A couple of things to start. I'm writing this at 11:17 on a Friday night, but not posting this until about 3:30 on Saturday 9/25. Also, I'm an unapologetic University of Maryland fan. Why do these matter? Because at 3:30 on Saturday 9/25, the University of Maryland football team will be playing Kent State University in their 4th game of the season.
Now, if we're being honest, Kent State isn't exactly a world-beating type of team, but that's not why we're here. We're here to discuss how Maryland is starting to develop a reputation of putting top-level wide receivers in the NFL.
Let's start with this past Thursday. The Carolina Panthers are taking on the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. D.J. Moore, noted Maryland alum, went absolutely off in the game, pulling in 8 catches for 126 yards. No touchdowns in the game, which is disappointing yes, but I can't really make an argument against Sam Darnold doing what he did throughout the game running the touchdowns in himself. That aside, it is clear that Moore is becoming the focal point of the Panthers passing game, and it's not easy to slow him down no matter how hard you try.
Now let's jump up to Buffalo, where Stefon Diggs is the man, the myth and the legend for the Buffalo Bills. There's no doubt that he is their best wide receiver, and many are making a case that he is top 5 in the league. He's already been a part of history making plays such as the Minneapolis Miracle, and has many years ahead of him to add more to his highlight reel.
Finally, we'll wrap up in College Park, where the Terps look like they have two studs at Wide Receiver primed to take the leap to the pros as soon as they're eligible. Dontay Demus Jr. is the name that will catch most of the headlines. He has 338 yards through three games, averaging 16.9 yards per reception, and has caught a pair of touchdowns to boot. Demus is the kind of player we'd normally see on a bigger name program, but Mike Locksley somehow kept the DC native inside the beltway.
Right behind Demus is his running mate Rakim Jarrett. With 259 yards to date, Jarrett is averaging 16.2 yards per reception with a pair of TDs as well. Both players are in the same level of productivity, Demus just happens to have 4 more catches than Jarrett. These two are a dynamic duo that have boosted their offense, and helped bail them out of some sticky situations as well. When I watch them play, it's obvious to me they are NFL ready. So if Demus and Jarrett make the jump, and Locksley can bring in more talent like them, who's to say the Terps aren't the place to be if you're a Wide Receiver prospect?
I know I'd love to see it.
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