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University at Buffalo
Maryland
Bulls Open the 2022 Season at Maryland on Saturday
8/30/2022 2:31:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Maryland (0-0, 0-0 B1G)
September 3, 2022
Maryland Stadium - 12:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
Big Ten Network
Storylines
• The Bulls are kicking off their 110th season of football.
• The Bulls are beginning their second season under head coach Maurice Linguist.
• This is the first meeting between the schools.
• The Bulls have 10 players on their roster from the state of Maryland, including All-MAC linebacker James Patterson.
• The Bulls are 1-10 all time against teams from the Big Ten Conference. UB won at Rutgers in 2018 for its first Big Ten win. Buffalo did defeat Penn State in 1900 and Rutgers in 2002, but it was before the teams joined the conference.
• This marks the seventh time in the past 10 years the Bulls will face a Big Ten opponent.
• The Bulls are looking to win a non-conference road season opener for the first time since winning at UTEP, 23-17, to start the 2009 campaign.
• Ron Cook is 74 yards shy of becoming just the ninth player in program history to amass 1,000 career kickoff return yards.
• James Patterson is three tackles shy of 300 for his career. He would become the 12th player in program history to reach 300 tackles.
• This will be just the fifth time Buffalo will play a game in the state of Maryland and the first time since playing at Towson in 1994. The Bulls also played at Frostburg State (1987), Towson (1986) and Johns Hopkins (1942).
Bulls Open 2022 Campaign at Maryland on Saturday
The University at Buffalo football team will kick off the 2022 season on the road at Maryland on Saturday. Dealing with numerous injuries throughout the season, the Bulls are coming off a 4-8 campaign in 2021.
Buffalo returns nine starters from last season, including six on the defensive side of the ball. The Bulls were picked third in the MAC East Division preseason poll.
Maryland is coming off a 7-6 season and a win over Virginia Tech in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. The Terrapins were picked fifth in the Big Ten East preseason poll.
This is the first meeting between the schools.
New Faces
Looking to bolster the roster, the Bulls welcomed 25 transfers this offseason, including 11 from power five programs.
UB's power five program transfers include WR Justin Marshall (Louisville), CB Elijah Blades (Florida), WR Boobie Curry (Arizona), CB Caleb Offord (Notre Dame), S Solomon Brown (Minnesota), S Jahmin Muse (Boston College), QB Cole Snyder (Rutgers), DE Ibrahim Kante (NC State), DE Damian Jackson (Nebraska), S James Ziglor (Vanderbilt) and OL Isaiah Wright (Rutgers).
Of the 60 players on the depth chart, 24 are in their first year with the program.
Snyder Gets Call Under Center
Cole Snyder, who joined the Bulls in January after transferring from Rutgers, has earned the starting quarterback job heading into the 2022 campaign.
Snyder is a Western New York native, graduating from Southwestern High School near Jamestown. He was a two-time All-Western New York First Team selection and the Class C South Player of the Year.
At Rutgers, Snyder appeared in six games in 2021 and was 18-for-28 for 130 yards and a touchdown while adding 42 rushing yards.
Snyder is the third Western New Yorker to start a season opener under center for the Bulls in the last 10 seasons. Joe Licata (Williamsville South) was the opening game starter in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Matt Myers (West Seneca West) was the starter in 2019.
Bulls vs. the Big Ten
Saturday will mark the seventh time in the last 10 years the Bulls will face an opponent from the Big Ten Conference. Buffalo has one win during that stretch, defeating Rutgers, 42-13, in 2018.
Year Opponent Result
2013 - at Ohio State - L, 40-20
2015 - at Penn State - L, 27-14
2017 - at Minnesota - L, 17-7
2018 - at Rutgers - W, 42-13
2019 - at Penn State - L, 45-13
2021 - at Nebraska - L, 28-3
Maryland Homecoming
The Bulls have 10 players from the Old Line State, including a pair of starters.
Starting linebacker James Patterson hales from Glendale, MD and graduated from Saint Vincent Pallotti High School. Starting cornerback Logic Hudgens graduated from Archbishop Spalding in Severn.
Other Maryland natives on the UB roster include DT George Wolo (Columbus), QB Brian Plummer (Gaithersburg), CB Demarco Cuffey (Waldorf), S Dylan Powell (Bowie), OL Caelan Shepard (Annapolis), DT Devin Morgan (Baltimore) and DT Cornell Evans (Baltimore).
