Maryland will be getting an immediate look at its future under center in the Music City Bowl at 1 p.m. this Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee without entrenched starter Taulia Tagovailoa.

After transferring from Alabama to Maryland following the 2019 season, Tagovailoa spent four years — including three full seasons as a starter — becoming the all-time leading passer in Big Ten history.

But with his eyes set on the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, Tagovailoa opted not to play in the Music City Bowl.

So during a period of Maryland practice open to reporters Thursday at The Ensworth School in Nashville, the Terps showed the beginnings of an upcoming quarterback competition.

At least concerning the short term, Maryland appears likely to start redshirt sophomore Billy Edwards Jr. At Thursday’s practice, Edwards was the first quarterback in the rotation during drills.

Edwards transferred to Maryland after not playing in 2021 at Wake Forest. Across 14 total appearances in the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Terps, Edwards completed 32 of 56 pass attempts for 315 yards.

The second quarterback in the rotation was redshirt freshman Cameron Edge. Edge throws a crisp ball, he showed in practice, though he has hardly seen the field over his first two years of college football. Edge has only played in one game and has only attempted three passes.

He is likely to see the most playing time of his college career against Auburn this weekend as Maryland looks to see what it has in two of its contenders to win the starting quarterback job next season.

The other factor in Maryland’s quarterback mix is MJ Morris, who transferred to Maryland from N.C. State earlier in December.

Morris is with the Terps in Nashville and was practicing as a part of the quarterback group, but he is not eligible to play in the bowl game.

Morris has by far the most college experience of any passer on the Terps’ roster, with 1,367 passing yards over nine games in two seasons. Brennan Armstong was N.C. State’s primary starter this season and Devin Leary was the primary starter in 2022.

Morris though earned several spot starts. Seven of the nine games he played at NC State were starts. Maryland won’t get to see him in action against an opponent though until next season.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]