Freshman TE Rico Walker enters the transfer portal

Maryland watched its revamped tight end room take form through the 2023 season, with Corey Dyches leading the unit, Preston Howard emerging in spurts while freshmen Rico Walker, Dylan Wade and AJ Szymanski carved out roles in their first season. But the long-term outlook at the position took a hit on Friday after Walker, a former four-star prospect, announced plans to enter the transfer portal.

The Best Is Ahead❤️💯 pic.twitter.com/K8xogaUDtU

— 6’4”specimen (@Ricowalker15) December 1, 2023

“I would like to thank Coach Locks and the University of Maryland for the opportunity to grow on and off the field here in College Park. This student athlete experience has provided me a solid foundation to build upon as I continue to develop and perfect my craft. To my teammates, I appreciate the love, respect the brotherhood we established internally and wish everyone the best. Terp fans, you truly will be missed. With that being said, I will be entering my name in the transfer portal,” Walker announced on X/Twitter.

Walker, a former four-star out of Hickory, North Carolina, was one of three four-star signees for Maryland in the 2023 class. Whether he would play tight end or outside linebacker was a question early in his recruitment, but Walker arrived in College Park in January and joined the program on the offensive side of the ball where tight ends coach Kevin Sumlin led the unit.

Walker recorded four catches for 27 yards in eight games in his lone season with the program.

Rico Walker becomes the fourth scholarship player to announce plans to enter the transfer portal, joining defensive back Gavin Gibson, offensive tackle Ja’Kavion Nonar and safety Tamarcus Cooley, ahead of the portal window opening beginning Dec. 4.

Freshman TE Rico Walker enters the transfer portal

Ahmed Ghafir