Maryland Football: Avery Edwards looking to build off solid campaign

Maryland hasn’t gotten much production from the tight end position in recent years.

However, improvement was definitely seen during the 2015 season in the form of Avery Edwards.

In 2014, Terrapin tight ends only recorded six receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. P.J. Gallo caught the lone touchdown pass against Penn State and he was one of three tight ends to haul in two catches the entire season.

In recent years under coach Randy Edsall, Maryland didn’t utilize the tight end a whole lot. They also didn’t prioritize the position on the recruiting trail.

Edwards was set to enroll at North Carolina before off-the-field issues derailed a career with the Tar Heels. Instead, he ended up at IMG Academy for a prep year and committed to Maryland last July.

During his high school days, Edwards was rated as a top 25 tight end in the country with offers from high-profile schools like Arkansas, Florida State, and Virginia Tech.

Upon arriving at Maryland last summer, Edwards had to work his way up the depth chart. Fortunately for the Terps, he did so in a relatively quick fashion.

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Edwards only hauled in three passes for 19 yards during the first two games against Bowling Green and Richmond.

However, his coming-out party was Maryland’s third contest against South Florida.

In Caleb Rowe’s first start of the 2015 season, he was really dialed in. While Rowe did throw three interceptions on the afternoon, he also tossed four touchdowns and looked lethal at times.

Maryland led 21-10 at halftime, but didn’t have a ton of breathing room between themselves and the Bulls.

The Terps got a huge jolt to begin the second half after running back Ty Johnson returned the kickoff to the South Florida 37-yard line. Just five plays later, Rowe hooked up with Edwards on a leaping grab in the back of the end zone.

In the fourth quarter, the connection was made yet again as Rowe hit Edwards in stride for a 22-yard touchdown.

That would be the best performance that Edwards would turn in throughout the 2015 campaign. He did catch three passes for 33 yards the next week against West Virginia, but had a combined five receptions after that.

While the sample size wasn’t exactly huge, Edwards did show that he can be counted on to produce at the collegiate level. He totaled 115 yards on 14 receptions when it was all said and done.

Edwards could be a bigger part of the offense in 2016 with Perry Hills under center.

Hills may need a security blanket at times and Edwards is the perfect one. Edwards possesses great size at 6’4 and has the athleticism to go get the football in the air.

Edwards is also very quick off the line of scrimmage, which makes him a great asset in the red zone.

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While the Terps haven’t used the tight end a ton in recent years, it’ll be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Walt Bell utilizes the position and more importantly, Edwards.