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Maryland should be just fine with Kasim Hill at quarterback

Garrett Kroeger

By Garrett Kroeger

Published:

Last Saturday, Maryland defeated the then No. 23 Texas , 51-41. It was the Terrapins’ first win over a ranked team in seven years, but it came at a cost.

Freshman Kasim Hill gave sophmore Tyrell Pigrome a run for his money in the battle for the Terrapins’ starting quarterback job this offseason. In the end, Pigrome held him off and started against the Longhorns.

Pigrome played  exceptionally against Texas. The signal caller completed 9-of-12 pass attempts for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 64 yards and a score.

At one point, Maryland looked well in control of the game, taking a 30-14 lead into half. However, the Terps started to crumble, and all hope seemed lost when Pigrome went down with an injury to end the third quarter with the Terrapins hanging onto a three point lead.

That is, until Hill came in and saved it. And now, Hill will be the man going forward as Pigrome’s injury turned out to be a season-ending ACL tear.

There are multiple reasons to mourn the loss of Pigrome. However, when Hill came in to replace Pigrome it might have shaped a team and a season.

Hill is only 19 years old. Before Saturday in Austin, Hill had not only never played a single down of college football but he had never been on a college sideline either. So when he entered, it would have been safe to assume that he could have gotten rattled by 88,000-plus fans in attendance at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. If you know anything about college football that would be daunting atmosphere to make one’s first collegiate appearance.

Despite this, Hill was cool and collected.

During the second drive of his Maryland career, Hill was facing a 3rd-and-19. He stood in the pocket facing pressure from Texas and delivered a bullet to wide receiver D.J. Moore for a 40 yard gain. The former St. John’s College (D.C.) standout finished off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to put the Terrapins ahead 44-34 with 7:36 left in the game.

As of right now, Hill is the starting quarterback for Maryland–for this week against Towson and if all things go well, every week this fall and quite possibly until 2020.

Currently, the Terrapins have to treat this as an opportunity. Hill could have beaten Pigrome for the starting job. Coach DJ Durkin and the Maryland coaching staff believe Hill will not shy away from this chance. The newbie in the No. 11 jersey was all smiles going in against Texas on the road. For a normal freshman, that would probably make them a tad nervous. But Hill is not a regular first year.

Hill was not rattled. He was flawless.

The signal caller completed all three of passes for 44 yards while rushing for 14 yards and a score on five carries. He remind calm in the pocket and was not afraid to let the ball go. Plus, Hill was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school.

Physically, Hill looks the part. He stands 6-foot-2, 236 pounds. And mentally, Durkin is comfortable with Hill because the freshman has a high football IQ.

“He’s the guy,” Durkin told 247 Sports. “We can do everything we want to do in our offense with him and we will. We’re going to put that on him and I know he’ll respond. There will certainly be freshman moments or whatever, but Kasim’s the right guy you want leading the squad.”

If Hill is truly special, the Terrapins might have found themselves in a place they have not been in well over 20 years. Only once has Maryland have a quarterback lead it in passing yards for three consecutive seasons. Hill has the chance to help the Terrapins escape the “who’s is going to start at quarterback” narrative week in, week out and season after season. Maryland finally has an opportunity to develop a high powered offense around Hill.

Hill owned his first collegiate appearance. Due to that, more and more eyes will be upon him as the season progresses. If he can produce the way he did against the Longhorns, the Terrapins will have a quarterback to to build around and possible succeed with for years to come.

Garrett Kroeger