Game Preview: Maryland at #2 Michigan
11/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland football program travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the fifth time in history Saturday to take on the 2nd-ranked Michigan Wolverines at 3:30 pm on ESPN.
QUICK HITTERS
- Maryland looks to win its second straight game at Michigan Stadium Saturday. The Terps memorably defeated the Wolverines, 23-16, in 2014 after trailing,16-9, heading into the fourth quarter. Quarterback C.J. Brown scored on an 8-yard run, before Wes Brown scored the game-winner from one yard out with six minutes remaining.
- Maryland head coach DJ Durkin was the defensive coordinator at Michigan last season, leading a Wolverine defense that ranked fourth nationally. Durkin and Terrapin offensive coordinator Andy Buh both worked under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford from 2007 to 2009.
- Maryland's dynamic rushing offense has totaled 21 touchdowns in 2016, and needs just one more to reach the most in a single-season for a Maryland team since 2007. Seven different Terrapins have scored a rushing touchdown this season. Additionally, with just 33 more rushing yards, Maryland will have totaled its most yards on the ground since accumulating 2,487 in 2003.
- Senior quarterback Perry Hills continues to lead the Big Ten Conference in both completion percentage (66.4) and passing efficiency (149.9). Six of the Terrapins' last nine touchdown drives have been 75 yards or longer, including all four drives against Michigan State.
- Sophomore running back Ty Johnson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game and third time this season with a 142-yard performance at Indiana. Johnson became just the eighth player in Maryland history to average more than 10 yards/carry (min. 10 carries) in a single-game against Indiana. He is averaging 10.4 yards per carry this season.
MARYLAND OFFENSE: BY THE NUMBERS
1 - The Terrapins continue to make the most of their red zone opportunities, ranking first in the Big Ten and ninth nationally scoring at a 93.3 percent clip. Maryland has scored on 24 of its 26 trips to the red zone, including all nine red zone chances over its last three games. Of those nine red zone chances, Maryland has scored seven touchdowns.
2 - Sophomore running back Ty Johnson reeled off his second consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards against Indiana, marking his third 100-yard game of the season. While quarterback Perry Hills had three straight 100-yard rushing games last season, Johnson is looking to become the first Maryland running back to achieve the feat since Lance Ball in 2005.
2 - The Terps are one of just two teams in the Big Ten (Iowa) with two rushers that have gained at least 575 yards in 2016, as sophomore Ty Johnson leads the way with 624 yards and freshman Lorenzo Harrison is just behind with 575. It marks the first time since 2010 (Davin Meggett - 720, Da'Rel Scott - 708) that Maryland has had two running backs with at least 575 yards in a season.
5 - True freshman running back Lorenzo Harrison scored a rushing touchdown against Michigan State for his fifth score of the season. It marks the most rushing touchdowns for a Maryland true freshman since Rick Badanjek totaled nine touchdowns in 1982.
7 - Sophomore Ty Johnson has made a habit of breaking loose for huge plays in conference play, totaling seven plays of at least 40 yards or more in five games. Including a 66-yard rush most recently against Indiana, six of the seven big plays have been rushing attempts. Johnson averaged 10.9 yards on 13 carries against Indiana, becoming just the eighth player in Maryland history to average 10 yards/carry in a single game (min. 10 carries).
16 - Sophomore D.J. Moore currently leads all Maryland receivers with a reception in 16 consecutive games dating back to Oct. 3, 2015. It is the longest streak for a Terrapin receiver since Torrey Smith pieced together a 30-game streak from Nov. 6, 2008 to the final game of his career on Dec. 29, 2010. Moore also has a touchdown catch in three consecutive games, marking the longest streak for a Maryland player since Stefon Diggs caught a touchdown in four straight games in 2014.
115 - Senior Levern Jacobs' recent success has vaulted the veteran up Maryland's career receptions chart, passing Guilian Gary (1998-01) for eighth in history with 115 career catches. Jacobs also moved into 16th in career reception yards (1,311), most recently passing Jafar Williams (2000-03).
575 - Freshman running back Lorenzo Harrison has totaled 575 rushing yards through his first eight games, and is currently on pace to shatter LaMont Jordan's Maryland freshman record of 689 rushing yards set in 1997. For comparison's sake, Jordan had 426 rushing yards through his first eight games.
MARYLAND DEFENSE/ST: BY THE NUMBERS
1 - True freshman defensive back Quantrezz Knight made his first career start last weekend at Indiana in place of Darnell Savage Jr., who missed the game due to injury. Knight became the fifth true freshman to start for Maryland this season, joining Tyrrell Pigrome, Lorenzo Harrison, Terrance Davis and Tino Ellis. Harrison, Davis and Ellis are all products of nearby DeMatha Catholic High School.
3 - The Terrapins are one of just three teams in the Big Ten Conference (Michigan, Indiana) with two blocked punts this season. Both blocks this season happened to be at the hands of Maryland's top running backs, with Ty Johnson blocking a punt against Howard and Lorenzo Harrison notching a block against Penn State.
5 - Senior defensive tackle Cavon Walker turned in one of the best games of his career against Indiana, totaling a career-high five tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Walker, who originally entered college as a 220-pound linebacker, now weighs in at 280 pounds. Junior Chandler Burkett also had a standout game, totaling a career-high nine tackles.
5.5 - Junior defensive lineman Jesse Aniebonam has taken full advantage of his opportunities for the Terps, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks (0.69/g). Aniebonam, is the cousin of former great New York Giants pass rusher Osi Umenyiora.
9.1 - Junior linebacker Shane Cockerille totaled nine tackles against Indiana to maintain his position as the Big Ten Conference's fourth-leading tackler with 9.1 tackles/game. Cockerille has continued to impress in his first season on the defensive side of the ball, totaling at least seven tackles in five of his last six games.
18.4 - The Terrapins' defensive special teams unit has been excellent this season, ranking second in the Big Ten in kickoff return defense (18.4 yards/KO) and fifth in punt return defense (5.0 yards/PR). Freshman punter Wade Lees has dropped 15 of his 43 punts (35%) inside the 20-yard line this season.
70 - Maryland's red zone defense continues to be a strong point, ranking fourth in the Big Ten Conference and eighth nationally. The Terrapins are holding opponents to points on just 70 percent (21-of-30) of their red zone chances.
250 - Maryland has allowed an opponent to pass for more than 250 yards just once in its eight games this season - a 260-yard game for UCF which went to double overtime. The pass defense has been much improved from last year's defense, which allowed five 300-yard passers in 12 games.
-TERPS-
