Oregon football summer preview: 3 Maryland Terrapins to watch
By Ethan Lee
Heading into the 2024 Oregon football season, the Ducks will face an interesting test when the Maryland Terrapins arrive in Autzen Stadium for the first time ever. As the Ducks enter the Big Ten, this matchup against Maryland will be intriguing. Partially because we’ve never seen these two teams square up before.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at three Maryland players that Oregon football fans should be aware of heading into this season so we can start getting ready for what an Oregon vs. Maryland game might look like.
Because, well, we don’t really have anything to go off of when looking at college football history here.
No. 1: Tai Felton - Wide receiver
Heading into the 2024 season, Tai Felton is entering his senior season and is sure to once again be one of Maryland’s most dangerous offensive weapons. During the 2023 season, Felton led the Terrapins with six receiving touchdowns and finished second on the team with 48 receptions for 723 yards. If Maryland is once again going to have offensive success this season, the Terps will likely need Felton to thrive once again.
Last year, Felton’s big-play ability was on full display as he averaged an impressive 15.1 yards per catch. Against Indiana, Felton had a breakthrough performance where he managed to set career highs with seven receptions for 134 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-2 wide receiver showed that he has one heck of a knack for finding the end zone. If he’s given time, he could pose problems for Oregon’s secondary.
No. 2: Ruben Hyppolite II - linebacker
Ruben Hyppolite II anchors the Maryland defense as an incredible linebacker and he will be crucial for Maryland as the Terps try to slow down Oregon’s high-powered offense. Last season, Hyppolite started all 13 games and finished second on the team with 66 tackles (47 of which were solo tackles) and he added an additional 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
In addition to being a solid tackler with an abundance of experience on the field, Hyppolite's leadership experience will make him a player to watch. He’s played plenty of football and has shown he has the ability to make plays all over the field. The Oregon offensive line will almost certainly need to account for Hyppolite on every snap he’s on the field.
No. 3: Jordan Phillips - defensive line
He’s younger than the other players we’ve discussed up to this point, but redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Phillips is a talented up-and-coming player for the Terrapins who could make an impact against Oregon this season.
Last year, Phillips appeared in all 13 games and he made 10 starts. In that timeframe, the 6-foot-3, 320 pound lineman showed he has the size and strength to disrupt teams if he’s given the chance. He managed to record 28 tackles (14 of which were solo) and he had 1.5 tackles for loss.