Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr. knows Gophers DC Corey Hetherman

On By Yukito

Fresh off a career-best 373-yard performance against Southern Cal, Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is starting to regain his confidence in his first season as the Terrapins’ starting quarterback. This week, he will face perhaps his toughest test of the season against Minnesota’s fourth-ranked passing defense.

A native of Springfield, Virginia, Edwards was recruited by James Madison out of high school. He already knows Gophers defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman very well, having recruited him when he served in the same role with the Dukes from 2019-2021.

“The defensive coordinator (Corey Hetherman) did a great job. He recruited me when he was at JMU in 2019, so I know him really well,” Edwards said earlier this week. “My dad was the defensive coordinator in high school, so they got along really well. Very good coach, good man, and he did a really good job of getting these guys to play together and play really good football within their framework.”

Current Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti was James Madison’s head coach at the time and confirmed that he and Hetherman were very interested in Edwards as the Dukes’ next quarterback. After graduating from high school, he committed to Wake Forest, and after one season he transferred to Maryland.

Fast forward to 2024. Edwards currently leads the Big Ten in passing yards with 2,113 yards in seven games. Maryland’s passing attack ranks ninth nationally in total yards, but it knows Hetherman and the Gophers’ defense will be a tough test.

“They play together. They play with all 11 players in sync. Very similar to many teams in the Big Ten West and they approach their defensive responsibilities in a certain way. They know what they are good at. They practice a lot and they deal with it well,” Edwards said. “Only at the back they have a young defender (Koi Perich) who is playing well at the moment. Obviously they have a No. 2 transfer cornerback (Ethan Robinson) who is playing really, really good football right now.”

The Gophers enter Saturday’s contest as a slight 4.5-point favorite. They will look to earn their third straight Big Ten victory and move one step closer to bowl eligibility.