Ohio State football: 5 reasons the Buckeyes will destroy Maryland
By Alec Hartman
5. Maryland’s athletes give them a leg up over the Buckeyes’ recent competitors but experience is where they’ll fall short.
There has been some movement in power around the Big Ten. The rise of Michigan was imminent with the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh but what about the others? Penn State has taken a sizable leap from where they were just a few seasons ago and Michigan State has seen its program take a fall.
In this case, Maryland has began to see some improvement. The improvement has came in the form of a boosted recruiting class led by head coach D.J. Durkin. In just his second season with Maryland, Durkin is building up the program around young talent that is certain to make an impact in the future. Durkin has improved the Terrapins’ recruiting class from 41st in 2016 to 18th up to this season.
In fact, one of their star recruits flipped to Ohio State not too long ago. Four star quarterback Dwayne Haskins flipped his commitment from Maryland to play for Urban Meyer in the Bucks shortly before the 2016 season. The Terrapins sure do need his help right now with their current quarterback situation.
The Terrapins are already showing glimmers of potential in this season but it likely won’t be until next season when we’ll see the real fruits of their labor. Going on the road and beating the Longhorns in Texas in game one raised some eyebrows. For now, the Bucks still far outweigh the Terrapins in recruiting and experienced players on the field.
J.T. Barrett and Mike Weber‘s group have been to the playoffs and back. The offense is filled with what is now refined skill players to round out an efficient offensive scheme. Former 2016 four star recruits Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack are making a major impact in the effectiveness of the Buckeyes’ passing game. That’s not to mention the role of the Bucks’ most recent top recruit to make an immediate impact in four star running back J.K. Dobbins. True freshman J.K. Dobbins is two yards away from leading the Big Ten in rushing yards through five games.
Coach D.J. Durkin has the Terrapins moving in the right direction but it simply will not be enough to overcome the annual power that is the Buckeyes. The Terrapins have had a productive season so far and the Bucks won’t have a problem cheering them on as well after Saturday. After all, every win that the Terrapins gain from here on out will benefit the Buckeyes’ resume especially if the Bucks prevail this weekend. Expect the Bucks to once again prove their dominance on Saturday.