Ranking Maryland football's most pressing transfer portal needs and projecting how many the Terps will add
Maryland has added eight signees in the transfer portal, addressing a variety of needs. But Mike Locksley has plenty of holes to fill if his team. Let's take a shot at ranking their most pressing positions of need from one to ten and take some educated guesses at how many more transfers the Terps will add at each spot.
Maryland football added eight signees in the first two weeks of the transfer portal, addressing a variety of needs. But Mike Locksley has plenty of holes to fill if his team is going to bounce back from a difficult 4-8 season. Let's take a shot at ranking their most pressing positions of need from one to ten and take some educated guesses at how many more transfers the Terps will add at each spot.
10. Linebackers
Barring any late departures, Maryland's in excellent shape at linebacker. Caleb Wheatland and Kellan Wyatt have proven themselves as quality Big Ten linebackers. Daniel Wingate looks like an emerging menace and Michael Harris showed his dynamic speed this season. True freshman Trey Reddick was impressive this season, especially as a pass rusher. Four-star freshman Keyshawn Flowers chose Maryland over bluebloods and D.J. Samuels is a 246-pound fire hydrant who earned positive reviews in practice.
There's no position on the roster with more emerging talent than linebacker.
Remaining additions: Zero
9. Quarterback
Projected remaining additions: ZeroLocksley knew there was a chance Billy Edwards Jr. would move on, so when he entered the portal, Locksley quickly made a move to get UCLA transfer Justyn Martin on campus. I'd make Martin the frontrunner to start under center next year. MJ Morris will be in the mix and heralded incoming freshman Malik Washington will get a fair chance after arriving early and getting comfortable. But as gifted as Washington is, he'll likely need a year to get ready to be a starter in the Big Ten, while getting his share of reps as a freshman.
There was some talk that freshman Khristian Martin could be considering the portal, but he's still around. Champ Long is also hoping to make an underdog run into the competition, while Jayden Sauray also remains on the roster. I don't see Locksley adding another quarterback and crowding the room, and no impactful quarterback is likely to want to join that crowd.
Projected remaining additions: Zero
8. Kicker/Punter
Notre Dame transfer Bryce McFerson was one of the team's most reliable players this season and he's only a sophomore, so they're in good shape there. Kicker Jack Howes has been consistently inconsistent, so it would make sense for Locksley to add another option at the overlooked-but-vital position.Projected remaining additions: 1
7. Tight end
Maryland saw both of its starting tight ends hit the portal, with Dylan Wade landing at UCF and Preston Howard at Auburn. It sounds like a big reason Howard left was the addition of high-ceiling Georgia State transfer Dorian Fleming. Locksley was unhappy with the blocking last season, so bullish young tight end A.J. Szymanski should also see more reps. He likes incoming recruit JT Taggart, but he needs to add weight and might not be ready to pitch in immediately. There's no one on the roster with major Power Conference experience, so I can see them adding another here.Projected remaining additions: 1
6. Safety
Maryland lost its best safety, Dante Trader, to graduation, and one of its most promising safeties to the portal when Brandon Jacob left for UCF. Jalen Huskey should be a solid starter after sliding from cornerback and Arkansas State transfer Dontay Joyner was the third-highest-rated corner in the Sunbelt per PFF and recorded interceptions against Iowa and Michigan, so has the tools to be an upgrade. But at a slight 174 pounds, he might need to play corner. As I've reported, Tennessee transfer Christian Harrison is a possibility here.Projected remaining additions: 1
