Maryland football heads across the country for the first time in 2024 when they face Oregon, a near-four touchdown underdog in Eugene as Maryland looks to defeat the nation’s top-ranked team for the first time since 1955.
For a Maryland defense that allows just over 275 yards through the air per game – the third-most among Power Four teams – they’ll have their hands full against QB Dillon Gabriel as he enters Saturday ninth nationally with 296 passing yards per game, seven yards fewer than QB Billy Edwards Jr.
But as Gabriel enters Saturday just two touchdowns away from breaking the NCAA all-time total touchdown record, he could be without his top weapon after head coach Dan Lanning noted WR Tez Johnson “will be down certainly right now”, likely sidelining him vs. Maryland.
“I'm gonna tell you the same thing I always tell you: as soon as they're ready to go, we'll have them out there,” Lanning said on Monday night. “We're gonna put player safety first. Tez will be down certainly right now in the near future, but I do anticipate us getting Tez back here soon.”
Three years after setting Troy’s single-season reception record, Johnson has dominated the wide receiver room in 2024 as he leads the team in catches (64), receiving yards (649) and touchdowns (8). The Ducks won’t have any shortage of weapons with WR Traeshon Holden, who played at St. Frances (MD), and former five-star Evan Stewart anchoring the unit. Senior TE Terrance Ferguson is one of four players also averaging at least 50 receiving yards per game as he sits second in program history among tight ends with 113 all-time receptions.
The Ducks’ offensive line could be without starting guard Marcus Harper, who started the first two games at left guard before flipping to right guard since then.
“Same with Marcus. Neither one of those injuries is as bad as maybe they appeared on the field. And I think we'll have those guys back, but I don't know when that looks like right now. But we'll do what we always do: take care of the players and what's in their best interest, and both those guys fighting to get back as soon as we can have them.”
The Ducks’ defense, though, is a different story as star edge Jordan Burch returned to action vs. Minnesota after being held to a snap count. Burch, who leads Oregon in sacks (5) and TFLs (7.5), told the media on Tuesday “I think I’m ready now” as Maryland’s offensive line prepares for arguably the best defensive lineman they’ve faced all season.
“I got the rehab, I’m practicing now so everything should be good moving forward,” Burch said, adding he believes he’s 100% healthy.
Following the bye week, Maryland will look to find answers to slow down the Big Ten favorite this weekend in the first-ever matchup between the two Big Ten teams.
“Last week, we put every phase of our game plan, then we came back in Sunday, added the Michigan data to our game plan analysis and confirmed whether or not these things we worked on a week ago. So basically, we've had two go-runs of our four-day cycle to prepare. Typically, we would come in on a Monday, have a lighter practice, and then just Tuesday, Wednesday, but we actually are going to have eight full days to prepare. And the biggest piece for us is just getting some of those bodies that we missed against Minnesota. Those guys are healthy, finally, and to be able to add the depth back to our team which allows us to practice the way we need to practice.”
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