Baltimore native Chambers shines in Maryland’s spring game

COLLEGE PARK — A year ago, it was a former Floridian receiver — Jacob Copeland — who stood out in Maryland’s final spring practice of 2022.

In 2023, it was more of the same from the Sunshine State.

Former Florida International standout and Baltimore native Tyrese Chambers caught both Red team touchdowns and earned player-of-the-game honors as Maryland’s first-string offense hung on to beat the White team and the Terrapins’ first-team defense, 20-19, on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s been my dream school since I was a child, and man, it’s coming to fruition,” Chambers said of Maryland. “It’s a great opportunity to be out here.”

The graduate transfer, who holds FIU’s single-season records for receiving yards and touchdowns, starred as Maryland’s spring practice season wrapped up and will be counted on come September to help fill the voids left by Copeland, Dontay Demus and Rakim Jarrett, who all await potential NFL opportunities in this weekend’s draft.

“This a receiver-friendly offense, and for the past couple of years, this offense has been running through receivers,” Chambers said. “So it’s a great opportunity to showcase your talent.”

Red team quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa finished 16-of-24 for 210 yards and a touchdown. He exited at halftime for reserve Cameron Edge, who threw for 80 yards on 10-of-17 passing and the second score to Chambers.

Much like Copeland last year, Chambers extolled the thrill of playing with a quarterback of Tagovailoa’s caliber.

“That’s my guy, man. It feels good man playing with a quarterback like that,” Chambers said. “I feel like his best attribute may be extending plays. I’ve never played with a quarterback that extends plays as much as he do.”

Maryland coach Mike Locksley said he “was a little worried about offense there in the first quarter, with three-and-outs and punting so much” on a day when both offenses were slow to start. Ultimately, Locksley was happy with the effort from both sides and throughout the spring, noting he was disappointed in the effort in only one out of the 15 practices of the session.

“This was a very limited game plan. We weren’t out trying to out-scheme guys today. It was just a matter, like I’ve said before, about running, blocking, tackling, throwing the football and the fundamentals of the game more than anything. I was really pleased with today’s effort.”

Here are the top takeaways from a cloudy afternoon in College Park:

Taulia trends to the familiar

The fourth-year Terrapins signal-caller took about a quarter and a half to look comfortable, as did the rest of Maryland’s first-team offense. When he did, it was with the help of his most veteran receivers. 

Ashburn, Virginia, native Tai Felton was the biggest benefactor, catching four passes for 66 yards, including Tagovailoa’s longest of the day, a 33-yarder in the second quarter. 

“All these guys can take the top off and do a lot of things in there with being a receiver,” Tagovailoa said. “So I think it’s not really becoming the next, you know, Demus or [Jarrett]. I think it’s just everyone just gelling together, do what fits us best and rock with it. I think that’s what we’re still trying to figure out.”

The quarterback also found veteran tight end Corey Dyches four times in the first half totaling 25 yards. Dyches, who had a game-high six catches, is expected to provide even more support at the position after CJ Dippre (Alabama) and Weston Wolff (USF) both transferred out of the program after last season. Freshman tight end Rico Walker also snagged a couple of balls, staking his case to be the No. 2 at the position when fall camp opens.

Tagovailoa looked at ease moving in and out of the pocket after a mid-season knee injury last season hampered the Terrapins’ star, forcing him into a knee brace that he admittedly didn’t like wearing for the final few months of 2022.

“Physically, I feel great. I’m coming out of spring healthy,” Tagovailoa said. “I think this spring has been good for me, and I can’t wait to get to offseason workouts and continue to work with this team.”

Defense wins battle in the trenches

On most of Red’s possessions, it seemed someone from White had burst through into the backfield. Third-year lineman Tommy Akingbesote got a lot of those pushes, creating pressure all day and earning lineman-of-the-game honors as voted by reporters.

“We’ve challenged him all spring to really step up,” Locksley said. “He’s going into year three in this program, and it’s now time for him to become one of the leaders there, and I’ve been happy with the way he’s progressed.

After returning all five starters a year ago, the Terrapins’ offensive line will need some work going into the fall. Three starters were lost to either graduation or the NFL Draft, and two more reserves who saw starting action in Mason Lunsford (LSU) and Coltin Deery left via the transfer portal.

DJ Glaze and Aric Harris return, while seniors Amelio Moran, Gottlieb Ayedze and Corey Bullock saw the most significant action with the first-teamers. Locksley indicated that he may look to bolster the position via the transfer portal before that window closes.

Ground game quiet before late burst

Maryland’s top three running backs from a year ago — led by Roman Hemby, along with Colby McDonald and Antwain Littleton — didn’t make much noise in the first half, combining for 8 rushes and 36 yards.

In the second, however, Littleton came to life, rolling for 79 second-half yards, 60 of those coming on White’s final drive late in the fourth quarter.

“We lost a lot of key players, but during the spring, we’ve found the time to really sit down and figure out who our key guys are going to be,” Littleton said. “And I feel like this spring ,we’ve done a great job of figuring out our key players, and today showed that.”

With a now less-experienced line, the quartet of running backs, including Ramon Brown, who did not play due to injury, will be counted on to help some in bringing along the blockers in front of them.

“They’re no longer the young guys anymore,” Locksley said. “They’re veteran guys that are have to start taking some leadership roles within our team.”