Will the Maryland Terrapins make noise in the 2024 NFL Draft and in the Big Ten title race? The latter goal may be a bit lofty with the competition on tap, but Maryland’s 2023 squad is quietly very talented.
Maryland Terrapins NFL Draft Prospects
Maryland didn’t necessarily come out of the 2023 offseason stronger. The departure of the team’s 2023 NFL Draft class — Jakorian Bennett, Chad Ryland, Spencer Anderson, Jaelyn Duncan, and first-round pick Deonte Banks — will hurt. But the Terrapins retained many key core pieces and filled gaps via the transfer portal.
The most important returner comes at QB for Maryland, but the positives span beyond that. The Terrapins have a reworked WR room with several dynamic pieces, an offensive line with combined returners and transfer additions, an ascending front seven with a future star at LB in Jaishawn Barham, and a secondary that remains formidable.
Taulia Tagovailoa, QB
Now entering his third season as Maryland’s full-time starter, Taulia Tagovailoa is one of the most experienced senior QBs on the 2024 NFL Draft stage. Over the past two seasons, he’s completed 590 of 865 passes (68.2%) for 6,868 yards, 44 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. He’s still somewhat volatile operationally, but the 5’11”, 208-pound passer has a decent arm, enough off-script ability, and the toughness to hold an NFL backup role.
Roman Hemby, RB
Roman Hemby’s breakout was a pleasant surprise in 2022. The 6’0″, 202-pound back rumbled for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns on 188 carries and also added 33 receptions for 298 yards and an additional score. It’ll take an even stronger year for Hemby to declare as a redshirt sophomore, but it’s not out of the question. Hemby is a legitimate speed threat in space, and he also has stellar contact balance for his size.
Tyrese Chambers, WR
The Terrapins said goodbye to an exceptional vertical threat in Rakim Jarrett this past offseason. They’ll aim to get that element back on offense with Florida International transfer Tyrese Chambers. The 6’0″, 192-pound Chambers has game-breaking ability in the deep third. That was especially evident in 2021 when Chambers exploded for 45 catches, 1,074 yards, and nine touchdowns, averaging almost 25 yards per catch.
Jeshaun Jones, WR
While Chambers stretches defenses thin week in and week out, Jeshaun Jones could be a beneficiary underneath. Jones isn’t as explosive as Chambers, but he’s a chain-mover with wiry strength at 6’1″, 188 pounds. In 2022, he put up a respectable 44 catches for 557 yards and four touchdowns, and he also has a history of versatile usage. He can separate in the short and intermediate ranges but also has some utility as a RAC threat and on designed touches.
Kaden Prather, WR
Maryland didn’t stop with one transfer addition in the WR room. They also added Kaden Prather, a 6’4″, 212-pound junior from West Virginia. Prather embarked on a career-best campaign in 2022, with 52 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns, but his introduction to the Maryland offense could take his production to the next level. At his size, he has very impressive RAC utility, and he’s also able to sell out for low, high-difficulty passes.
Corey Dyches, TE
Maryland could have one of the most dynamic pass-catching units in college football in 2023 if everything breaks their way. And tight end hybrid Corey Dyches is the completing piece. Dyches has amassed 58 catches for 702 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two campaigns, and he could be in line for even greater numbers in 2023. At 6’2″, 215 pounds, he has exceptional lateral quickness and contact balance in space.
Gottlieb Ayedze, OT
Filling in the void left by Jaelyn Duncan will be Gottlieb Ayedze, a transfer addition from Frostburg State. Ayedze was a first-team All-MEC performer for Frostburg in 2022, but the leap to the Big Ten stage will be massive. He’ll have to keep refining his footwork and play with better pad level, but on tape, he passes the eye test with his long 6’5″, 320-pound frame, and he has the quickness and change of direction to match rushers and stack run blocks.
Delmar Glaze, OT
Both of Maryland’s tackles will be players to watch as potential prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Delmar Glaze is the incumbent starter at right tackle, having started 12 games at the position in 2022.
He also has left tackle versatility, giving him some security as a potential swing tackle at the NFL level. Glaze’s 6’5″, 328-pound frame is a bit high-cut, which can cause some stiffness, but he’s a long, powerful, and physical blocker.
