One Maryland football vet announces return, another declares for NFL

Veteran offensive lineman Corey Bullock ended his college career on Friday afternoon after declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, but he was the first of two linemen to declare while redshirt junior defensive end Quashon Fuller announced his return to Maryland for a third season.

Fuller gives the Terps another veteran to lean on in the front seven after linebacker Ruben Hyppolite also previously announced his return in 2024.

After committing to Maryland in the spring of 2022, Fuller became an instant impact in the rotation after posting seven tackles and two TFLs in in ten games last season. The Florida native made the jump in year two with the program, starting in 11 games and posting 25 tackles and five TFLs, along with a career-high five tackles in the Music City Bowl win vs. Auburn.

Fuller’s decision to return in 2024 was expected, but a notable announcement to provide depth to the Terps’ defensive line. Maryland is also expected to return Taizse Johnson, Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips while Lavon Johnson and Dillan Fontus look to build off their first season in the program.

Roughly an hour after Corey Bullock announced he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, Gottlieb Ayedze made his plans official weeks as he’ll head to the NFL after one season with the program.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Lord for blessing me with the opportunity to represent two great college football programs that have been instrumental in ensuring I maximize my potential both and off the field.”

“To the amazing staff at Frostburg thank you for giving me an opportunity to play college football despite just one year playing the sport. Thank you for helping me grow into the student athlete I have become. I want to thank coach Locksley for allowing me to come to Maryland and compete on the highest level and to develop as a player and man. To the Terp faithful, playing this year has been a dream come true and the environment this fan base provides is second to none. To my family, thank you for always supporting me and being there for me every step of this journey. To my teammates both at Frostburg and Maryland I will never forget the memories made on and off the field with the greatest guys anyone could ask for, I will cherish them forever. With that said I am excited to take the next step and enter the 2024 NFL Draft,” Ayedze wrote on Instagram.

Ayedze decided to switch to football heading into his senior year at Northwest under head coach Mike Neubeiser, blossoming into a high-ceiling prospect. After appearing in 33 games during three full seasons with Frostburg, Ayedze was one of the immediate transfer portal pickups last offseason as head coach Mike Locksley restocked the offensive line. Ayedze made his season debut against Virginia and never looked back, starting every Big Ten game before wrapping up his career with a Music City Bowl win over Auburn.

Ayedze accepted an invitation to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl back on Jan. 5, making Friday’s plans a formality with his college career complete.

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