Indiana Football vs Maryland: Key players, notes and opening spread

Indiana football travels to Maryland to face the Terps at SECU Stadium this Saturday. It will be Indiana’s first true road game of 2023.

Maryland comes into this one with a record of 4-0 with wins against Towson, Charlotte, Virginia and Michigan State.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm ET on Saturday and the game will be on the Big Ten Network.

Here is a look at some of the key players, notes and the opening spread.

Key players

QB Taulia Tagovailoa: The redshirt senior is the younger brother of Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa transferred to Maryland after one year at Alabama. Tagovailoa has thrown 59 touchdowns in his 4 seasons with the Terrapins. The 5-foot-11 208-pound gunslinger has the ability to extend plays with his feet, but his arm talent is average, which sometimes causes deep balls to float. In four games in 2023, Tagovailoa has 1112 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions and has added 2 touchdowns with his feet. In 3 games against Indiana, Tagovailoa has a record of 2-1 and has recorded 930 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a rushing touchdown.

RB Roman Hemby: The redshirt sophomore is coming off of an impressive 2022 season, posting 1287 total yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. The 6-foot-2 202-pound running back is an above average receiving back, catching 43 passes in his last 17 games for Maryland. He has good speed for his size and is a good blocker in pass protection. Through four games, Hemby is off to a good start posting 353 total yards and 4 touchdowns on the season.

WR Kaden Prather:The junior is in his first year with the Terrapins after spending the last two with West Virginia. The former four-star recruit caught 64 passes for 676 yards and 3 touchdowns in his three years with the Mountaineers. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound wide receiver is very good at making contested catches and has reliable hands. He moves well despite his big frame and is a smooth route runner for his size. Prather has 14 catches for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns through 4 games in 2023 and is the Terps’ leading receiver thus far.

WR Jeshaun Jones:The redshirt senior is in his 5th year with the Terps after committing as a 3-star recruit in 2018. Jones had 7 touchdowns in his freshman season, and is yet to match that mark since. The 6-foot-1 188-pound wide receiver had 44 catches for 573 total yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022. He is off to a good start in 2023, recording 13 catches for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns in the team’s first four games.

TE Corey Dyches: The redshirt junior made the transition from wide receiver to tight end after his freshman season with Maryland and has increased his production every year of his career. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound tight end was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2022 after catching 39 passes for 494 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dyches has become one of Tagovailoa’s favorite targets in 2023, leading the team in receptions. Through four games, Dyches has 17 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown for the Terps.

DB Beau Brade:The senior safety has spent his entire career with the Terps after committing as a 3-star in 2019. Brade played in every game in 2022, recording 85 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 pass breakups on the season. The 6-foot-1 200-pound defensive back is a playmaker on the back end, forcing five turnovers over the past two seasons. He currently leads Maryland in tackles with 23 in 4 games and has one interception on the season.

DB Tarheeb Still: The senior cornerback is in his fourth year with Maryland after playing every game the previous two years. He has been a constant on the Maryland defense, totaling 136 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions and 19 pass breakups in his four years. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound cornerback is another playmaker on the back end with 3 interceptions in the team’s first 4 games of 2023. He also had 15 tackles and one tackle for loss, in addition to the 3 interceptions. 

LB: Jaishawn Barham: The sophomore linebacker is in his second year with the Terrapins after committing as a highly recruited 4-star in 2021. Barham played in 12 games his first year, recording 58 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in an impressive freshman campaign where he was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound pass rusher is off to a good start in 2023. He has recorded 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks on the season.

Other Notable Players: 

Colby McDonald, RB Jr.

Caleb Wheatland, LB So.

Mike Purcell, C Grad.

Dante Trader Jr., S Jr.

Ruben Hyppolite II, LB Sr.

Key Notes

• Indiana football is 7-4 against Indiana all time
• Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, Indiana is 5-4 against them
• Maryland has won the last two meetings
• The last matchup between the schools took place on 10/15/2022 when Maryland won 38-33 on the road
• Maryland has won a bowl game in each of the past two years (Pinstripe Bowl in 2021 and Duke’s Mayo Bowl in 2022)
• Maryland has improved its record each year under head coach Mike Locksley
• Locksley was the OC for Alabama in 2018 where he coached QB Tua Tagovailoa, the brother of Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa

Spread

• Indiana football opened as 14-pt underdogs and an the O/U opened at 52.5.

SEE ALSO: Tayven Jackson has Indiana football offense ‘locked in on the details’ as Big Ten play resumes

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