The Maryland Terrapins cracked the .500 mark in 2021 and ended up successful their bowl recreation in spectacular style. Mike Locksley’s program would possibly simply be trending up. If they need that to proceed, they’ll need assistance from their potential 2023 NFL Draft prospects. Right here’s who would possibly go on to type that group for the Terrapins after the 2022 season.
Maryland prospects within the 2023 NFL Draft
There are a number of Maryland prospects who’ve extra title recognition than most — amongst them Taulia Tagovailoa, Rakim Jarrett, and Jaelyn Duncan. However elsewhere on the offense and even on the defensive aspect of the ball, Maryland has different gamers — each regular veterans and breakout candidates — who may add to the category’ depth.
Taulia Tagovailoa, QB
After a 2021 marketing campaign that noticed him full 69.2% of his passes for 3,860 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, Tagovailoa is beginning to make an imprint on the 2023 NFL Draft dialog. He nonetheless has a methods to go earlier than he’s a professional prospect. The sector imaginative and prescient and decision-making, particularly, fluctuate too typically for the time being. However Tagovailoa does have the requisite athleticism and arm expertise to doubtlessly complement extra progress in 2022.
Challen Faamatau, RB
Having misplaced Tayon Davis-Fleet, the Terrapins will search for another person to step up within the RB room in 2022. There are a couple of names within the dialog, however senior Challen Faamatau may be in line to have essentially the most accountability — offered that he’s absolutely wholesome by August. Faamatau is a former walk-on however earned his scholarship final summer season and delivered on that call by accounting for 316 whole yards and three scores. Standing at 5’11”, 225 kilos, Faamatau has nice measurement, and his versatility makes him an asset for Locksley.
Rakim Jarrett, WR
It seems like draft evaluators have simply been ready for Jarrett to turn out to be eligible. Now, forward of the 2022 season, he formally is. A real junior, Jarrett is coming off a robust sophomore marketing campaign that noticed him usher in 62 passes for 829 yards and 5 touchdowns. He could also be a bit smaller than his listed 6’0″, 190-pound body. However he makes a big effect week in and week out along with his explosiveness, run-after-catch capability, and attention-grabbing hip sink on cuts. season may doubtlessly catapult Jarrett into the early-round vary.
Dontay Demus Jr., WR
Dontay Demus Jr. was within the midst of a breakout season when he tore his ACL simply 5 video games by the 2021 marketing campaign. To that time, Demus had amassed 28 catches for 507 yards and three scores, and he’d proven no indicators of slowing down. Even after his damage, Demus wasn’t fazed, proclaiming, “I’m coming again.” Now, the 6’4″, 215-pound receiver is properly on his strategy to doing so. If he can get again to 100%, Demus has the scale, pace, and explosiveness to be a coveted X receiver within the 2023 NFL Draft cycle.
Jacob Copeland, WR
Jarrett and Demus will seemingly be the most well-liked Maryland receivers heading into the 2022 season, however don’t sleep on Florida switch Jacob Copeland. Copeland was a highly-rated recruit a number of years in the past. Out of highschool, he had a 4.44 40-yard sprint and a 37.4″ vertical bounce. And now, at 6’0″, 202 kilos, he’s retained all of that athleticism inside a dense, compact body. With explosiveness, contact stability, and vertical capability, Copeland has the entire crucial traits to be a dynamic weapon.
Jaelyn Duncan, OT
At instances in 2021, Jaelyn Duncan was mentioned as a possible 2022 NFL Draft prospect. Fairly than declaring with out the assure of being drafted, nonetheless, Duncan returned for his redshirt senior season to try to finish on a excessive notice. Duncan stands at 6’6″, 320 kilos, with spectacular body proportions and athleticism on tape. Timing and hand placement stay areas of enchancment even heading into his fifth season. But when Duncan can put it collectively, he may rise in an unsettled sort out class.
Spencer Anderson, OT
Apparently, Duncan isn’t the one offensive sort out on Maryland’s roster price watching within the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. There’s additionally Spencer Anderson — a mammoth 6’5″, 330-pound blocker who began final season at proper sort out. Together with his sheer measurement and size, Anderson is an imposing matchup for edge rushers. However he’s additionally proven he can get out in area and match along with his athleticism. If he can hold engaged on regulating his pad degree, he might be a breakout participant.
Greg Rose, DT
Dropping Sam Okuayinonu will definitely have an effect on the Maryland protection. Nevertheless, one participant who might be in line to assist fill the void is Greg Rose. Rose was round 270 kilos throughout the 2021 season, however he’s now listed at 6’2″, 295 kilos. On the surface, he confirmed off spectacular lateral agility. That’s one thing he might be able to carry to the inside and use as a mismatch instrument. Final 12 months, Rose accounted for 5 sacks and 5 1/2 tackles for loss. He’ll little doubt be trying to up these numbers in 2022.
