SMU's RJ Maryland Named ACC Receiver of the Week

Aug 27, 20242 min read

Not long ago, the SMU Mustangs and wide receiver RJ Maryland were competing in the American Athletic Conference. Slowly the clock turned to 2024, and they were competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference and starting the year on the road at the Nevada Wolf Pack in Week 0.

Maryland is listed on the Mustangs roster as a tight end, but he can also play wide receiver. Little did he know how much of an impact he was going to have on his team's opener on Aug. 24.

Maryland's Big Game

In the opener against Nevada, it was SMU and Maryland's ACC debut, and it was a debut that Maryland would never forget.

Maryland ended up turning in the best game of his now three-year Mustangs career, finishing the game with a career best in catches with 8 and receiving yards with 162.

He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Preston Stone with 1:18 on the clock after coming back from down 24-13 entering the fourth quarter.

Maryland's 162 receiving yards in the game was the most by an SMU player since Rashee Rice put up 180 yards at the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in 2022.

Maryland also has 14 total touchdown catches in his career at SMU which is also tied for the most in program history for a player at his position of tight end.

More ACC Football Players of the Week Information

Each week, the ACC has a select media panel vote on who they think deserves ACC Player of the Week honors.

The positions that the media panel vote on include quarterback, running back, wide receiver, offensive lineman,lLinebacker, defensive back and specialist.

SMU Mustangs — © Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland won the Week 0 ACC Receiver of the Week despite the SMU roster listing him as a tight end. He ended up being Stone's favorite target, especially late in the game.

Maryland also had a long catch in the game of 49 yards. But no catch of his ended up being bigger than the one that ended up winning the game for the Mustangs after a near upset from the Wolf Pack.

Stayed tuned to College Football Dawgs throughout the season for continued reporting on Maryland and the Mustangs.