Maryland Terrapins: Injury update on star wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr.

The Maryland Terrapins suffered a major blow on Tuesday when head coach Mike Locksley announced star receiver Dontay Demus Jr. is out for the season with a knee injury.

The loss of the senior wideout can’t be overstated. One of Maryland’s best offensive weapons called Demus “the best player” on the Maryland roster.

“He’s the best player on our team, so when something like that happens, it’s bound to affect the team,” senior tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo said after the Iowa game. “… He practices so hard. He practices like a first-rounder. He treats everybody with respect. He’s a great guy to be around. It more so hurts me for him, knowing how great of a season he’s been having so far.”

Demus had 507 receiving yards through five weeks of the 2021 campaign and led the Maryland Terrapins in that category in every game, even when he departed early against the Hawkeyes. Demus’s 101.4 receiving yards per game are the second-most in the Big Ten, but now Maryland must fill that void.

This season, Demus again served as a primary target for quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. The Maryland quarterback commented on the importance of Demus to the Maryland offense earlier this year.

“Dontay Demus runs that whole receiver group,” Tagovailoa said earlier this season.

Maryland Terrapins wide receiver depth

Locksley and the Maryland coaching staff will now look for one of the other Terrapins’ wide receivers to fill the void left by the Demus injury.

Rakim Jarrett (276 yards), junior Jeshaun Jones (218 yards) and senior Darryl Jones (110 yards) have all produced at times throughout the season.

The Maryland offense will have to lean on their tight ends, particularly Okonkwo and sophomore Corey Dyches, Running back Tayon Fleet-Davis has also proved he can catch passes out of the backfield.

As the Washington Post notes, Locksley has praised Demus for how he has matured during his time with the Maryland Terrapins. Demus had a six-game stretch, beginning in 2020 and extending into this season, with a touchdown reception in every outing. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Demus’s size and speed make him difficult to defend, and he has shown his big-play ability throughout his college career.