Maryland Welcomes Iowa Saturday for Homecoming Clash
10/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland welcomes Iowa to Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium Saturday for its first all-time meeting with the Hawkeyes. It is the second of three consecutive games against first-time opponents. Kickoff is set for 12:01 p.m. and will serve as the Terps' 2014 Homecoming game.
This season, Maryland has posted at least 24 points in all six games this season. It is the first time in program history a Terrapin offense has scored 24 or more points in its first six games. The Terps are averaging 34.7 points per contest, tied for the fourth-highest total in the Big Ten. In addition, Maryland has totaled 25 plays of 20 or more yards this season including eight against Indiana on Sept. 27. Of the 25 plays that have gone for 20 or more yards, 10 have been scoring plays.
Live Coverage
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and WatchESPN. Beth Mowins (pbp), Joey Galloway (color) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline) will call the action. The game can also be heard on the Maryland Sports Radio Network with Johnny Holliday (pbp), Tim Strachan (color) and Scott McBrien (sideline) on the call. The game can also be heard on Sirius channel 135 and XM channel 195.
Breakin' Down Brown
In Maryland's victory against Indiana on Sept. 27, quarterback C.J. Brown rushed for his 22nd career touchdown, which is the seventh-highest total in school history, and passed for his 27th career touchdown, seventh most all-time. Brown ranks sixth in the Big Ten averaging 221.7 yards of total offense per game.
- Brown increased his career passing total to 4,151 yards against Ohio State and is only the 10th quarterback in school history to eclipse the 4,000-yard plateau. In addition, with 1,425 career rushing yards, Brown is one of 10 active FBS players to pass for 4,000 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more yards in a career.
- Brown has eight career 100-yard rushing performances. It is the most all-time for a Terrapin quarterback and is tied with former Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott (2007-2010) for the fourth-highest total in program history. In addition, Brown's total is tied for fourth nationally among active FBS quarterbacks.
- Brown has accounted for 5,576 yards of total offense in his career. He ranks fifth on Maryland's all-time list and 20th nationally among active players.
On The Offense
ALL-PURPOSE DIGGS
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs leads the team in receptions (36) and receiving yards (450) through the first six contests. Against OSU, Diggs totaled 90 all-purpose yards. Diggs ranks second among active FBS career leaders in all-purpose yards per game averaging 146.42 yards.
- Diggs has seven career 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for second in school history. Jermaine Lewis (1992-95) holds the record with 15.
- His 3,514 career all-purpose yards is the 24th-highest active total nationally.
- He ranks sixth in Maryland history with 1,885 career receiving yards.
- Diggs is averaging 6.0 receptions per game and 75.0 receiving yards per game, which is tied for second and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively.
VEII QUICK TO ADAPT
Jacquille Veii has started to emerge at receiver after converting from running back during the preseason.
- Veii totaled career bests in catches (4) and receiving yards (78) against the Buckeyes.
- Veii notched his first career receiving TD against WVU (9/13) and his first career rushing touchdown at Syracuse (9/20).
SCREEN GAME
- Of Maryland's 12 touchdown passes this season, three have gone to a running back.
- Brandon Ross has caught two including a 36-yarder against IU after catching a 90-yarder at SU, the Terps' longest play from scrimmage.
On The Defense/Special Teams
IT'S GOOD
Junior kicker Brad Craddock, a member of the Lou Groza Award watch list, connected on a program record 57-yarder against OSU. Craddock now has 42 career field goals and has scored 211 career points.
- Craddock's 42 career field goals is tied for fourth in school history with Brian Kopka (1997-2000).
- His 211 career points is seventh all-time at Maryland and the fifth most for a kicker.
- Craddock is averaging 9.7 points per game, which leads the conference amongst kickers..
- Craddock is one of seven kickers nationally who are perfect on the season (11 of 11).
- The junior has converted 17 straight field goal attempts. That mark is a program record.
RETURN SPECIALISTS
- For his career, William Likely has returned two punts for touchdowns, most recently against WVU (9/13). He is tied for third in school history.
- Likely's 15.9 yards per return for his career is currently a program record.
- On kick returns, Stefon Diggs is currently Maryland's all-time leader in yards per return averaging 26.3.
- Diggs' per return average of 26.3 is the 19th-highest average among active FBS players..
- For his career, Diggs has 1,238 kick return yards, a mark which is good for fifth in program history.
IN THE BACKFIELD
Sophomore linebacker Yannick Ngakoue has accumulated 13.0 TFL in 19 career games. Of his 19 total tackles this season, 8.5 have been for a loss.
- Ngakoue's 8.5 tackles for loss is tied for second in the Big Ten.
- Ngakoue is averaging 1.42 tackles for loss per game, which leads the conference.
GET TO THE QUARTERBACK
Senior Andre Monroe anchors one end of the d-line and is Maryland's active career leader in sacks. The product of Upper Marlboro, Md., has 19.5 career sacks after totaling a team-best 9.5 last season, which tied for 21st nationally.
- Monroe's 19.5 sacks rank third in school history.
- His 30.5 career tackles for loss ranks 11th in school history.
- Monroe leads the team this season with 5.0 sacks for a loss of 40 yards.
Gameday Notes
Scout Team Players of the Week: Each Thursday during the regular season head coach Randy Edsall will annouce scout team players of the week. This week's scout team players are running back Joe Riddle (offense), defensive lineman Kingsley Opara (defense) and tight end Eric Roca (special teams).
Flag Bearers: Defensive lineman Darius Kilgo will carry the American flag, and running back Kenneth Goins Jr. will carry the Maryland state flag during Saturday's introductions.
Game Captains: With the establishment of the leadship council, Edsall will name game captains prior to each contest. The captains for Saturday's game against Iowa are wide receiver Stefon Diggs (offense), defensive back Jeremiah Johnson (defense), and kicker Brad Craddock (special teams).
MEDIA INFORMATION
For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.
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