Penn State Football: 3 Maryland Terrapins PSU should worry about

Oct 30, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) rushes during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2020; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) rushes during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taulia Tagovailoa is a dual-threat quarterback Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Taulia Tagovailoa is a dual-threat quarterback Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

3 Maryland Terrapins the Penn State Nittany Lions should worry about

Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa

Sure, Taulia Tagovailoa is the younger brother of a certain starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, but he put himself on the map last weekend against Minnesota. Tagovailoa not only threw for nearly 400 yards, but he also connected on three touchdown passes, and ran in two more scores, showing he can get the job done with his arm, and his legs.

Last weekend, Penn State had issues in a big way with Ohio State’s Justin Fields, and while Tagovailoa is not in that category yet, it showed this defense can be beaten by quarterbacks who are dual-threat. Tagovailoa shook off a terrible start against Northwestern to put the team on his back against Minnesota, and those kinds of comeback wins could go a long way in terms of his confidence heading into this matchup.

Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week last week, became the first player in the Big Ten since Dwayne Haskins to throw for 350 or more yards, three touchdowns, and have two rushing touchdowns. A transfer from Alabama, Tagovailoa is looking to make a name for himself at Maryland, and he is off to a good start in 2020.

For Penn State, keeping a spy on him will be crucial, because if he has a lane to run, he is going to take off.