Previewing Maryland football’s season opener against UConn

The Terps are 20.5-point favorites over the Huskies, per ESPN Bet.

Maryland football begins its season with a Saturday matinee against UConn at SECU Stadium.

Plenty of questions still surround the Terps a day before their season opener. Head coach Mike Locksley still hasn’t announced who their starting quarterback is. But no matter who’s under center, Maryland is heavily favored to extend its week one winning streak to five games.

Maryland is 2-1 all-time against the Huskies, but UConn took the last game, 32-21, at home over the Terps in 2013.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be broadcasted on FS1.

UConn Huskies (0-0)

2023 record: 3-9

Head coach Jim Mora enters his third season trying to revitalize his squad after a down year in 2023. The Huskies went 6-7 in his first year at the helm, their best record since 2015.

His offense looks much different than it did a year ago, when UConn averaged a measly 19.1 points per game. His defense — which was better than the offense — brings back a lot of starters and could be a much more cohesive unit than it was in 2023. The Huskies will look to start their season with a massive upset on the road.

Players to watch

Nick Evers, redshirt sophomore quarterback, No. 3 — Evers, a transfer from Wisconsin, was named UConn’s starting quarterback Tuesday. Evers was the No. 9-ranked quarterback in his class coming out of high school, per the 247Sports Composite, but his college career has been underwhelming, to say the least. He started off at Oklahoma, where he threw one pass as a freshman before transferring to Wisconsin and becoming the team’s third-string quarterback.

Evers still has serious arm talent and running ability. Mora will try to revive his career and tap into the traits that made him such an exciting high school prospect.

TJ Sheffield, graduate wide receiver, No. 8 — Sheffield is another transfer portal addition, joining the Huskies after five years at Purdue. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, he caught 116 passes for 1,186 yards and 11 touchdowns over his last three seasons, finishing second on the Boilermakers in receiving yards in 2023.

He’s likely to immediately become Evers’ No. 1 option in an offense that lost both of its top-two receivers to the transfer portal.

Pryce Yates, redshirt junior defensive end, No. 90 — You can’t talk about the Huskies without talking about Yates. He’s their most productive pass rusher and a stalwart in run defense, leading the team in both sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (14) last season. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, he has the size to play all across the defensive front and create matchup problems for opposing offensive lines.

Jelani Stafford, senior defensive tackle, No. 97 — The 6-foot-1, 300-pound Stafford is the anchor of UConn’s run defense. His 83.1 Pro Football Focus grade against the run was tied for 15th among all FBS defensive linemen in 2023. As well, he racked up 40 total tackles, eight of which were for a loss. Stafford also has the ability to rush the passer, totaling 17 pressures in 12 games last season.

If UConn wants to pull off a massive upset, it will need to stifle the Terps’ rushing attack and force them to throw the ball. Stafford will be essential in this effort.

Strength

Red zone defense. Despite ranking 100th out of 133 FBS teams in points per game allowed, the Huskies were stout in the red zone. Opponents scored 79.5% of the time they were in the red zone against UConn, tied for the 31st-lowest mark in the country.

Weakness

Everything else. UConn had turnover at quarterback and receiver, while starting running back Cam Edwards returns after a promising redshirt freshman year. Its defense has a lot of continuity from last season. But out of 133 FBS schools in 2023, the Huskies ranked 82nd in rushing yards per attempt, tied for 124th in passing yards per attempt, 121st in scoring offense, 116th in passing defense and 100th in scoring defense. They were 57th in rushing defense, mainly because teams didn’t need to run the ball against them.

Pending massive improvement in 2024, UConn doesn’t threaten Maryland in any one area.

Three things to watch

1. Who is Maryland’s starting quarterback? Locksley has repeatedly declined to name a starting quarterback ahead of Maryland’s season opener. But he said he wants the guy who will give the Terps the best chance to “win now.” Billy Edwards Jr.’s experience in the system seems to give him an advantage in that regard over NC State transfer MJ Morris. And in the weekly practice session available to the media, Edwards went first in drills.

2. How much of a threat will Evers present? Evers has only thrown one pass in college. He’s an incredible talent that, despite being a redshirt sophomore, has yet to receive an opportunity to prove himself in-game. We don’t know how good he will be. Losing two separate quarterback battles at Wisconsin — including one to a true freshman — could be an indicator he hasn’t panned out. But many players are at their best on game day.

This game will become much more competitive if UConn engineers a legitimate passing attack.

3. What will Maryland’s starting offensive line look like? All five starting linemen from last year’s season opener are no longer on the team. Kyle Long is the only returner with starting experience — he’ll almost certainly slot back in at guard. Redshirt senior Josh Kaltenberger transferred from Purdue and is expected to start at center. Junior Alan Herron will likely start at tackle after transferring from Division II Shorter, but we don’t know if it will be left or right tackle.

The other two spots — one tackle and one guard — are anyone’s game. Georgia transfer Aliou Bah can play both spots, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him out there. Isaac Bunyun, who was a rotational defensive tackle last season, transitioned to guard and could start right away. Redshirt sophomore tackle Andre Roye Jr. has impressed in camp and could take the second tackle job.