Top 5 Storylines For Maryland Football In 2015 Season

By Ben Linton

Top 5 Storylines For Maryland Football In 2015 Season

Maryland Terrapins — As the college football season begins, the Maryland Terrapins prepare for a second season in the Big Ten. The Terps went 4-4 in the conference and made a bowl game in year one, but Randy Edsall's team faces a tougher challenge this season. Maryland will rely on younger players to replace departed stars and on a new starting quarterback to compete in the conference. Here are the top five storylines heading into the Terrapins' 2015 season.

5. New Changes on Defense

NCAA Football: Maryland

5. New Changes on Defense

NCAA Football: Maryland — After failing miserably at stopping the run last season (202 YPG), Maryland switched from a 3-4 defensive alignment to 4-3 in the offseason. The Terrapins promoted ILB coach Keith Dudzinski to defensive coordinator, a position he held at UMass from 2004-10. Maryland returns a strong secondary with corners Will Likely and Sean Davis, as well as the talented pass rusher OLB Yannick Ngakoue. The defensive line is a question mark, however.

4. Establishing A Running Identity On Offense

NCAA Football: Maryland

4. Establishing A Running Identity On Offense

NCAA Football: Florida International at Maryland — The Terrapins learned the hard way at some times last year that in order to survive in the Big Ten, one must be able to run the football. Maryland's top rusher last season was quarterback C.J. Brown, and only one running back posted a 100-yard rushing game in 2014. Senior Brandon Ross (419 YDs, 4 TDs in 2014) and junior Wes Brown (356 YDs, 6 TDs) will be key cogs in the Terps' offense next season as they try to establish a solid ground attack.

3. Tough Games On The Schedule

Ohio State v Maryland

3. Tough Games On The Schedule

Ohio State v Maryland — Maryland's 2015 schedule sets up favorably in the beginning, but it certainly has some challenging contests. The Terps start with three winnable home games before heading into a hostile environment in Morgantown against West Virginia. Maryland also travels to Ohio State and Michigan State and hosts Wisconsin for obvious losses. The Oct. 24 game against Penn State in Baltimore may decide whether or not the Terps qualify for a bowl game.

2. Finding the Emerging Playmakers

Maryland

2. Finding the Emerging Playmakers

Maryland — With Stefon Diggs and Deon Long going to the NFL, the Terrapins need to find new weapons at receiver. Maryland will rely on the likes of juniors Levern Jacobs, Amba Etta-Tawo and Malcolm Culmer as well as sophomore Taivon Jacobs to replace the production left by departing star players. Playmakers must emerge from this group as reliable weapons on offense, and the Jacobs brothers have the potential to get it done.

1. A New Starting Quarterback

NCAA Football: Maryland at Temple

1. A New Starting Quarterback

NCAA Football: Maryland at Temple — After a long career at Maryland, C.J. Brown is gone and a new quarterback takes over at the position. Junior Perry Hills gets the first chance to step into the role after winning the quarterback competition in the offseason. He previously started seven games as a freshman in 2012, finishing with 1,336 passing yards, eight TDs and seven INTs before suffering an injury. There's a good chance we'll see more than one quarterback play this season.

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Maryland Terrapins

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