Maryland Football Countdown: No. 87, Azizuddin Abdur-Ra’oof
By Chris Bengel
Nov 15, 2014; College Park, MD, USA; The Maryland Terrapins take the field prior to the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Byrd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
With just 41 days until the Maryland opens the season on Sept. 5, TerrapinStationMD continues our series based on past Terrapins with Azizuddin Abdur-Ra’oof. We’ll continue to look at the most talented and/or popular player to wear the number and analyze their time in College Park. If you think of a player that had a big impact and is also associated with that number, leave a comment below.
As we mentioned in our last profile in the countdown, wideouts have been a very prestigious part of the Maryland football program’s history.
Another one of those talented wide receivers was Azizuddin Abdur-Ra’oof. Abdur-Ra’oof was one of the top wideouts that ascended upon College Park in the mid 1980s.
During his time with the Terps, Abdur-Ra’oof was a model of consistency. From 1984 to 1985, the Millersville, Md. native hauled in 108 passes for 1,895 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His strongest season came in 1985 when he recorded 35 receptions for 671 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. His 19.2 yards-per-catch average was the highest that he would have during his entire four-year career at Maryland.
Abdur Ra’off was especially impressive due to the fact that Maryland had a strong running game with senior Rick Badanjek leading the way.
He managed to finish in the top 10 in the ACC in nearly every offensive category, including receptions (sixth), receiving yards (third), yards-per-catch (third), and touchdown receptions (eighth).
Abdur-Ra’off missed the following season with a ruptured Achilles, which he suffered against North Carolina State in the fourth game of the 1986 season. He only registered nine receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown during his brief junior campaign.
More from Maryland Football
- How to Win Instant $200 Terrapins Bonus at BetMGM
- FanDuel + DraftKings Maryland Promos: Bet $10 on Any Week 2 Game, Win $400 Bonus
- FanDuel Maryland Promo Gives $200 Guaranteed Bonus on ANY $5 Terrapins Bet!
- New Maryland Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Back Your Terrapins + $100 Off NFL Sunday Ticket!
- DraftKings + Caesars Maryland Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win
Before the injury, he had caught a pass in each of his first 27 games with the Terps.
Abdur-Ra’oof finished off his Maryland career in 1987 when he caught a career-high 39 passes for 617 yards and three touchdowns. Upon leaving College Park, he finished 13th all-time in yards-per-catch (17.5).
The Maryland native was drafted in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. Abdur-Ra’oof was one of five Terps drafted that season along with linebacker O’Brien Alston, tight end Ferrell Edmunds, wide receiver James Milling, and linebacker Kevin Walker.
Abdur-Ra’oof didn’t register any statistics in the NFL, despite spending time in the league for two years.
The four-year letterwinner was a very productive wideout for the Terps, despite losing nearly an entire season due to injury. Abdur-Ra’oof was able to pick up huge chunks of yards at a time and was one of Maryland’s top weapons during the Bobby Ross era.