Mike Locksley talks injuries, key upgrade and more after Maryland football’s first scrimmage

Maryland soccer held its first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday, permitting its offense and protection to get reps in recreation conditions for the primary time forward of the upcoming season. The Terps obtained their first game-like motion from a roster that returns 15 starters from final season, probably the most of any Huge Ten program, and look to capitalize on a record-setting marketing campaign that noticed this system end 7-6 with a bowl victory.

Head coach Mike Locksley spoke to the media after Saturday’s scrimmage:

Switch kicker Chad Ryland has established himself

Maryland aimed to spice up its particular groups this offseason with the addition of former Japanese Michigan kicker Chad Ryland.

“If I had been to throw out a reputation, I might say it begins with Chad Ryland, our kicker,” Locksley mentioned. “You understand, I have never talked so much about that, however most likely among the best pickups we have had out of the switch portal. One other weapon, scoring the ball is de facto essential and he got here again from his offseason coaching and has been killing the ball. And I am actually, actually enthusiastic about having that consistency from that place. So if I needed to give any individual a bit love about, you realize, a man that basically stood out to me, it is Chad Ryland and his confidence is at all-time highs kicking the ball out of the endzone on kickoffs, he is been very correct on his discipline objectives all through camp and I actually anticipate him to have a giant 12 months for us.”

Ryland enters 2022 with a 75.7 % profession discipline aim proportion. He transformed on 84.6 % of makes an attempt in 2020 and 86.4 % of makes an attempt in 2021. He has additionally transformed 141 of 145 further level makes an attempt in his profession and averaged 59.57 yards per kickoff with 54.2 % of makes an attempt ending up as touchbacks in 2021. All of these numbers are vastly superior to these of Maryland’s current kicking recreation. Ryland appears like an enormous improve.

The Terps will look to construct and show their depth heading into the season

Regardless of their wealth of returning starters, there are questions concerning the depth behind the Terps’ beginning models this season. Working again, tight finish and linebacker are positions to give attention to there, with younger gamers needing to emerge and change into key gamers.

“You understand, we have created depth in any respect these positions so it is at all times going to be a contest and that is how we wish it to be round right here,” Locksley mentioned. “We actually consider that, you realize, you may have nice competitors and it brings out the very best in our gamers. And that is one of many issues by means of recruiting, we have been capable of create the mandatory depth that permits that competitors to occur.”

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Changing Chigoziem Okonkwo at tight finish figures to be a troublesome process, however Corey Dyches and CJ Dippre have proven the power to step in that function together with Weston Wolff behind them. At linebacker, the Terps welcome again Durrell Nchami and Fa’Naje Gotay from accidents and added a powerful freshman duo of Jaishawn Barham and Caleb Wheatland that would play roles early on.

Working again has expertise however no confirmed starter with the departure of main rusher Tayon Fleet-Davis, however the Terps have a powerful core of younger working backs figuring to make an impression. Colby McDonald will battle with redshirt freshman Roman Hemby for the beginning working again place with redshirt freshman Antwain Littleton II serving as a change-of-pace again and upperclassman Challen Faamatau figuring to get probabilities as nicely. Freshman Ramon Brown can have probabilities to see the sector, however may very well be restricted to 4 video games to protect a redshirt this fall.

Maryland stays comparatively injury-free after 10 days of apply

Accidents are part of soccer and any time gamers are in recreation conditions, there is a threat of somebody happening. So preseason scrimmages are at all times regarding for faculty soccer coaches, hoping to enter the upcoming season with out shedding any gamers. Mike Locksley admitted that the crew’s return to Maryland Stadium on Saturday for the crew/s scrimmage did trigger some nicks and bruises, however the crew stays wholesome after the primary of three scrimmages.

“As of proper now there weren’t any [injured players] that, you realize, had been out and could not return, Locksley mentioned. “ I imply we have had nicks and bruises. [I] haven’t met with our coach but. We’ll simply do this right here as we simply sort of completed up and I will know a bit bit extra after the gamers verify in there now that the scrimmage has ended.”

Broad receiver Dontay Demus Jr., who’s getting back from a knee damage suffered on October 1 final season, did play within the scrimmage in a restricted vogue and made some performs, in response to Locksley.

“Like I mentioned, having him again is a plus from Maryland due to the management he brings in due to the kind of participant he’s,” Locksley mentioned. “And so it was good to see him out in ‘The Shell’ working, catching, blocking. And we’ll proceed to sort of deliver him again the proper method, which is limiting sort of his load. However in the present day he was capable of get some work and was actually happy with what I noticed.”

Maryland soccer will proceed its fall camp subsequent week and maintain two extra scrimmages forward of its September 3 opener in opposition to Buffalo.