Maryland Tight Ends Bring a Quarterback’s Perspective to the Offense

Dorian Fleming, left, and Preston Howard pose in red Maryland uniforms in separate portraits.

Maryland tight ends Dorian Fleming and Preston Howard bring more than receiving and blocking skills to their position. Both played quarterback in high school, and a new Maryland Athletics feature explains how that background helps them process an offense that asks them to work in several different places.

The October 8th feature describes a position with responsibilities in the backfield, beside the offensive line and split out as a receiver. Head coach Michael Locksley emphasizes that the job requires broad knowledge of the offense, while Howard points to the rapid communication involved before each snap.

For Fleming, reading defenses and understanding where space opens up are skills he carried from quarterback. Howard, who played football and basketball at McDonogh, also draws on his experience directing an offense. Their shared background gives them a common language when discussing assignments in the tight end room.

That perspective offers fans a useful way to watch the position. A tight end’s contribution is not limited to whether a pass comes his way. Alignment, movement before the snap and blocking responsibilities are part of the job, even on plays that produce no individual receiving statistic.

The timing matters because Maryland travels to Ohio State on Saturday, October 10th. The official schedule lists a 4:15 p.m. kickoff in Columbus. The Terps enter at 2–3 overall and 0–2 in conference play after three consecutive losses, most recently a 48–23 defeat at Nebraska.

The feature does not promise a particular matchup advantage or predict how many targets either player will receive Saturday. It instead provides a closer look at the preparation behind a demanding position as Maryland works to reverse its results.

For viewers, following Fleming and Howard before the ball is snapped can reveal another layer of the offense. PowerPage’s Maryland coverage will continue tracking the team’s results alongside the players and responsibilities that shape them.