Corey Bullock, G
On the interior offensive line, the Terrapins brought in NC Central transfer Corey Bullock to help cope with several losses — among them the loss of Spencer Anderson. At 6’4″, 331 pounds, Bullock has impressive size and mass. And at NC Central, he was known for his ability to convert that mass into power and pancake opposing defenders. It’ll be interesting to see how his mobility translates at the FBS level, but he’ll get a chance to prove himself.
Tre Colbert, DT
After losing veteran nose tackle Ami Finau, the Terrapins need a new man at the center of their defensive line. Angelo State graduate transfer Tre Colbert could end up being the answer. At 6’3″, 333 pounds, Colbert has the size and density, and he was a menace at Angelo State. He amassed 47 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 2021 and added 48 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and three sacks to his career totals in 2022.
Tommy Akingbesote, DT
The Terrapins also lost interior defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite, who transferred to Auburn. Thus, they’ll need to get more production from one of their ascending players in Tommy Akingbesote. Akingbesote has a well-built NFL frame at 6’5″, 315 pounds, with good length. And in 2022, he put up two sacks and two tackles for loss, providing a glimpse of his playmaking potential. The junior could be a riser in 2023.
Donnell Brown, EDGE
Maryland lost two featured EDGE presences in Greg China-Rose and Durell Nchami. The hope is that Saint Francis transfer Donnell Brown helps fill the void in 2023. Brown, who stands around 6’3″, 254 pounds, was the NEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. A stat line of 48 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 14.5 TFLs, and three fumble recoveries helped lead to that honor. Brown has produced, but now, he’ll be tasked with doing the same in the Big Ten.
Ruban Hyppolite II, LB
If you’re looking for a linebacker with early-round potential on Maryland’s roster, keep tabs on Jaishawn Barham for the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. Veteran Ruban Hyppolite II, who’s eligible for this coming cycle, doesn’t have that kind of upside. But with another opportunity at hand in 2022, he could produce and earn potential PFA consideration. The 6’0″, 230-pound Hyppolite is a high-motor defender who put up 62 tackles in 2021.
Ja’Quan Sheppard, CB
After sending both Deonte Banks and Jakorian Bennett to the NFL as early-round picks, the Terrapins have another CB coming up through the pipeline in Cincinnati transfer Ja’Quan Sheppard.
The 6’2″, 202-pound Sheppard was a career special-teamer before breaking out in 2022 with 50 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, a sack, and ten pass deflections. He has ideal size and length for the boundary and also routinely showcased the explosiveness necessary to erase vertical threats.
Tarheeb Still, CB
While Sheppard mans the boundary, Tarheeb Still will presumably return as the team’s primary nickel cornerback. Stills is quietly an impressive prospect in his own right. Of 29 games played since arriving as a true freshman, he’s started 27. And in his first two seasons, in just 17 games played, he had 18 pass deflections — over one per game. His playmaking chops are very real, and he also has the foot speed, closing burst, and length at 6’1″, 196 pounds to provide support.
Beau Brade, S
When it’s all said and done, Beau Brade could be Maryland’s highest-rated prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. And as it stands, he’s a potential early-round pick. The 6’1″, 210-pound Brade is built to be a modern NFL safety with his lean, athletic frame and loose, explosive twitch and accelerative capacity. As he showed while racking up 85 tackles, four TFLs, two picks, and five pass breakups in 2022, he’s a two-phase playmaker with dynamic versatility.
Dante Trader Jr., S
Brade has proven himself as a prospect with potential early, but his counterpart at safety — Dante Trader Jr. — could also become a household name in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 5’11”, 200-pound Trader did his part to rack up 62 tackles, a half-TFL, two picks, and four deflections in 2022. His versatility meshes with Brade’s. Trader has the fluidity to play two-high and match route concepts in space, and he also has the curvilinear acceleration to bend and cut off tight ends in the flats.
Maryland Terrapins Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Towson Tigers - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. Charlotte 49ers - Week 4
Sept. 15: vs. Virginia Cavaliers - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Michigan State Spartans - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Indiana Hoosiers - Week 7
Oct. 7: at Ohio State Buckeyes - Week 8
Oct. 14: vs. Illinois Fighting Illini - Week 9
BYE - Week 10
Oct. 28: at Northwestern Wildcats - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Penn State Nittany Lions - Week 12
Nov. 11: at Nebraska Cornhuskers - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. Michigan Wolverines - Week 14
Nov. 25: at Rutgers Scarlet Knights - Week 15
BYE