Mosiah Nasili-Kite, DT
Ever since he got here to Maryland in 2020 from Independence CC, Mosiah Nasili-Kite has been a constant disruptor on the defensive position. In 2020, he put up 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. In 2021, he matched that sack whole and added seven extra tackles for loss. For his 6’2″, 310-pound body, Nasili-Kite reveals off spectacular acceleration off the road. His arms are brief, and he may stand to realize extra practical energy on the level of assault. However Nasili-Kite might have a future within the league.
Ami Finau, DT
Okuayinonu was one of many Terrapins’ most disruptive defensive linemen in 2021. However at instances, his success was higher enabled by the presence of nostril sort out Ami Finau alongside him. Now, Finau returns because the 6’2″, 320-pound anchor on the middle of the defensive position. There’s room for him to be extra constant, however his measurement and pure leverage may be tough for inside linemen to cope with.
Durell Nchami, EDGE
Durell Nchami was quietly on tempo to be one of many extra productive edge rushers within the Large Ten final 12 months earlier than an damage minimize his season brief. Now, nonetheless, Nchami is on observe to be absolutely wholesome forward of 2022. And within the coming marketing campaign, the 6’4″, 255-pound defender is a surefire breakout candidate. He has a robust body and good go off the road, however Nchami’s bend is one thing he can really construct his recreation round. His ankle flexion is uncommon, and it may current a hazard for tackles as soon as once more in 2022.
Ruben Hyppolite II, LB
Ruben Hyppolite II is the Terrapins’ main returning tackler. He was third on the crew behind safeties Nick Cross and Jordan Mosley with 62 final 12 months. He additionally added two cross deflections and a compelled fumble to that whole. Hyppolite stays an unquestioned starter for Maryland on the second degree, and 2022 will probably be a fantastic alternative for the 6’0″, 230-pound defender to make a reputation for himself.
Gereme Spraggins, LB
Now a senior, Gereme Spraggins logged a couple of begins late within the 2021 season. Standing at 6’3″, 250 kilos, he brings spectacular measurement to the linebacker place. That stated, enjoying a lighter weight would possibly assist him glean extra practical athleticism. Regardless of the case, Spraggins might be a reputation to look at. Sporting the No. 21 jersey in honor of Sean Taylor, he brings becoming physicality to the sort out level.
Vandarius Cowan, LB
It stays unclear what sort of position Vandarius Cowan can have, however the 6’4″, 240-pound senior linebacker is, on the very least, a reputation to look at. Cowan was initially an Alabama commit popping out of highschool, boasting spectacular 4.65 pace for his measurement. Sadly, issues haven’t gelled for Cowan. He transferred to West Virginia only a 12 months into his collegiate profession and now finds himself at Maryland after enjoying as a reserve for the Mountaineers in 2021. He has the instruments, however there’s work to do.
Jakorian Bennett, CB
There isn’t lots of buzz round Jakorian Bennett as one of many prime cornerbacks within the 2023 NFL Draft. However on the very least, he’s a deep sleeper who may have extra hype than he at present has. Bennett helped lock down one aspect of the protection for the Terrapins in 2021, tallying three interceptions and 11 cross deflections in 11 video games. Bennett, a JUCO product, is bodily, has the burst to hold receivers off the road, and, most significantly, has the high-level ball-tracking capability to transform on the catch level.
Deonte Banks, CB
We didn’t see a lot of Deonte Banks final 12 months, because the redshirt junior suffered a season-ending damage after simply two video games. However now, he’s wholesome, and he’s been bestowed the No. 3 jersey that belonged to Cross in 2021. Listed at 6’2″, 205 kilos, along with his athletic traits, Banks could also be relied upon extra within the secondary as a fourth-year participant. And if his 99-yard return TD within the spring recreation is any indication, he could also be used extra on particular groups as properly.
Isaiah Hazel, S
The Terrapins misplaced each beginning safeties from 2021 to the 2022 NFL Draft. Cross was drafted on Day 2 by the Indianapolis Colts, whereas Mosley signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants. Their departures go away a void but additionally a possibility for another person to step up. That participant may be Isaiah Hazel, a senior security who stands at 6’1″, 205 kilos. He acquired a couple of seems to be as a subpackage defender final 12 months and flashed, however 2022 may assist increase his attain.
Chad Ryland, Ok
Whereas it’s not the flashy addition, Chad Ryland is a good get for Maryland. Final 12 months’s kicker, Joseph Petrino, was simply 13 of 20 on his field-goal makes an attempt. Ryland, in the meantime, sustained success for 4 seasons at Japanese Michigan earlier than transferring to Maryland. Final 12 months was his greatest season but, nailing all 47 PATs and connecting on 19 of twenty-two subject objectives (a number of over 50 yards). He’s improved yearly, and a very good exhibiting at Maryland may put Ryland within the 2023 NFL Draft dialog.
