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Edwards recently recalled that current starter Taglia Tagovailoa noticed this, and the program’s most storied player didn’t allow the newcomer to dwell further, instead offering a comforting hug and words of encouragement. This year, they’ve been roommates for every road game, sparking an even closer bond.
A heartfelt conversation between the close friends struck a similar tone last week, when Tagovailoa revealed he would opt out of the Music City Bowl to begin preparations for the NFL draft on Saturday afternoon at 2 The Point Terrapins gave Edwards the starting job against Auburn. Held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Maryland (7-5) will be in the bowl game for the third straight year — its first since 2006-2008 — after winning two of its final three regular-season games on a three-game winning streak. back. A win over the Tigers (6-6) would result in three consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.
“I’ve given him a lot of credit since I came in,” Edwards said of Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s career passing yardage leader. “He kind of took me under his wing. I remember my first year here, I was having a rough day and he put his arm around me. He said, ‘You’re good, man. Days like this happen. … It turned into something that none of us expected, but it’s something that I’m very grateful for and it’s going to last longer than his or my time here.”
With Tagovailoa’s record-setting career at Maryland coming to an end, Edwards is once again trying to leave a lasting impression on coach Michael Locksley and the offensive staff as they search for a replacement for the four-year starter. became the basis for reconstruction.
Edwards initially did so in October 2022, when he replaced Tagovailoa, who was taken off the game with a leg injury early in the fourth quarter against Indiana. The current redshirt sophomore from Springfield orchestrated a comeback with a three-yard touchdown run to help his team win 38-33 on the road.
The next week, Edwards made his first career start in a 31-24 victory over Northwestern at SECU Stadium. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown without an interception and ran 16 times for 66 yards to help the Terrapins improve their record to 6-2 and ensure bowl eligibility. .
“They’re different quarterbacks,” said wide receiver Jeshaun Jones, who leads Maryland in catches (53) and receiving yards (747). “Billy is a strong guy, very smart, and he’s a great leader as well. I think he has a lot of the similarities of great leaders with Tagovailoa, and I think that’s going to happen with Billy. “
Edwards played in seven games this year, all as a backup, but finished with a team-high six rushing touchdowns, including three attempts of one yard each against then-No. On November 18, Michigan lost to Michigan 31-24 at College Park. He became the first Terrapins quarterback since 2014 to score three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Edwards, who is 6-foot-3 and 4 inches taller than Tagovailoa, has embraced the goal-line quarterback role this year despite amassing more than 5,000 passing yards as a Lake Braddock High School standout. 59 passing yards and touchdowns.
“You do what your quarterback lets you do,” Locksley said. “We kind of know who Billy is. I think sometimes because of how we use Billy, maybe (media members) think, ‘Oh, Billy’s just a runner,’ but Billy throws the ball really, really well. He’s Is a traditional pocket quarterback, but he also has some sneaky athleticism that I think will catch people off guard.”
But Locksley said just because Edwards has a chance to start in Maryland’s first bowl game against an SEC opponent since 2002 doesn’t mean he’ll do the same thing when the Terrapins open the 2024 season. Open competition.
Other players include redshirt freshman Cameron Edge, a four-star high school prospect according to ESPN and 247 Sports, and transfer MJ Morris from North Carolina State, whose There are three years of eligibility left.
In two years with the Wolfpack, Morris played in nine games, including seven starts, and passed for 1,367 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He joins the Terrapins a month after Locksley announced the hiring of former North Carolina director of player personnel Merci Falaise to the same position at Maryland.
“Everyone has to make their own money,” Locksley said. “I talk about this a lot, so yes, no one is committed to a starting spot. It’s going to be a competitive position. The competition could go into the summer. … Whoever is the best at handling the football, pushing the ball and scoring goals Lead us to a win in our first game next year.”
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