Now healthy after the bye week, Maryland football embarks on a trip to the midwest to take on Wisconsin.
“Had a very productive bye week, gave us the much needed break and rest to get some guys healthy, get some guys back,” coach Mike Locksley said.
In its win over Northwestern two weeks ago, the Terps were without Jaishawn Barham, Ruben Hyppolite, Vandarius Cowan, Amelio Moran, Gavin Gibson and Taulia Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa is the most notable of the bunch, as Maryland’s star signal caller re-aggravated a leg injury against Indiana that he suffered versus No. 4 Michigan.
Redshirt freshman Billy Edwards filled in admirably — leading the Terps to a 31-24 win over Northwestern — but Tagovailoa is back and ready to go against Wisconsin.
“I feel good, I’m ready, I had a good time recovering, rehabbing … I’m just ready to get back on the field with my brothers,” Tagovailoa said.
Tagovailoa had recently been named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2022, one of 40 quarterbacks that are now an official candidate to win the 2022 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
The redshirt junior ranks fourth in the nation with a 72.5 completion percentage, and also ranks in the top-25 in completions per game (24.4), passing yards per game (285.9) and passer efficiency rating (157.62). Tagovailoa ranks in the top-five in the Big Ten in completion percentage, passing yards per game, passer efficiency rating and passing touchdowns (13).
Tagovailoa was not the only Terp to be named to an award list, as Barham was named as one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The award recognizes the most outstanding freshman player in college football.
The linebacker has started all seven games he’s played as a true freshman, and is currently tied for the team lead in sacks (three) and ranks second with 4.5 tackles for loss. Barham is currently the Power Five’s highest-graded true freshman defender via Pro Football Focus (76.9). Barham’s 5.0 tackles per game average is the most by any freshman in the Big Ten and the seventh-most by any freshman among all of FBS.
Barham will return to the field alongside fellow-linebacker Ruben Hyppolite against Wisconsin, according to Locksley.
The return of both Barham and Hyppolite will be big for the Maryland defense, as the Terps allowed 24 points to Northwestern their last time out — the second-worst offense in the Big Ten statistically.
In comparison, the Wisconsin offense ranks in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, averaging 14 more points per game than Northwestern.
Its offense leans heavily on the ground game, led by sophomore Braelon Allen. Allen’s 870 rushing yards, 108.8 average rushing yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns all are fourth-most in the Big Ten.
Allen ran for 113 and a touchdown against Purdue in Wisconsin’s last time out on the field two weeks ago, as like the Terps, the Badgers enter the contest off of the bye week.
As a team, the Badgers average 171.4 yards on the ground per game. The Maryland defense may have its handful as the Terps allow an average of 120.3 rushing yards per game — the sixth-most in the Big Ten.
On Oct. 2, Wisconsin removed Paul Chryst from the head coach position, and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard took over as interim head coach. Since the change, the Badgers have gone 2-1 — and junior signal caller Graham Mertz has looked much sharper.
Prior to the change, Mertz had an 8:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and had a sub-100 passing yard performance against No. 2 Ohio State in late September.
In the past three games, Mertz has a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio — including a phenomenal 299-yard, 5-touchdown showing in Wisconsin’s 42-7 victory over Northwestern in Leonhard’s first game as interim head coach.
Mertz should find success through the air against the Terps, as their pass defense allows the second-most yards per game in the Big Ten (260).
“They’re not having the season that they thought they’d have or expected they’d have, but the last three games they’ve really improved, especially offensively,” defensive back Beau Brade said. “Offensively they’re looking pretty good, so we just have to go out there and play our game.”
The game on Saturday will start at 12 p.m. and will take place at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.
