With a fresh schedule and a new starting quarterback, Maryland coach Mike Locksley is in the holiday spirit ahead of the team’s season opener on Saturday against UConn in College Park, Md.
“This is like Christmas for me,” Locksley said. “… We’ve gotta play the game to see who we are and start the chess match of making the moves and the adjustments we need to make to … continue to move forward.”
Maryland finished 8-5 last season and won a bowl game for the third straight year, a program record. The Terrapins turn to a new signal-caller to replace Taulia Tagovailoa, who set multiple program records during his four seasons at Maryland before entering this year’s NFL draft.
Billy Edwards, Cam Edge and NC State transfer MJ Morris have competed throughout camp for the starting role. Locksley said he has chosen a starter, but he did not reveal who during his press conference on Tuesday.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I can win with all three,” Locksley said.
Edwards is the most probable selection. The 6-foot-3, 222-pound redshirt junior has appeared in 15 games for the Terrapins, including three starts, one of which came in Maryland’s 31-13 win over Auburn in last year’s Music City Bowl.
The Huskies’ quarterback situation also was kept under wraps until head coach Jim Mora announced Tuesday that transfer Nick Evers will start on Saturday.
Evers will debut for UConn after serving as a backup during a pair of one-year stints at Oklahoma and Wisconsin. He has attempted just one collegiate pass.
Skyler Bell is among five fellow transfers that Evers could target. Bell played with Evers at Wisconsin last season.
“The kid is legit,” Bell said of Evers. “He’s fast … got a cannon of an arm. Makes the right decisions, and he’s got that swagger that you want in a quarterback.”
Evers also can lean on returning running backs Cam Edwards and Victor Rosa, who combined for 1,168 yards and seven scores on the ground last season.
Saturday’s opener offers a potential signature win for the Huskies, who went 3-9 as an independent last year and have not posted a winning season since 2010.
“I’m anxious to see us go out and compete,” Mora said. “… I want to see us play in the moment.”
