and introduce yourself to DJ Durkin.

If you know anything about Maryland football the past 5 years, you know that this man is the complete and total opposite of Randy Edsall. Which is precisely what this program that has so much potential needs. His energy, his passion, his fire… it’s already infected the program. The fellas have bought in 100%. And the recruits are buying in too, as DJ and his staff currently have the 17th best 2017 recruiting class at the moment, a number this program has never even sniffed before. For now, they might not be the most talented bunch, but they’re going to be well coached and they’re going to play balls to the wall. So let’s meet the team.

Offense

After Durkin wiped the slate clean and had an open QB competition, senior Perry Hills found himself at the top of the depth chart yet again. It didn’t hurt that top competitor Caleb Rowe has been out with an undisclosed injury, but he earned it anyway. Hills is lauded for his heart and his leadership. He doesn’t have the best arm and isn’t the quickest guy either, but he’s a helluva competitor. He’ll put his head down and battle for every yard, and showed that by dropping 170 on the ground against Ohio State last year. Expect for new offensive coordinator Walt Bell to get the most out of him by giving him simple reads and allowing him to use his feet and physicality.

The running back depth chart is a deep one, and the strength of this offense. With a solid offensive line lead by captain and starting center Brendan Moore, the Terps will make their money running the football. Wes Brown is the likely starter for the majority of the year, but finds himself suspended for the first 3 games for breaking team rules last season. Ty Johnson and Va Tech transfer Trey Edmunds will divide most of the work in his absence, with true freshmen Lorenzo Harrison and Jake Funk likely getting some work here and there. Each of them brings a unique skill set to the table. Brown is more of a bruiser, whereas Johnson and Edmunds are shifty and can house one at any moment. Here’s a nice house call by Edmunds against a decent college football team.

The receivers are led by sophomore DJ Moore and brothers Taivon and Levern Jacobs. Each of them have had success in stretches at Maryland, but none have really established themselves as the consistent target to replace Stefon Diggs. Based on word out of camp, Moore is likely the guy to make that jump, while Taivon has been out with an injury. Walt Bell’s offense is an up tempo one, so expect a lot of guys to be involved including freshmen DJ Turner and Tino Ellis. Sophomore tight end Avery Edwards should be a major factor as well.

Defense & Special Teams

Given DJ Durkin’s background as an outstanding defensive coordinator at Stanford, Florida, and most recently for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, the defense should be a major source of improvement. They were putrid last year, giving up nearly 35 points per game. They may have lost standout pass-rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Quinton Jefferson, but the rest of the defense is an experienced bunch. Jesse Aniebonam and Roman Braglio will try to replace the 19.5 sacks that those two provided last year.

The real strength of this defense lies with the secondary, which is where Durkin got his coaching start. Returning for his senior year is ya motha’s favorite playa, Will Likely.Let’s watch him work.

Last year Likely was outstanding again, but wasn’t able to produce as many highlight interceptions and returns because the opposition did everything in their power to avoid him. And they’d have no problem avoiding him because the Terps didn’t really have a standout corner to complement him.

That’s changed. Durkin was able to recruit former Florida starter JC Jackson to form a formidable duo at cornerback. What Likely lacks in size, Jackson makes up for with physicality. Durkin and new defensive coordinator can better gameplan their matchups based on their complementary skillsets, and both will benefit from the other’s presence. Without an easy target to pick on, QB’s will be forced to throw in Likely’s direction more. I’m hoping he can provide some more of those highlights that made him a star in his sophomore season. On a related note, we can’t make opposing teams punt and kickoff to him, but we should see him on the offensive side of the ball from time to time. That’ll be fun.

The other main special teams note is that Lou Groza-winning kicker Brad Craddock graduated. Adam Greene is the new kicker, and filled in at times for Craddock last year and went 3/5 on FG’s. Maryland was also the worst punting team in the entire nation last year, so they’ve brought in Australian Wade Lees to take over those duties. I’m personally a big fan of Australian punters and the way they can work the ball and give returners nightmares. Should be a major improvement because it really can’t get much worse.

The Schedule

The schedule is cushy in the early going, even by Maryland’s standards. I fully expect them to jump out to a 3-0 start, and then grind out a home win against Purdue. That’ll put them just two wins away from bowl eligibility, which should be the goal for this season at the minimum. Going on the road to Penn State won’t be easy, and I think that will be a real litmus test game for them. I personally think Penn State stinks and Maryland did everything in their power to give them last year’s game, so I think they’ve got a chance to turn the tables here. I’m watching Minnesota play Oregon State as I’m typing this, and I can’t say I’m buying the chatter that Minnesota could be a sleeper in the Big Ten West. Maryland should compete with them at home easily. The Terps will get rolled by Sparty, play Indiana tough, and get rolled by Michigan and Ohio State. Winning at Nebraska seems unlikely but not impossible, and Rutgers is trash.

So with that I’ve got the Terps right there in that 6-7 win range. It won’t be pretty, but there will be energy and excitement with this new coaching staff and guys will improve. Rome wasn’t built in a year. Terps just gotta put together a respectable season and show that they can hang in the Big Ten a bit. The recruits will come, they’re bountiful in this area and they’ve got a helluva facility being built right next door to Byrd. Durkin is too good a recruiter for Maryland not to get their hands on a bunch of these DMV guys. Good things are coming to this program. It won’t be this year, it might not be next year, but Maryland’s day will come. Get in on the ground floor now.