Maryland (0-0) vs. West Virginia (0-0)
September 4, 2021
Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium
3:30 pm EDT
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team is set to open its season against border-state rival West Virginia on Saturday, September 4 at 3:30 p.m. at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
GAME ONE STORYLINES
RUN IT BACK
- The Terps bring back seven All-Big Ten honorees from 2020. S Nick Cross, WR Dontay Demus Jr., OL Jaelyn Duncan, WR Rakim Jarrett, DL Mosiah Nasili-Kite, DB Tarheeb Still and QB Taulia Tagovailoa all return to the Terps as the foundation of the 2021 team.
- Maryland returns 85% of its total production from 2020 to the team in 2021, the 10th-highest returning production of any team in the country and the highest total returning production of any team in the Big Ten, according to ESPN. The Terps return 86% of its offensive production, the 14th-highest mark in the country and 85% of its defensive production, the 17th-highest mark in the country.
NON CONFERENCE OPENER SUCCESS
- The Terps have won nine-straight non-conference openers heading into the 2021 season, tied for the second-longest streak in the Big Ten, only trailing Michigan State who has won 11-straight.
- Maryland's streak dates back to 2010 when the Terps beat Navy 17-14 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore and includes two wins over another Big 12 opponent, Texas. The Terps defeated the Longhorns in back-to-back years, winning 51-41 in Austin in 2017 and then 34-29 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. in 2018, both with Texas ranked #23.
- Maryland has won six home games during this stretch, most recently beating Howard, 79-0, in Michael Locksley's first game as head coach in 2019.
FRESHMAN WELCOME
- Maryland welcomes the 18th ranked recruiting class in the nation to the fold in 2021, the fourth-highest ranked class in the Big Ten, which is headlined by the top-ranked inside linebacker and No. 10 overall high school player in the nation Terrence Lewis.
- The Terps have six ESPN300 selections in the 2021 class, where Lewis is joined by linebacker Demeioun Robinson, linebacker Branden Jennings, defensive lineman Tommy Akingbesote, defensive lineman Taizse Johnson and running back Antwain Littleton Jr. Coupled with the 2020 signing of five-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, this marks the first time Maryland has signed a five-star rated player in consecutive classes since rankings began in 2000.
- The Terrapins are one of only 11 programs nationally that have signed a five star prospect in both 2020 and 2021, according to 247Sports.
STRONG THROUGH THE AIR
- Maryland averaged 264 yards per game through the air last season, the 35th best mark in the country and the second best in the Big Ten and only allowed 200 passing yards per game, the 25th best mark in the country and the third best in the Big Ten.
- The Terps were one of only four teams in the FBS and the only team in the Big Ten with a top-35 pass offense and defense (BYU, Kent State, West Virginia).
- QB Taulia Tagovailoa had an impressive first year with the Terps, completing 75-of-122 passes for 1,011 yards while throwing seven touchdown passes. Tagovailoa led the Big Ten, averaging 13.48 yards per completion and stood second in the league in passing efficiency (138.5) and third in passing yards per game (252.8).
- Tagovailoa also entered his name in the Maryland record books, with his 2020 season ranking ninth all-time in completion percentage (61.5%) and passing efficiency. Against Minnesota (10/30), Tagovailoa threw for 394 yards, the 10th-highest single game mark in program history.
- CB Tarheeb Still led the nation in pass breakups per game in his freshman 2020 season, averaging two per game and 10 on the season, the highest per game mark in program history.
- Still was selected to The Athletic's Freshman All-America Team, one of five defensive backs named to the team.
- The sophomore tallied four pass breakups in Maryland's finale against Rutgers, the most by a Maryland freshman in 31 years and tying for the most in a single game by any Big Ten player last season.
MOSIAH "SACK"-KITE
- All-Big Ten performer Mosiah Nasili-Kite led the Big Ten and ranked 23rd nationally in 2020 with 0.80 sacks per game, recording four in Maryland's five games last season.
- In just five games, Maryland had more sacks than it did in nine Big Ten games the year prior, tallying 14 in 2020, the second-best per game mark in the Big Ten, averaging 2.60 per game.
- Seven different Terps had at least a half sack, with four players posting two or more.
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