On the eve of his first homecoming game in College Park, Maryland football coach DJ Durkin discussed the program’s history with his players.
He listed former Terps from each position who have played in the NFL, ranging from San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith to Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis to Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
The Terps listened as Durkin preached for them to play with the team’s past stars in mind.
“Just to put that in perspective for us really made us think,” defensive end Roman Braglio said, “and gave us something to chew on before we ate dinner.”
The next afternoon, driven by Durkin’s speech, Braglio and the defense also feasted on Purdue’s offense, limiting the Boilermakers to 10 yards rushing and 205 total.
“One of the best things about college football and about being involved with it in this program, in particular, is the people that have come before and how they’ve set the bar to a certain standard,” Durkin said. “The point our guys realize is that’s the standard. You’ve got to play at that level. Someone put the standard at that level. It’s your job to bring up that level or exceed it. I thought our guys responded well and did that.”
Braglio helped lead the charge with two of the team’s six sacks against Boilermakers quarterback David Blough. His production in that category was two-thirds of Braglio’s total from 2015.
On a conference call Monday, Durkin had a theory about Braglio’s breakout performance. The Owings Mills native has been battling a broken left hand. Since he suffered the injury in the team’s opening game against Howard, he had been playing with a club-like cast, which hinders his range of motion and control against defenders.
Saturday, Braglio wore a smaller splint.
“He was able to use his hand more,” Durkin said. “He played hard. He had some great effort plays and he was productive. So, very pleased. I thought he played his best game.”
His efforts came as a part of the Terps’ front seven, which Durkin said has shown improvement through the start of the season. The coaches have emphasized all 11 players on defense flocking to the ball to limit the damage of potential breakdowns in coverage.
In the season’s early weeks, the staff’s review sessions were filled with critiques. Now, Durkin said, the team has relied on more positive reinforcement.
The unit proved that as it stopped Purdue from scoring in the red zone after the offense committed a turnover on Maryland’s first possession of the game.
Boilermakers running back Markell Jones, who entered the game averaging more than 105 yards on the ground, rushed for seven yards on the first play after Purdue’s interception. The Terps stuffed him for a loss on the next snap.
Defensive lineman Jesse Aniebonam and linebacker Shane Cockerille then teamed up for a sack before the secondary baited Blough into an incompletion on third down.
“The defense did a fantastic job all day,” quarterback Perry Hills said. “They really bailed us out a couple times.”
Aniebonam and Cockerille’s takedown of Blough was the Terps’ first of the game, and it sparked energy on the sideline. Defensive line coach Mike London “was losing his mind, throwing his head gear everywhere,” Braglio said.
Braglio celebrated, too, he said, and his voice was raspy when he spoke with reporters in the Gossett Football Team House auditorium after the blowout win.
“I’ve been screaming all day,” Braglio said. “Big win. Opening game against Purdue. Homecoming. You know, we crushed them.”