Big Game James
Back for a fifth season, linebacker James Patterson continues to cement himself as one of the best linebackers in program history.
Entering the 2022 campaign, he is three tackles shy of 300 for his career. He'd become the 12th player in program history to reach the 300 tackle mark.
A team captain since his sophomore season, Patterson was named All-MAC First Team in 2020 and 2021.
Linebacker U
UB has had a number of standout linebackers in recent years, most notably Khalil Mack who was an All-American and now an NFL All-Pro.
The Bulls have at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 11 seasons. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and 2021.
Rounding out the list are Kadofi Wright (2019), Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014) and Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
Who'll Step Up at Running Back?
The Bulls have had a 1,000-yard rusher each of the last four seasons. Jaret Patterson rushed for 1,103 yards in 2018, 1,799 yards in 2019 and 1,072 yards in a six-game 2020 season. In 2021, Dylan McDuffie rushed for 1,049 yards.
The Bulls will feature a first-time starter at running back in 2022. Senior Ron Cook is the most experienced back. He had his most productive season in 2021, rushing for 440 yards and three touchdowns. A versatile back, he had 23 receptions for 232 yards and touchdown last season as well. He is also a two-time All-MAC selection as a kick returner.
Also likely to get carries are a pair of redshirt-freshmen, Mike Washington and Al-Jay Henderson.
Washington did appear in three games as a true freshman in 2021 and rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Henderson did not see any game action in 2021, but has had a strong offseason. He rushed for 87 yards on 14 carries (6.2 ypc) and scored three touchdowns in the spring game.
Watch Out
The Bulls have representatives on eight different NCFAA award preseason watch lists. Linebacker James Patterson, defensive tackle Daymond Williams, running back Ron Cook, wide receiver Quian Williams and defensive end Max Michel each appeared on at least one watch list.
Buffalo Players on NCFAA Watch Lists
James Patterson - Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy
Daymond Williams - Outland Trophy
Ron Cook - Paul Hornung Award
Quian Williams - Biletnikoff Award
Max Michel - Allstate Good Works, Wuerffel Trophy
Nine Bulls Named to Athlon Preseason All-MAC Team
Athlon Sports released its preseason All-Mid-American Conference football team and nine University at Buffalo players were named to the squad. The list was headlined by two first-team selections, linebacker James Patterson and defensive tackle Daymond Williams.
Wide receiver Quian Williams, offensive lineman Gabe Wallace, defensive end Max Michel and kick returner Ron Cook were named to the third team.
Cook was also named to the fourth team as a running back as were defensive tackle George Wolo, safety Jahmin Muse and kicker Alex McNulty.
Max Michel Nominated for Allstate Good Works Team
Senior defensive end Max Michel is among 114 nominees for the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Awarded to community champions, it recognizes student-athletes who display exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
A native of New Jersey, Michel quickly embraced the Queen City. He has worked with the Buffalo City Mission, organizing a coat drive in December, collecting coats, jackets, gloves and hats. In its first year, the coat drive resulted in over 50 coats and other warm items of clothing being donated to the Buffalo City Mission.
He also donates his time volunteering at the Buffalo City Mission's kitchen, helping prepare food, emptying the garbage and whatever else he can do to help.
In addition, Michel is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.
International Flavor
The Bulls have four international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has two players who hail from Canada, including Gabe Wallace (BC) and Anthony Venneri (Ontario). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Fabian Weitz (Germany) and Alain Schaerer (Switzerland).
McNulty Named Campbell Trophy Nominee
Senior kicker Alex McNulty is a nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Given annually to college football's top student-athlete, the Campbell Trophy is also known as the Academic Heisman.
McNulty is a double major in biology for pre-veterinary science and physics. He carries a 3.8 grade point average and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection.
McNulty was an All-MAC Third Team in 2020. He ranks sixth in school history in career field goals (25), fourth in school history in career extra points (122) and fourth in school history in career points scored (197). Last season, he set a school record with a 55-yard field goal and became the first kicker in program history to make 100 consecutive extra points.
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC media.
Miami (OH) was picked first with 139 points, followed by Kent State (116), Buffalo (78), Ohio (72), Bowling Green (71) and Akron (28).
Northern Illinois was picked to win the West Division, followed by Toledo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.
Northern Illinois was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MAC Championship.
On The Airwaves
Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester.
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 23rd year, and 15th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his sixth season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
The UB Football postgame show will once again take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
