2025 Maryland football outgoing transfer portal tracker: two DL depart

Ahmed Ghafir
Nov 30, 2025
6 min read

Updated: Jan 7

With the 2025 regular season officially wrapped up, players have already started to announce stay-or-go decisions with a handful of local underclassmen the first:

Jan. 7: veteran defenders depart

Two more have departed the program in cornerback Braydon Lee and linebacker Mike Harris.

Lee marks as a notable hit to the secondary depth after appearing in 11 games with one interception and a pair of pass breakups in 2025, joining La'Khi Roland in the cornerback rotation behind Jamare Glasker and Dontay Joyner. Lee inked with the program as a former four-star out of Flowers HS (MD), flipping his commitment from South Carolina to Maryland to become a key piece in the cornerback rotation through his first two seasons.

Harris, meanwhile, departs after falling out of the linebacker rotation in 2025. Despite playing in all 12 games, Harris did not start a game as a junior as he posted 12 total tackles through the 2025 season. The Florida native departs with one season of eligibility remaining.

Jan. 7: DL depth takes a hit

While Maryland has started adding to its offseason transfer portal haul, Maryland has watched a pair of rotational defensive linemen enter the transfer portal.

DT Dimitry Nicolas was the first to depart as the former three-star transfers without registered a stat. Nicolas inked with the program as a three-star our of Norland (FL) in the 2024 recruiting cycle with then defensive coordinator Brian Williams positioning the Terps for the signing day addition. Nicolas was previously committed to Auburn before flipping his commitment, but after two seasons, a reunion with Brian Williams at Jacksonville State is a possibility.

DL Sedrick Smith became the second to enter on Wednesday morning, departing after one season with the program. Smith transferred into Maryland from Alabama A&M during the spring portal window ahead of the 2025 season where he logged seven tackles including three solo while playing in all 12 games.

Jan. 1: two depart

CB Kevyn "Kerm" Humes and RB Nolan Ray will enter the transfer portal after two seasons with the program. Humes became the primary nickel defensive back in 2025 alongside true freshman Jayden Shipps, finishing the season with 12 tackles and one pass breakup in nine games. Where Humes lands next remains unclear after a third season was up in the air once the 2025 season wrapped up.

Ray, a former three-star in the 2024 class, drew buzz as a potential difference maker in each of the last two offseasons, but the on-field production never matched with Maryland also struggling with run protection. Ray finished with 301 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 67 touches in 2025.

Humes reclassified into the 2024 class as a four-star recruit out of St. Frances.

Dec. 31: second-year ATH departs

After two seasons with the program, Josiah McLaurin announced his departure from the program.

In ten games over two seasons, McLaurin posted three catches for 39 yards and one touchdown with the score coming in his first college game, a 24-yard reception in the season opening win. But the North Carolina native made his biggest mark on special teams where he averaged 15.7 yards per kickoff and 5.6 yards per punt over his two seasons, struggling to give the third phase the big play ability that Maryland has been looking for under head coach Mike Locksley.

McLaurin departs with three years of eligibility remaining.

Dec. 31: veteran pass catcher departs

Virginia native and former WR-turned-TE Leon Haughton has announced he plans to enter the transfer portal.

Haughton signed with the program as a former three-star in the 2022 class out of Benedictine with former assistant Zohn Burden anchoring efforts. Ahead of year three, Haughton transitioned from receiver to tight end where he would play a role in the rotation in both 2024 and 2025, primarily in 2025. In his final season with the program, Haughton posted four catches for 43 yards and one touchdown in 2025, a 21-yard score vs. Nebraska.

Dec. 30: veteran DL leaves

Former Canarsie (NY) defensive lineman Dillan Fontus announced he will enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

Fontus enters his career at Maryland with 41 total tackles, 3.5 TFLs and one sack in 36 games after becoming a mainstay in the rotation over the last two seasons and becoming a full-time starter in 2025. Fontus assistated on a TFL in three of the first four games of the season while combining for one sack through the first two games of the season.

