Maryland Football's 2023 Season Preview and Key Players to Watch
The rain was coming down in sheets as I pulled into the Lot 1 parking garage, the sound echoing through the concrete structure like a thousand tiny drums. I’d promised my nephew I’d take him to his first Terps game this season, and as we sat there waiting for the storm to pass, he asked me what I thought about their chances this year. "Well," I said, wiping condensation from the windshield, "let me tell you about Maryland Football's 2023 Season Preview and Key Players to Watch." There's something special about this team that reminds me of championship fighters - the kind who know how to defend what's theirs.
It made me think of this boxing match I read about recently - The Filipino will be making the second defense of his 105lbs. title against the same opponent he dethroned via a split decision at about the same time last year also in the Japanese city mainly known as a manufacturing and shipping hub. There's a parallel here with our Terps, you see. Like that champion returning to face his old rival, Maryland has this cyclical nature to their challenges. They're not just fighting opponents - they're fighting history, expectations, and in some cases, the same teams that have haunted them before.
Now, let me get to what really gets me excited about this squad. Taulia Tagovailoa is back, and folks, we might be witnessing something historic here. The kid needs just 3,194 passing yards to become the Big Ten's all-time leader - that's about 260 yards per game if they play 12 games. I was at the Michigan game last year when he threw for 350 yards in that heartbreaking loss, and let me tell you, there's a fire in that young man's eyes that tells me he's coming for every record in the book. He moves in the pocket with this dancer's grace that reminds me of his brother, but there's a Maryland toughness to him now that he's developed over these past three seasons.
What really gets me though, and I might be in the minority here, is our receiving corps. Jeshaun Jones and Tai Felton could start for any team in the Big Ten East, and I'd put money on that. Remember that overtime thriller against Purdue? Jones had 8 catches for 126 yards that day, and there was this one catch where he reached behind his back like he was catching a misplaced grocery bag - pure instinct. These aren't just athletes; they're artists when the ball's in the air. I've been watching Maryland football since the Friedgen era, and I haven't been this excited about our receivers since Stefon Diggs was making magic in College Park.
The defensive side tells a different story - one that keeps me up at night if I'm being honest. We lost some serious talent to the draft, including Deonte Banks who went in the first round to the Giants. But here's where I differ from most analysts - I think our linebacker corps led by Ruben Hyppolite II might surprise people. He recorded 68 tackles last season, and I watched him during the spring game looking quicker, more decisive. There's this young freshman, Cameron White, who I think could see significant playing time by mid-season. Saw him at a practice session last month, and the kid moves like his cleats are on fire.
Special teams could be our secret weapon. Colton Spangler is back after averaging 43.8 yards per punt last season, and in those tight conference games where field position matters more than oxygen, he might just be our most valuable player. I remember sitting in the stands during that Northwestern game where he pinned them inside the 10-yard line three times - each punt more beautiful than the last, spinning like perfectly thrown football should.
As the rain finally let up and we walked toward SECU Stadium, the smell of wet grass and grilled burgers filling the air, I thought about what this season means. It's not just about wins and losses - it's about establishing an identity in a conference dominated by giants. We're like that Filipino boxer returning to the scene of his greatest challenge, except our manufacturing and shipping hub is the Big Ten East, and every game is another title defense. The Terps have this opportunity to prove they belong among the elite, and something in my gut tells me this might be the year they break through in a big way. My nephew tugged on my sleeve as we found our seats, asking if he could meet Taulia after the game. "Maybe," I said, "but first, let's watch some history in the making."
