Tai Felton torched Indiana’s defense in Maryland football’s victory on Saturday. He became the first player in program history to corral three receiving touchdowns in a half.
The junior had yet to reach the end zone through the first four games of the season. But he exploded against the Hoosiers, setting career bests in catches and yards — seven and 134, respectively — en route to a 44-17 blowout win.
Based on Felton’s heavy usage out of the gates, it’s clear the Terps’ coaching staff is making an emphasis to get him the ball.
“As coaches, we think more highly of Tai than sometimes he does of himself,” coach Michael Locksley said. “He’s a talented player … this may do wonders for the confidence he needs to play with.”
Felton scored his first touchdown of the day less than 30 seconds into the game. The offense lined up for a second-and-10 at the 13-yard line in a trips bunch set to the right side. Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa threw a jailbreak screen pass to Felton, who used his speed to get to the edge and scamper in for the score.
A jailbreak screen is designed for the offensive line to block downfield. Indiana’s defense did a strong job of playing the screen but failed to contain the edge, allowing Felton to turn the corner.
His second touchdown was from 29 yards out on a busted coverage in the Hoosiers’ secondary.
Tagovailoa sent receiver Octavian Smith Jr. in motion, and nobody followed him, giving an indication that Indiana was in zone coverage. The Hoosiers only rushed three after the snap, giving Tagovailoa a clean pocket to scan the field. With eight defenders in coverage, virtually every part of the field was occupied by a defender.
Tagovalioa knew exactly where he wanted to go with the ball, never taking his eyes off his target. Felton came wide open on a delayed post route for the quick touchdown.
Felton’s record-setting third touchdown of the first half came in the final minute of the second quarter.
Maryland faced a second-and-1 from the 9-yard line, looking to extend its lead to 25 points. Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis called a run-pass option. Indiana’s defense allowed the perfect opportunity for Tagovailoa to pull the ball back and throw.
The Hoosiers lined up with six defenders on the line of scrimmage, giving Tagovailoa a good indication that they were in man coverage in the secondary. Tagovailoa read the run-pass option perfectly. As the ball was snapped and the running back was set to take the handoff, the quarterback’s eyes read Felton and his one-on-one defender. Felton eliminated the space between his defender before suddenly breaking towards the middle of the field on a slant route.
Felton beat his defender to the spot, but a linebacker was lurking in the throwing lane. Tagovailoa patiently waited for his receiver to clear the underneath defender, setting his feet before firing a dart past the linebacker’s earhole. Felton made the catch and celebrated by counting his hat trick.
Felton’s breakout game was not a fluke. Entering the game against the Hoosiers, he led all Maryland pass catchers in snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Being on the field more than any other receiver is a testament to the confidence the coaching staff has in him. Felton will continue to be the deep threat in the Maryland offense and a weapon for Gattis to manufacture plays for.
“Tai is one of those guys that doesn’t say a lot,” Locksley said. “He blocks, runs routes, he’s explosive as a receiver … I’m glad to see him make those plays. Hopefully it ignites him to play like an alpha male.”
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