Offensive Players to Watch
Junior running back Ty Johnson: Johnson has a knack for breaking big runs. He averaged 9.1 yards per carry during his 1,000-yard campaign a year ago, and is averaging 6.6 yards per carry this season with a larger workload. He’s carried the ball 107 times for 703 yards and five touchdowns and is a threat to take it to the house on every single play. Michigan’s defense will need to gang tackle him.
Senior wide receiver D.J. Moore: One of the best wide receivers in both the conference and country, Moore can beat you in a lot of ways. He’s caught 59 passes for 820 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Those numbers are good for No. 14, No. 18 and No. 11 nationally, respectively. He’s just as good on a crossing route as he is on a deep ball. It’ll be a good matchup for Michigan sophomore cornerback Lavert Hill. At 5-foot-11, Moore is not the biggest receiver, but he’s shown he has good hands and the ability to make people miss.
Senior wide receiver Taivon Jacobs: We don’t know which quarterback will start on Saturday for Maryland. Sophomore Max Bortenschlager is battling an injury and is considered day-to-day, if he can’t go, redshirt sophomore Ryan Brand is expected to start after filling in against Rutgers. Regardless of which guy starts, they will have two dynamic receivers to throw to, as Jacobs has shown he is a more than reliable target. He has 32 receptions for 390 yards and four scores this season. If Moore is taken out of the game by Hill, watch out for Jacobs.
Defensive Players to Watch:
Sophomore hybrid Antione Brooks Jr.: Maryland has a hybrid linebacker/safety just like Michigan does. The Wolverines call it a viper, and that’s what Brooks is for the Terps. He’s the Swiss Amry Knife of the defense and flies to the ball. Second of the team in tackles (57), he leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5), has two interceptions, two passes defended and a forced fumble. Maryland will line him up all over the field and send him on blitzes or drop him in coverage — much like Michigan sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson.
Junior safety Darnell Savage Jr.: Maryland’s safeties are the strength of the team. Savage and fellow safety, senior Josh Woods, have been lighting up opponents this season. Other than having a cool name, Savage has 47 tackles, and leads the team with three interceptions, five pass breakups and eight passes defended. Woods and Savage are third and fourth on the team in tackles largely due to the front seven’s inability to stop opposing rushers. The safeties are being forced to come up to make tackles.
Senior linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr.: The team’s leading tackler (59), Carter is the anchor of the linebackers and the defense as a whole. He has the most sacks on the team (3.5) and has six tackles for loss. He makes plays against both the pass and run, with three forced fumbles, three pass breakups and three passes defended.
Special Teams Player to Watch:
Junior running back Ty Johnson: Surprise! The first time we’ve had a repeat player on “Players To Watch” this season. Johnson, in addition to his playmaking ability out of the backfield, he’s a menace returning kicks. He’s returned 20 kickoffs this season for 531 yards (26.5 average) and a touchdown. The touchdown was a 100-yard return against Ohio State.
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