Amory Hills has gone from rotational piece to a fixture at left guard, and Maryland’s offensive line has settled around him.
The sophomore has started the last eight games at guard after winning the job in Week 2 against Hampton, and the Terps have kept him there ever since. That stability has mattered for a unit that has allowed 10 sacks this season, the second-fewest among Big Ten teams.
Hills came to College Park with plenty of flexibility. The former Milford Mill (Md.) standout and team captain had played all three offensive line spots, including center as a senior.
He arrived in June 2025 and spent that summer working at guard, then appeared in all 12 games while rotating along the line. By 2026, the work had started to show.
“I feel like it took a lot of hard work with my coaches. They always pushed me, were very hard on me to become better to get to that role,” Hills told IBG. “Understanding how to watch film and learn it properly helped me make the biggest jump because now I know what to expect on the field more than my freshman year.”
That film work has not been a solo project. Hills said the offensive line studies together, using the meetings to keep everyone on the same page.
“We like to watch film together so we help each other out, give each other cues, tell us what to what to watch out for because we all move as one unit,” Hills added. “I feel like we’re more of a unit and I say that because we move more as one now. I feel like we were always going towards the right path, but now it’s just time to lock in, lock into it a little bit more.”
Maryland’s run game still has room to grow. The Terps rank 99th nationally with 36 runs of more than 10 yards in 2026, though last week DeJuan Williams ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run. That play made the redshirt sophomore one of 15 FBS players with at least two runs of 70 yards or more this season.
Now Maryland turns to Wisconsin, whose defense is allowing 101 rushing yards per game and 97 in conference play. For Hills, the approach is straightforward.
“Respect your opponent. Never be too happy, never be too down. Always stay level-headed,” Hills said.
Saturday also gives Maryland a chance to do something it has not done since Sept. 2023: win back-to-back Big Ten games. The Terps will try to keep the momentum going under interim coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, whom Hills credited for bringing energy and keeping the group connected.
“Coach Aazaar has been amazing. He definitely brings a lot of energy at practice and kept our morale high. He pushes us and expects a lot from us,” Hills said.
“He’s definitely pulled some people to the side, talked to us, spend more time meeting. He sits down and meetings with the offensive line, different positions. Just building a more personal relationship with us outside of football, just generally, be a coach of his team and have a strong connection with who he’s coaching.”
In Other News...
Marylands Coaching Search Just Became Far More Ambitious
Marylands coaching search has taken a notable turn, with Brian Kelly recently interviewing for the Terrapins vacant job. The former Notre Dame and LSU coach has been out of the dugout since LSU fired him last fall, spending this season as a CBS analyst and SiriusXM co-host while the school moved on from Mike Locksley earlier in October.
Kellys name immediately raises the level of the search, which already has included other familiar candidates such as Chip Kelly, Dan Mullen and Biff Poggi. For Maryland, the next hire will shape not just the programs direction but also how aggressively it tries to position itself in a crowded Big Ten coaching market. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Sudden QB Change Just Changed Everything For The Terps
Cardell Williams did not need long to make his first start feel like a turning point for Maryland. In a tense Big Ten game at SECU Stadium, the quarterback settled the Terrapins in from the opening stretches, helping them control the pace against Wisconsin and keep the Badgers from ever fully dictating the afternoon. His efficiency stood out immediately, and the offense looked far more settled than a unit still adjusting to a sudden change under center.
Williams finished with school-record marks in completion rate and consecutive completions, and he accounted for three total touchdowns in a 24-21 win that felt as much about composure as production. Maryland still had to close it out late, and S. O'Haire delivered the deciding field goal to seal it, but the bigger question now is whether this one-game spark has permanently altered the Terps' quarterback picture. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Let A Statement Win Slip Away When It Mattered Most
Maryland had a chance to turn a strong start into a signature win, building an 11-point lead against Virginia before the game slipped away in the second half. The Terps looked in control early, but the Cavaliers kept hanging around and eventually flipped the momentum with a blistering finish that left Maryland searching for answers after a loss it could have used.
Virginias offense was relentless down the stretch, shooting better than 62% from the field and hitting nine of its final 10 shots. Maryland, meanwhile, ran into trouble with its own shot-making and ball security after halftime, and Buzz Williams along with several players pointed to the same broad takeaway afterward: the Terps have work to do if they want to close out games like this one. [Read more 🡒]