Maryland Football roster refresh: The defensive backs
That first wave of transfer portal movement has subsided. Maryland has snagged nine transfers so and will sign more to address needs at multiple positions. In the first installment of our look at each position and what they've added, who returns and which needs remain, we reset the roster in the defensive backs room.
That first wave of transfer portal movement has subsided. Maryland has snagged nine transfers so far (Maryland football transfer portal tracker) and will sign more to address needs at multiple positions, some of them after spring. In the first installment of our look at each position and what they've added, who returns and which needs remain, we reset the roster in the defensive backs room.
Overview: Maryland saw a ton of departures here, which was expected after its pass defense struggled all season, giving up the third most passing yards per game (241.3) in the Big Ten. There were too many inexperienced players forced into key roles, the result of losing three DBs to the NFL during the previous two seasons, including a first-round pick in Deonte Banks and a rookie star this season in Tarheeb Still, and the lack of additions in the portal last year.
If they had to do it over again, Mike Locksley and his defensive coaches probably would've found a way to bolster this room in the portal last year, but Maryland was the only power conference program not to lose a player to the spring portal, so scholarships were sparse.
Transfer portal departures: Brandon Jacob, Perry Fisher, Kevis Thomas, Lionell Whitaker, Tayvon Nelson, Jonathan Akins, Chantz Harley.
Maryland saw a ton of defensive backs enter the transfer portal and most were mutual decisions between players and coaches. Mostly at cornerback, where they struggled this season. Promising safety Jacob, a four-star signing in '24 who showed flashes as a true freshman, was the one big loss in the defensive backfield. The high-ceiling Floridian returned home, landing at UCF. (The Floridian movement was a theme again.)
Otherwise, it was mostly a group of guys who might be better suited at smaller levels of college football. Fisher, who was expected to become a solid starter but had a rough year, landed at UAB. Whitaker (Coastal Carolina) and Akins (East Carolina) had similar experiences as first-time players. Harley provided some solid performances as a backup but wanted to start and play consistently in his final season. Nelson didn't play in either of his seasons.
Thomas, a well-regarded three-star recruit from Georgia in '23, landed at a higher-level spot than expected (Kentucky).
Other losses: Cornerback Glen Miller and safety Dante Trader have been among Maryland's best defensive backs for the past two seasons. Big losses.
Additions: Jamare Glasker (Wake Forest), Dontay Joyner (Arkansas State).
Maryland might've secured its top two corners for next season. Joyner, who picked Maryland over Michigan State, Houston, WVU and Georgia Tech,
Joyner recorded an excellent 82.3 score from Pro Football Focus. Glasker was Wake's top corner. Most importantly, they have a lot of experience and confidence, the two things Maryland's corners lacked last season.
At safety, where he moved from cornerback during the season, Jalen Huskey was arguably the best player among a transfer haul that didn't pan out. He appears entrenched at one safety spot. Maryland seems likely to add another safety transfer, potentially for the other starting spot. They tried to make a run at Tennessee transfer Christian Harrison, the son of former NFL star Rodney Harrison, but he landed at Cincinnati.
It seems less likely they'll take another corner, but if a good one is available, that could change.
Others to know: While they needed a lot of players to leave, the Terps did want to keep a few of their younger returning guys. The farthest along is probably La'khi Roland, who held his own in a handful of appearances as a true freshman, including a start against Oregon. Composite four-stars Kevyn Humes and Braydon Lee arrived with lofty expectations but struggled after being thrown into the fire as a true freshman. But there's still plenty of optimism about their futures.
Shamar McIntosh, Judah Jenkins, Lloyd Irvin and Alex Moore are the other young, unproven players who could factor in at safety and corner. Jenkins, the Good Counsel (Md.) product Maryland flipped from Indiana last year, played in all 12 games as a true freshman.
