Maryland will head into its Big Ten opener against UCLA missing several key pieces, including running back Harry Dalton III and tight end Preston Howard.
The first conference availability report of the season also listed running back DeJuan Williams and edge rusher Zahir Mathis among the notable absences for the Terrapins. That leaves Maryland with more questions in the backfield, where Iverson Howard is now positioned to handle the bulk of the work. Howard had been dealing with injuries in the week two road win over UConn, and Maryland’s ground game is already coming off a rough outing, averaging just 2.83 yards per carry against Virginia Tech.
Howard’s absence is another hit to a running back room that has been thinned out in recent weeks. Saturday will be just the second game he has missed in his three seasons with the program, not counting his 2022 redshirt season. Maryland is expected to lean on freshman and converted linebacker Jianni Davis, along with former baseball utility Liam Wilson, to provide depth behind him.
Elsewhere on the availability report, cornerback Dontay Joyner and wide receiver Josiah Teasley remain inactive even though both have been able to practice with the team. Running back Terrez Worthy, defensive lineman Delmar White, wide receiver Sean Williams, cornerback Lloyd Irvin and DJ Samuels are also still sidelined and have yet to play this season.
UCLA has its own personnel issue at receiver, with Mikey Matthews ruled out. Matthews entered the weekend fourth on the team with four catches for 88 yards, and he has also contributed 31 yards on three punt returns.
The Bruins listed tight end Josh Phifer as questionable after he started the season opener against Cal, while Montana State transfer and nickel corner Jhase McMillan was labeled probable in the initial report.
Wednesday was the first injury report of the 2026 season for both programs, following the Big Ten’s updated rules. Teams now have to submit reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, along with a Saturday game-day update.
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Mike Locksley Faces Mounting Heat As Maryland Opens Big Ten Play
Mike Locksley is heading into Marylands Big Ten opener with the pressure dialed up after a home loss to Virginia Tech, and now the Terps have to reset quickly for a matchup that already feels important for the direction of the season. Maryland will lean on quarterback Malik Washington as it tries to steady itself, but the conversation around the program has shifted from early-season promise to how fast the team can answer after a stumble at home.
UCLA brings a different kind of challenge into the meeting, with first-year coach Bob Chesney helping reshape a rushing attack that looks far better than it did a year ago and Wayne Knight giving the Bruins a real ground-game presence. Marylands defense will also have to be alert for linebacker Sammy Omosigho, another factor in a game that could tell a lot about where the Terps stand as conference play begins. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Still Has One Troubling Offensive Problem To Solve
Marylands offense has a familiar early-season stress point, and Mike Locksley did not try to brush it aside after the loss to Virginia Tech. The Terps managed only 64 rushing yards, a number that underscored what has been obvious at times through the start of the season: the passing game has had moments of stability, but the ground game has not come close to matching it.
What makes the issue tougher to sort out is that the offensive line has shown better pass protection than run support, leaving Maryland with an imbalance it has yet to fix. Locksley and his players say the work is ongoing, with the staff continuing to search for answers in both execution and scheme, but for now the run game remains the offenses most troubling problem. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Receiving Overhaul Already Has A Playmaker Fans Can Trust
Marylands passing game has already found a steady new presence in Naeem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, the Old Dominion transfer who has settled in quickly since arriving in College Park. With a revamped receiving group taking shape under new offensive coordinator Clint Trickett, Gladding has emerged as one of the most dependable targets in the room and a player the Terps can lean on as the offense continues to sort itself out.
Through his early work, Gladding has given Maryland something every changing passing attack needs: a receiver who can get open and produce right away. His 17 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns put him second on the team, and the early returns suggest he is already carving out a central role in a group that needed someone to grab hold of it. [Read more 🡒]