Haskins to play before family, friends at Maryland

Dwayne Haskins Jr. has more than one reason to be excited about Ohio State’s game on Saturday at Maryland.

It will be a homecoming for Haskins, who lived in the state during his high school years and in 2015 committed to play for the Terrapins.

“Right now I’m working on getting 20 tickets for the game,” he said Tuesday night.

His family and friends likely will see Haskins break an Ohio State passing record that has stood for 20 years. Haskins needs 51 yards to break Joe Germaine’s school record for passing yards in a season (3,330). With three touchdown passes, he will break J.T. Barrett’s mark of 35 set last season.

“That’s going to mean a lot,” Haskins said. “I’m pretty excited about that. But I’ve got to take one play at a time. I’m looking forward to doing that in front of a whole bunch of family. It’s a blessing.”

Haskins decommitted from Maryland after the Terrapins made a coaching change. When Ohio State lost quarterback pledge Tristen Wallace to Oregon, the Buckeyes went hard after Haskins.

“It was very hard just because of the relationships I built there at the university with the coaches, teachers, players and commits,” Haskins said of decommitting from Maryland. “But coming here to Ohio State has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”

Haskins has no regrets. He emerged immediately as a star in his first year as a starter. Haskins already has set the record for passing yards in a game (470) and won Big Ten offensive player of the week honors four times.

“The fact I’m able to go out here every Saturday and have fun with my teammates means the world to Maryland quarterback Kasim Hill is examined by team trainers after suffering a left knee injury at Indiana. He later was diagnosed with a torn ligament and will be replaced by Tyrrell Pigrome against Ohio State. me,” Haskins said. “Being so close to all these records is a blessing from God. The fact I’m able to compete for these records is a testament to the offense and the coaches and how great they are gameplanning for us.”

This week, he can assist with that. He knows many of Maryland’s players and has given quarterbacks

coach/offensive cocoordinator Ryan Day tips.

“I know how talented those guys are,” Haskins said. “I’ve worked out with them and hung out with them. I know how skilled they are and how much they put into the game. It’s good to have my own scouting report on them going into this week.”

Maryland will have a new starting quarterback this week. The Terrapins confirmed that starter Kasim Hill tore the ACL in his left knee during last week’s 34-32 loss to Indiana. Hill tore his right ACL early last season.

Tyrrell Pigrome will replace Hill, as he did last year. Pigrome is more of a runner than Hill, and has run for 166 yards and a touchdown in 38 attempts this season. He has completed 17 of 31 passes (54.8 percent) for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“I thought he came in and played well Saturday,” Maryland interim coach Matt Canada said. “He’s coming off a knee (injury) as well and has progressed through that and is probably almost back to where he wanted to be.”

Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said the Buckeyes anticipated the quarterback change.

“It’s a little bit tricky,” he said. “We’re not sure what they’re going to do. We have to be ready for everything they’ve done. They’ve had some really fantastic output offensively at times, so it’s a big challenge.”