Story By: Richard Thomas
Photos By: Sol Tucker
College Park, MD–
The week has come for college football fans to get excited in College Park! The Terps have finally put together a plan that might just work this season in the Big Ten and have the Coach in Mike Locksley to make it happen for them.
One of the big missing components from previous seasons was who was going to start at quarterback or did they have one that was healthy enough to start week one?
Josh Jackson gives the Terps something that they haven’t had in quite a few years, veteran leadership and the ability to finally not have to start a freshman in a tough conference.
Jackson, who earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, transferred to Maryland in May. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound quarterback started all 13 games for the Hokies in 2017, throwing for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 324 yards and 6 touchdowns during his redshirt freshman season.
Jackson led all Power Five freshmen QBs in passing yards and completions (236), while ranking second in touchdown passes. An Ann Arbor, Michigan native, Jackson set Virginia Tech freshmen records for touchdown passes, passing yards and 200+ yard passing games (9). Jackson started the first three games of the 2018 season for the Hokies before suffering a season-ending injury.
“We had a lot of looks between Josh and Piggy and decided that this was going to be the best move starting the season,” said Locksley. “We will try a few different things during the season that involve Piggy, but we need to try and get the ball down field more often this season.”
The Terps open the season on Saturday at College Park against Howard at Noon. This will be the first time the Terps have started a transfer quarterback that has had an impressive record at his previous school.
