The duo had performed collectively at Maryland for 2 seasons, but in 2020, Jarrett was solely a freshman and the pandemic shortened the season to simply 5 video games. The following 12 months, Demus tore his ACL 5 video games into the season, so Jarrett carried the load from then on. This 12 months, with third-year beginning quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the 2 had been purported to be wholesome and shine, utilizing every sport as a showcase of their NFL potential.
The overarching prediction that Maryland’s passing sport would excel this season has held true, apart from the wet sport final week at Wisconsin. Even with that dreary efficiency — 77 passing yards throughout the loss in Madison — the Terps have the fourth-best passing offense (260.1 yards per sport) within the Big Ten. But manufacturing sensible, Jarrett and Demus have been much less concerned than anticipated.
Jarrett is tied with tight finish Corey Dyches to steer the workforce with 376 receiving yards by way of 9 video games. Demus, who began the season lower than a 12 months faraway from his main knee damage, has amassed simply 153 receiving yards.
Coach Michael Locksley isn’t involved. He stated the 2 have been “doing very well,” whereas acknowledging that they “statistically, may not be where they’re getting every target.” That’s as a result of the facility of Maryland’s passing sport has not hinged solely on two stars but has as a substitute relied on depth and flexibility.
“We have a lot of talented players on our offense,” Locksley stated. “And I think the diversity that we’ve created with our tight ends, our backs [and] our receivers typically makes it a tough deal to defend, because you don’t know where the ball’s going.”
The Terps have eight gamers with not less than 100 receiving yards, together with two tight ends and a working again. Maryland’s prime receiver won’t be as productive this season because the chief was in most up-to-date years, but gamers additional down the listing have compensated by contributing extra.
Locksley calls his offense a “personnel-driven system” that capitalizes on particular person talent units and exploits matchups. Five gamers have led the workforce in receiving yards in not less than one sport this season — Jarrett, Dyches, Florida switch Jacob Copeland, redshirt senior Jeshaun Jones and tight finish CJ Dippre.
Against No. 14 Penn State this weekend, these gamers can be examined by an elite group of defensive backs. Jarrett had the very best sport of his Maryland profession at Penn State as a freshman. He has but to prime his 144 receiving yards from that day in a largely empty stadium due to pandemic protocols. That’s the one time the Terps have crushed Penn State, Ohio State or Michigan since 2015. They’ve misplaced the opposite 19 conferences by a median of 34 factors. For one other breakthrough, Maryland may want extra heroics from one in all its greatest gamers.
Jarrett stated earlier within the season that, aside from main the workforce to wins, his objective was to “just improve in every statistical category.” To achieve this, he would want to surge by way of the ultimate three common season matchups and within the bowl sport.
Jarrett is on tempo to complete with 543 receiving yards, which might be significantly decrease than his 829 yards final season and decrease than most different prime Maryland receivers up to now decade. He has three touchdowns up to now, nonetheless chasing the 5 scores he had in 2021.
Jarrett has contributed in different methods — Locksley has highlighted the junior’s efforts on particular groups — but occasional drops have damage. Injuries have additionally hampered his manufacturing: The workforce’s medical employees dominated him out throughout the Michigan sport after he hit his head on the turf. Against Wisconsin, he left with a lower-leg damage. There was no structural injury, Locksley stated, including that Jarrett’s availability at Penn State can be a game-time choice and the receiver desires to play.
Demus’s knee damage has held him again. Locksley stated earlier this season the employees has “brought him along somewhat on a pitch count.” Demus has simply 14 receptions for 153 yards, and his lone landing got here at Indiana final month. Even a model of Demus at “85 percent,” Locksley stated, is healthier than many different gamers at full power. Locksley known as Demus the “heartbeat of the team,” so his worth extends off the sector. There’s nonetheless a while for him to get more healthy with the hope that can translate to in-game manufacturing.
“It’s not really all about me,” Demus stated final month when requested about his gradual begin. “I feel like I’m going to get to that point, and really, the individual accolades will come, if I play within the scheme, play within the game. I know I’m a big playmaker on this team.”
Tagovailoa missed one sport with a knee damage, which may have additionally hindered his efficiency in different outings. But the passing sport has, for essentially the most half, hummed alongside, even with out Demus and Jarrett surging towards the highest of the convention chief board.
The tight finish group, following Chigoziem Okonkwo’s departure for the NFL, entered the season with uncertainty, but Dyches and Dippre have quelled issues. Dyches’s huge receiver-like qualities make him a matchup problem for defenses and have allowed him to rack up receiving yards. Starting working again Roman Hemby has additionally been concerned within the passing sport, accumulating 239 yards. The tight ends and working backs have mixed for 109 receiving yards per sport, the very best mark for these place teams within the final decade.
With these gamers, together with receivers additional down the depth chart, closely concerned, the passing sport has survived — simply not in a means that has matched the preseason expectations for the 2 stars.