Maryland football is back on the West Coast for the first time since the Foster Farms Bowl in 2014, looking for their first win against the nation’s top team since beating UCLA in 1955.
Maryland will look to do so with several key players back to lead the defense after SAF Glen Miller and OLB Kellan Wyatt missed the Minnesota game, while SAF Dante Trader Jr. appeared in the second half. “Glen Miller and Kellan Wyatt, two of our biggest production guys on the defensive side of the ball,” head coach Mike Locksley said on 106.7.
"[I] feel pretty good about the health of our team as we head west. And you know, we've got nothing to lose and I'm excited about it."
While the defense will look for the returning experience to help slow down an explosive Oregon offense, Maryland’s offense will look to get back on track after unraveling on the road vs. Minnesota. Billy Edwards finished with season-lows in passing yards (201) and completion percentage (54.3%) while tossing his first multi-interception game of the season. With the game decided, head coach Mike Locksley turned to MJ Morris to open the fourth quarter as fans got their first extended look at the NC State transfer as he finished 7-of-8 for 112 yards and threw a pair of touchdowns.
“MJ has continued to develop and I think what people saw in putting him in the game for Billy was, at that point with the game [in] hand and Billy had taken a few shots. A lot of people don’t know Billy had offseason back surgery and so we've kind of tried to nurse and continue to take care of him with that. And so [MJ] coming out in the fourth quarter was an opportunity to develop our backup quarterback in MJ. And I think MJ came in and played and made good decisions, threw the deep ball really well, and really it was great for us to see him be able to come in and manage it, to finish the game out like that,” Locksley said.
“But I expect Billy to get back into his normal form where he takes care of the ball and gets those playmakers, like Tai Felton and Roman [Hemby] and Kaden Prather, involved and us [keeping] him healthy.”
Maryland arrived in Eugene this afternoon and will practice at Oregon State ahead of Saturday’s kickoff in what should be the most hostile environment of the season.
“Loud place, really loud venue,” Locksley said of Autzen Stadium, recalling his road game against Oregon while head coach at New Mexico in 2010.
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