200 replies to this topic

[BSLZackKiesel]

I'll keep this post updated as news develops regarding next season's roster.

 

Departures (No Eligibility) - 7

• WR Jalil Farooq (UDFA - Baltimore Ravens)
• WR Shaleak Knotts (UDFA - Minnesota Vikings)
• WR Octavian Smith Jr. (UDFA - Baltimore Ravens)
• OL Alan Herron (UDFA - New Orleans Saints)
• DL Cam Rice
• DB Jalen Huskey (Round 3 - Jacksonville Jaguars)
• LS Ethan Gough

Departures (Early NFL Draft Declaration) - 0

 

Departures (Transfer Portal) - 18

• QB Roman Jensen (Shippensburg)
• QB Justyn Martin (Ohio State)
• QB Khristian Martin (Fresno State)
• RB Bud Coombs
• RB Nolan Ray ​(Boston College)
• WR Josiah McLaurin (Marshall)
• WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson (Florida Atlantic)
• TE Leon Haughton Jr. (Old Dominion)
• OL Aliou Bah (LSU)
• DL Dillan Fontus (Syracuse)
• DL Dimitry Nicolas (Sam Houston)
• DL Sedrick Smith (Colorado)
• LB Neeo Avery (South Dakota)
• LB Michael Harris (USF)
• DB Kevyn Humes (Boston College) (Rutgers)
• DB Braydon Lee (Arkansas)
• DB Shamar McIntosh (Charlotte)
• DB La'Khi Roland (Arkansas)

Arrivals (Freshmen) - 20

• QB Nathan Bernhard
• WR Jayden Kitchens
• WR Josiah Teasley
• TE Damon Hall Jr.
• TE Brayden Marko
• TE Javonte Williams
• OL Teagan Cox
• OL Jesse Moody
• OL Day'jon Moore
• DL Cam Brickle II
• DL Jianni Davis
• DL Zion Elee
• DL Jamarcus Whyce
• LB Kayden Carter
• DB Darrell Carey
• DB Zahir Cobb
• DB Sean Johnson
• DB Hakim Satterwhite
• K Eli Fulcher
• LS Rory Knipp

Arrivals (Junior College) - 1

• WR Ejani Shakir (Independence Community College)

Arrivals (Transfer Portal) - 15

• QB Jack Capaldi (Fordham)
• QB Devin Kargman (Kent State)
• QB Cardell Williams (Sacramento State)
• QB Cal Wither (Wilfrid Laurier)
• RB Harry Dalton III (USC)
• RB Trequan Jones (Old Dominion)
• RB Terrez Worthy (Temple)
• WR Chris Durr Jr. (Wyoming)
• WR Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding (Old Dominion)
• TE Preston Howard (Auburn)
• OL Tellek Lockette (Texas State)
• DL Lavon Johnson (Texas)
• DL Derrick LeBlanc (UCF)
• DL Armon Parker (Washington)
• DL Jayvon Parker (Washington)
• LB Stephen Dean III (VMI)
• DB Amari Jackson (Boston College)

Total Departures: 25

Total Arrivals: 35

[BSLChrisStoner]

Are they able to keep Washington, Stewart, and Mathis?

 

Does Elee stay committed?

[BaltBird 24]

They lose those 4 and Locksley is absolutely a lame duck coach. He probably already is.

They absolutely should leave if they want to win, but Locksley has shown he can get guys into the league despite being a poor coach if that's their priority. Washington's NFL future is probably the only one seriously impacted by staying at Maryland.

[BSLChrisStoner]

1) Look to bring in 10-15 players via the portal.

AAC
CUSA
MAC
Mountain West

Go hunt their All-Conference players with eligibility.

Same with CAA / FCS.

Priorities: O-Line, Secondary, WR.



1a) Then target the DMV players who went elsewhere.

1b) Also go after the 2nd and 3rd string types at Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan... who doesn't want to wait for an opportunity? Immediate playing time available.


2) Pep Hamilton and Ted Monachino have a lot of experience.
No problem with them being back.