The New York native was also selected as the first-ever winner of the Big Ten Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award back in April.

Dec. 27: second-year CB departs

Second-year cornerback La'Khi Roland is expected to hit the transfer portal after news broke on Saturday afternoon, a hit to the Terps' cornerback rotation.

In 11 games, Roland posted three interceptions and three passes defended highlighted by a 100-yard pick six vs. Towson. Roland was a key piece in the two-deep alongsie Braydon Lee and behind Jamare Glasker and Dontay Joyner, with Joyner already announcing finalized plans to return. The Georgia native, who committed under former assistant Henry Baker, is expected to draw Power Four interest next month.

Dec. 17: two QBs depart

The quarterback depth has taken a hit, as expected, with quarterbacks Justyn Martin and Roman Jensen announcing their departures on Wednesday evening.

Both leave the program without throwing a pass, maybe more surprising for Martin.

A former four-star and UCLA transfer, Justyn Martin arrived in January with a chance to compete alongside true freshman Malik Washington for the starting job with a chance to compete for the opening job. Washington's maturity for a true freshman remained consistent throughout, though Martin saw time in the season opening win vs. Florida Atlantic. He left the game in the second half after undergoing injury, though he was cleared to return midway through the season and did not dress.

Jensen, meanwhile, arrived from Maret (DC) in 2024 where he made his debut in the week three win vs. Towson in 2025.

Dec. 16: former four-star departs

After struggling to make a dent, edge Neeo Avery is expected to enter the transfer portal after three seasons in College Park. Avery, who redshirted in 2023, totaled just five tackles and two TFLs as he battled injuries over the last two seasons. Avery served as a signing day flip in the 2023 class, giving Maryland its prized addition after the former Good Counsel quarterback flipped from Ole Miss to ink with the Terps.

Dec. 16: second-year QB hits portal

With Malik Washington set to return to Maryland in 2026, all eyes were on attrition in the quarterback room with Khristian Martin the first to announce. Martin, a former three-star out of Highland Springs in the 2024 cycle, was among the graduates announced by the program after earning his sociology degree after two seasons.

"First, I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey. Thank you to the University of Maryland, coaching staff, my teammates, and everyone in Maryland Athletics and academics for the memories, support and opportunities. I'm grateful for the bonds built, lessons learned, and everyone who helped me grow on and off the field. A special thank you to my family and friends for continuous support and believing in me throughout this process. After careful thought and prayer, I will be entering the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer with three years of eligibility remaining," Martin wrote on X.

In five games, Martin finished with 105 yards and one touchdown on 11-of-17 passing, while he was named MVP of the 2025 spring game.

Dec. 1: second-year WR departs

Second-year WR Jahmari Powell-Wonson became the second to announce his departure, recording two catches for 14 yards in the homecoming loss vs. Indiana this season. It marked his lone appearance with the program after the former three-star signed with the program during the 2024 cycle. Powell-Wonson also becomes the first to depart from the wide receiver room, arguably the top priority this offseason with three seniors departing and unproven depth behind them.

Nov. 30: local safety departs after two seasons

Safety Shamar McIntosh has announced his departure after two seasons in College Park.

McIntosh, a three-star signee in the 2024 class out of St. John’s (DC), posted two tackles in six appearances across his two seasons in College Park, including one tackle vs. Florida Atlantic in his lone appearance in 2025. The local defensive back was one of two commitments from the WCAC powerhouse at the time, alongside three-star WR Sean Williams.

Upgrading the safety room is worth tracking this offseason with Jalen Huskey looking to extend Maryland’s streak of defensive backs selected in the NFL Drafts, while former blue-chip signee Messiah Delhomme hopes to step in as the full-time starter in year two.

Maryland currently has a pair of safety commits in the fold in DeMatha (MD) three-star Darrell Carey and St. Albans (DC) three-star Zahir Cobb, while newest Maryland pledge Sean Johnson serves as a versatile piece in the secondary with all three slated to enroll in June.

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