5 Maryland players to watch against Iowa football in 2024

IOWA CITY — The last time Iowa football played at Maryland turned into quite the blowout.

The Hawkeyes, after falling into a 7-3 deficit in the first quarter, put together a prolific 31-point second quarter en route to a 51-14 win. The defense forced seven turnovers while Spencer Petras had five total touchdowns.

Maryland at least has not suffered any 37-point losses this season, but the Terrapins have struggled mightily in Big Ten play leading up to Saturday’s game.

The Terrapins have been outscored, 252-149, in Big Ten games this season. At 4-6 overall, Mike Locksley’s streak of three consecutive bowl trips (and bowl victories) appears to be in peril.

Now as the Hawkeyes prepare to return to College Park, Md., here are five Maryland players to watch:

QB Billy Edwards Jr.

Billy Edwards Jr. finally got his chance to prove what he can do as Maryland’s starting quarterback after backing up Taulia Tagovailoa in 2022 and 2023.

Edwards’ results, while not quite at a Tagovailoa level, have been decent.

The 6-foot-3 quarterback has completed 65 percent of his passes and has 15 touchdowns versus nine interceptions. He also has scrambled at least once for 10-plus yards in seven of Maryland’s 10 games this season.

His best game against Big Ten competition was arguably in Maryland’s win over USC on Oct. 19, when he completed 78 percent of his passes while throwing for 373 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Edwards also was a key reason for Maryland staying competitive with undefeated Indiana earlier in the year. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

But turnovers have particularly been an issue for Edwards in the second half of the season, as he has thrown at least one interception in five consecutive games.

P Bryce McFerson

Punting has not necessarily been winning for Maryland, but it has been at least a bright spot for the Terrapins.

Bryce McFerson leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally with 46.2 yards per punt. Fifteen of his 38 attempts have gone 50-plus yards, and he has 19 punts inside the 20-yard line versus two touchbacks.

McFerson came to College Park after two years at Notre Dame. The Indian Trail, N.C., native was the Fighting Irish’s primary punter in 2023, averaging 45.1 yards per punt with five punts inside the 20 and two touchbacks.

RB Roman Hemby

Roman Hemby is one of the few Maryland players who was on the team when Iowa last visited.

Hemby, a freshman at the time, did not see any game action against the Hawkeyes in 2021. The Edgewood, Md., native has assembled quite the resume since.

Hemby has appeared in 39 games and has 2,264 career rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. That ranks 12th and eighth in program history, respectively. He was an all-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022 and 2023.

In 2024, Hemby has 524 rushing yards, 222 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He has big-play potential, as evident by his 75-yard touchdown carry against Indiana.

WR Tai Felton

Tai Felton has been Edwards’ go-to receiver this season.

Felton leads Maryland with 86 receptions, 1,040 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards, with no one else coming close to his numbers.

The 6-2 wideout’s production has been cooling off recently, though. He has surpassed 100 yards in only one of Maryland’s last six games.

When Felton racks up at least 80 receiving yards, Maryland is 4-2 this season. When he falls short of that mark, Maryland is 0-4.

DB Jalen Huskey

Jalen Huskey has made an immediate impact since transferring from Bowling Green.

Huskey is tied with fellow defensive back Glendon Miller with a team-high three interceptions. That includes Indiana quarterback standout Kurtis O’Rourke’s first interception of the season.

The 6-1 safety also has nine “defensive stops” — tackles that Pro Football Focus defines as a “failure” — including six in his last three games. PFF also shows he has allowed receptions on 65.2 percent of targets, though.

Huskey was a 2023 first-team all-MAC selection after recording four interceptions and six pass breakups.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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