Tai Felton and Kaden Prather can be an elite receiver duo, and they’ll need to elevate their quarterback.
We continue our deep dive into Maryland football’s roster with a preview of its wide receivers. Check out our previous previews on the Terps’ special teams, defensive line, secondary, linebacker core, offensive line and tight ends.
For years, the Terps’ pass-happy offense had a quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa that elevated his weapons.
But without the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer under center, the offense takes on an entirely new dynamic. Whoever replaces Tagovailoa in 2024 will be inexperienced. Now, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will instead need his receivers to elevate the man throwing them passes.
Fortunately for the Terps, the group appears more than capable of doing so.
They’re without their longtime stalwart in Jeshaun Jones, but with seniors Kaden Prather and Tai Felton leading the pack — along with multiple other returning contributors — the unit totes a strong base of experience to improve on in 2024.
A senior duo with varying skillsets
Prather and Felton are a thunder-and-lightning duo, bringing unique, but complementary, skill sets to the offense. They’re also one of the more-talented receiver duos in the country.
“Tai and KP are going to continue to take the next step,” Gattis said. “Those two guys are big-time players … I think KP and Tai are still under-respected in this league and the country.”
Prather is a prototypical X receiver. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he possesses the strength to bully defensive backs at the catch point. Paired with his large catch radius, he’s got the skillset to be highly quarterback-friendly.
His eight contested catches in 2023 were far and away the most on the team, according to PFF (Pro Football Focus). Prather will need to work on consistency — his five drops led the team last year — but he can be a true No. 1 receiver in Gattis’ offense.
If Prather is the unit’s thunder, Felton is its lightning — both figuratively and literally. He doesn’t have Prather’s size and strength, but the 6-foot-2, 186-pound receiver is fast, twitchy and explosive after the catch. Felton’s 18 forced missed tackles was 11 more than any other receiver on the team last season, according to PFF.
Felton showcased his potential in two 2023 performances. First, he torched Indiana’s secondary to the tune of 119 yards and three touchdowns. Then, in Maryland’s regular season finale against Rutgers, Felton set a career-high with 140 receiving yards — half of which came after the catch — and a score.
However, Felton struggled with errors at times last year. His three fumbles were tied for the team lead, and two came when the Terps were in one-score games. If he’s going to help lead the offense, errors like that can’t happen.
Who will be the No. 3 receiver?
Two names stand above the rest in the No. 3 receiver battle: Octavian Smith Jr. and Shaleak Knotts.
Smith is the more familiar option, with 21 receptions last year compared to Knotts’ seven. Smith played primarily in the slot, which could lead to more playing time since Jones took most of the team’s slot snaps last season.
Ultimately, his performance in camp will determine how much of a role Smith plays in 2024. It’s been an up-and-down camp for Smith, according to head coach Mike Locksley, but he’s picked it up as the season draws nearer.
“We need to see him take that next step,” Locksley said. “I expect that he will.”
But Knotts, who teammates call “Punch,” could easily leapfrog Smith on the depth chart. Locksley called the 6-foot-2, 191-pound receiver “one of the more talented guys” on the offense, and Knotts won the team’s Most Improved Player Award following spring camp.
“People are going to learn the name Shaleak Knotts,” Gattis said. “Punch has had a tremendous spring for us. [He’s a] tremendous player in our program. Just really excited about him.”
Even if he’s behind Smith on the depth chart, expect Knotts to blow past his 2023 numbers this season.
The rest of the group
Redshirt junior Robert Smith, redshirt freshman Ryan Manning and sophomore Braeden Wisloski were the other receivers to catch passes in 2023. Wisloski was also the team’s primary kick returner, where he averaged 23.8 yards per return and notched a 98-yard touchdown return against Virginia.
Those three are likely contenders to step into down-the-roster roles like the ones Smith and Knotts played last season.
Redshirt freshman Ezekiel Avit also appeared in four games last season, but was not targeted.
Redshirt junior Khalid Jones and six other redshirt freshmen round out the returners. None of them saw the field in 2023.
Maryland’s three true freshmen receivers are former three-star Mekhai White, former three-star Jahmari Powell-Wonson and walk-on Emerson Smith.