Standout TE RJ Maryland leads SMU into clash with 'Tight End U'

Maryland began his 2024 campaign with a bang, leading the Mustangs to a victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack. After he hauled eight receptions for 162 yards and a game-winning touchdown, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) named him its Receiver of the Week. 

Maryland has 22 receptions for 304 yards and three TDs through the season's midway point. He is averaging 13.8 yards per reception. He holds the all-time SMU record for receiving TDs by a tight end. 

After breaking the record, Maryland reflected on his accomplishment: "It's great to be up there with all the great SMU tight ends that have gone through this program," he said. "Just shows the greatness of the players that came before me."

Stanford's starting TE this year is 6-foot-5 junior Sam Roush. In the current iteration of the Cardinal offense, which features decorated redshirt sophomore wide receiver Elic Ayomanor, Roush is typically a third or fourth option. He has 14 receptions for 110 yards and one TD in his six games this year.

In addition to the tight end-related storyline, the matchup between the Mustangs and the Cardinal is historically intriguing. It was the first meeting between the two teams since the 1936 Rose Bowl. Nearly nine decades ago, Stanford beat SMU 7-0 in that game.  

Now that SMU and Stanford have joined the ACC, they will confront one another regularly.

Heading into the conference showdown on Saturday evening at Stanford Stadium, the Mustangs are 5-1 overall, 2-0 in the ACC and ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 Poll. At 2-4 and 1-2, Stanford is unranked. The Mustangs are favored by 14.5 points on the road.