GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: The strength vs. strength match-up this week is Maryland’s rushing attack against the Michigan State run defense. Coming off a 431-yard game against Illinois, the Terrapin ground attack is again firing on all cylinders despite the depleted running corps. The Terrapins are 5-1 this season when rushing for over 140 yards, but Michigan State is tops in the conference, allowing just 77.4 yards per game on the ground.
Sophomore Javon Leake had his coming out party last week, stepping in for injured Ty Johnson and rushing for 140 yards on five carries and becoming the first Terp since 2010 to score four touchdowns in a game. He was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. The Maryland ground game is even better if QB Kasim Hill can build on last week’s effort when Hill hit 11 of 19 passes for career bests of 265 yards and three touchdowns.
MLB Joe Bachie’s 7.6 tackles per game anchors the Spartan defense. DE Kenny Willekes is fifth in the Big Ten with 11 tackles for loss (1.38 per game). Senior “star” linebacker Andrew Dowell and corner Justin Layne are also standouts and big-tackle-number guys.
DRAFT SLANT
–DB Antoine Brooks Jr. has been a big part of Maryland’s defensive renaissance this season. The junior hybrid DB/LB had seven tackles (five unassisted) against Illinois, including two tackles for loss. He has the fourth most tackles for loss this season in the Big Ten (8) and leads the team. At 5-11, 210, Brooks is an NFL “tweener” (not big enough to play LB and possibly not truly a DB either) unless deemed fast enough to play strong safety, which he might be able to do.
He is a proven run-stopper and already has an interception this year, too. He is third for the Terrapins in total tackles behind their two erstwhile linebackers and also has three pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and a hurry. He is one of those guys always around the ball, and could be a special teams standout on the next level.
ROSTER REPORT
–RB Ty Johnson left the Illinois game with a calf strain, but not before he had a crunching block on Javon Leake’s 97-yard kickoff return. He will be a “game time decision,” though he told the coaches on Tuesday that he would be ready.
–OT Marcus Minor, who started three of the first four games this season (and plays both left and right tackle), has missed the last four games. He was slated a top reserve in preseason but injuries to Derwin Gray and then Damian Prince had forced him to start.
–WR Chigoziem Okonkwo, a true freshman who began the season as a tight end, got his first start Saturday and had two touchdowns against Illinois — one on a reception and one on a 54-yard reverse. If technically, Okonkwo is still counted a tight end in certain formations, his 25-yard TD reception was the first touchdown for a Maryland tight end since Derrick Hayward had one in September of 2016.
–WR Taivon Jacobs had three catches for 54 yards, going over 1,000 receiving yards for his career. The senior now has 1,042 yards.
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