While retaining their top two rushers, the Terps lost running back depth.
Our Maryland football position previews continue with a look into the Terps’ running back room. We’ve already examined Maryland’s offensive line, secondary, linebackers, defensive line and special teams unit.
The Terps faced a major dip in its rushing production last season, falling from 141 rushing yards per game in 2022 to 108 rushing yards per game in 2023, which ranked bottom-three in the Big Ten.
Maryland’s top two rushers — Roman Hemby and Colby McDonald — are returning, but Antwain Littleton II, who has been a staple in the Terps rushing attack over the last two years, transferred to Temple in the offseason.
With Littleton gone, concern and opportunity arise.
Hemby and McDonald are in line for the majority of the work
Maryland has largely used a committee of running backs over the last two seasons, with Hemby, now a redshirt junior, receiving the majority of the workload. But with Littleton and former four-star running back Ramon Brown out of the picture, the Terps could lean more on a two-back approach.
Over the last two seasons, Hemby has taken 55.1% of the running back carriers, rushing for 1,669 yards on 5.1 yards per carry and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 71 passes for 647 yards and four touchdowns.
Hemby has been Maryland’s undisputed lead back since 2022, and there is no doubt he’ll resume his role this fall, but Littleton, listed at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, offered physicality and size, while McDonald served as a change-of-pace option. Last season, Littleton rushed for 255 yards on 3.1 yards per carry and McDonald totaled 306 yards on 5.8 yards per carry.
McDonald’s efficiency and explosiveness last season certainly earned him more touches this year, but he doesn’t have the physical profile of Littleton and most likely won’t be able to completely absorb the short-yardage role.
Thus, an opportunity is presented to the rest of the room.
Redshirt sophomore Eli Mason and redshirt freshman Nolan Ray are they only other running backs with in-game experience. Last season, they each received three carries, with Mason rushing for 10 yards and Ray rushing for seven yards. Mason, listed at 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, was unranked coming out of high school, while Ray, listed at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, was a three-star recruit.
“Nolan Ray is a young guy that really came on this spring and probably made one of the biggest jumps and biggest impacts on our team that people are really excited about,” offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said.
Given their size and experience, Mason and Ray are most likely to replace Littleton, but Maryland has a few incoming freshman who could carve out a new role.
DeJuan Williams, listed at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, leads the freshman running back class as a four-star recruit from Baltimore, Md. However, Williams tore his ACL last spring and missed the entire 2023 high school season, making his involvement early less likely.
Josiah McLaurin, a three-star recruit, is Maryland’s other ranked freshman. He’s listed at just 188 pounds, so his potential opportunities are more clouded.
Another completely new offensive line
Maryland’s rushing attack was a major strength of its offense in 2022, but after losing four starters on the offensive line in 2023, the running backs’ production took a major hit.
Unfortunately for the Terps, they are in the same exact situation this season, perhaps worst.
Last year, Maryland at least returned standout tackle Delmar Glaze, who was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. This year, the Terps return no one.
For as much speculation and optimism one can have about the running back room, last season proved that little of it matters without a solidified line up front.
“We feel like we have the pieces left in that position (offensive line) to … really take the next step for us,” Gattis said. “That’s going to be a huge emphasis as we create this new identity for us offensively. We want to be able to run the ball.”