Go add another Coach that's on par with the Coordinators. Asst. HC.

Reevaluate the Training Staff.
Every week when looking at the match-ups, it seemed liked MD was always missing way more guys than their opponent.




3) Pull more of the former players into the program. Mini camp, Summer camp instruction, etc.
https://www.pro-foot...and/drafted.htm

Let them feel more connected with the program, and be advocates for you.

4) Improve the pregame experience. More food trucks. More local BBQ. Bring in local breweries and distillers. Make cosmetic stadium improvements.

People are historically apathetic to MD Football. Apathy will be at an all-time next year. You aren't going to sell tickets.

Bring people in - free tickets or not.
Bring people into the Stadium. Build connections, and experiences.
Do a better job reaching out to your Alumni.

When (if) you ever improve, demand will increase, and you can charge.
There will be absolutely zero demand next year.
All you can do is try and build relationships.


Start with getting commitments that Washington, Stewart, and Mathis are returning.
Make that the priority.
They commit publicly, you can use that as a selling point.

They bounce, and a tough / bad situation looks even worse.

[BSLZackKiesel]

DB Shamar McIntosh has entered the transfer portal.

[BSLZackKiesel]

WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson has entered the transfer portal.

[BSLZackKiesel]

IMS: Ranking Maryland football's 10 most important players to keep out of the transfer portal

https://247sports.co...310485/#2760333

 

1. QB Malik Washington

2. LB Daniel Wingate

3. DL Zahir Mathis

4. DL Bryce Jenkins

5. OL Jaylen Gilchrist

6. DL Sidney Stewart

7. K Sean O'Haire

8. DB Messiah Delhomme

9. DB Dontay Joyner

10. OL Michael Hershey

[BSLZackKiesel]

IMS: Father of Maryland freshman star Sidney Stewart opens up on whether he'll stay, opportunity to team with Elee

https://247sports.co...elee-265685356/

"We are in talks with the university, with the staff at [the] University of Maryland," his father, Stephen Stewart, told InsideMDSports Tuesday in a phone interview. "We're excited about what the future holds for Sidney at the University of Maryland, and we're looking forward to coming back next season. Hopefully, we can work it out to where we're back."

[BaltBird 24]

I hate the current landscape of college sports where you have to negotiate every year to keep kids on your team.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I hate the current landscape of college sports where you gave to negotiate every year to keep kids on your team.

Yep.

 

At least it sounds possible.
How big a check will the donors write?

Which program flush with cash and a desire to improve writes a check that MD can't come close to matching?

Ugh.

[glenn__davis]

Yeah, it stinks.  Seems likely that some SEC or Big 10 program will offer him more money, and he'll take it.  Tough to blame him.

[BSLZackKiesel]

Pete Thamel reporting that QB Malik Washington has agreed to a deal to return to Maryland for the 2026 season.

[BSLZackKiesel]

QB Khristian Martin and LB Neeo Avery have entered the transfer portal.

[BSLZackKiesel]

QB Roman Jensen has entered the transfer portal.

[BSLZackKiesel]

QB Justyn Martin has entered the transfer portal.

[BSLZackKiesel]

DB Dontay Joyner has agreed to a deal to return to Maryland for the 2026 season.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I guess it’s a sign of the changing time that it’s now a thing for players to announce they are staying with their current team.

[BSLZackKiesel]

I guess it’s a sign of the changing time that it’s now a thing for players to announce they are staying with their current team.

Hopefully another step towards multi-year contracts which would calm a lot of this stuff down.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Hopefully another step towards multi-year contracts which would calm a lot of this stuff down.

Contracts alone won’t do it. Can’t enforce them if the terms are a violation of antitrust laws. Once the NCAA fails in their attempt to get an antitrust exemption from Congress hopefully they pivot to something akin to the pro sports model, at least in revenue sports.

[BSLZackKiesel]

DL Zahir Mathis announces he’s reached a deal to return to Maryland for the 2026 season.