2025 NFL Draft tracker: Maryland football sets program record in modern draft era

Ahmed Ghafir
Apr 25
5 min read

Updated: Apr 26

Maryland football has produced six selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, setting a program record in the modern NFL Draft era:

Tai Felton becomes first WR drafted in Mike Locksley era

Former Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton has been drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round with the 102nd overall pick.

Felton becomes the program's first wide receiver to be drafted since DJ Moore was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He now reunites with former teammate Jeshaun Jones in Minnesota, while the Vikings signed Rondale Moore this offseason to pair him alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

In his four years at Maryland, Felton finished third in school history in receptions (172), and fourth in receiving yards (2207) and touchdowns (17). In 2024, he set a school record in catches in a single season with 96, coming in second in the Big Ten behind Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. He finished with a first-team All-Big Ten selection for his accomplishments. In 2023, Felton earned third-team All-Big Ten honors after a 48-catch, 723-yard campaign that was second on the team.

"I've always said Tai Felton was a talented player. He got overlooked recruiting wise because of the injury his senior year. Prior to that, he was a guy that was a national recruit and we got lucky to get him, because of injury and because of our loyalty to him. And as I've said, he had opportunities a year ago other people came knocking and he decided to stay because he understands what our offensive system offers a guy like him," head coach Mike Locksley said of Felton.

A former three-star recruit out of Stone Bridge, Felton signed with the Terps in 2021, after other schools tried to jump in after he committed.

LB Ruben Hyppolite becomes first LB drafted since 2018

Former Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round with the 132nd overall pick.

Hyppolite, a former three-star signee and leader of the Terps' coaching transition under head coach Mike Locksley, becomes the first linebacker out of the program drafted since Jermaine Carter went in the fifth round in 2018.

Hyppolite had been at Maryland since 2020 and finished his college career with 138 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, six passes defended and a forced fumble. He led the team in tackles in 2024, was second in 2021 and third in 2023. Hyppolite’s 2023 season earned a third-team All-Big Ten selection, while earning Acadamic All-Big Ten honors in 2022.

"He’s the old man in the room, so [he’s] really getting to express his leadership qualities and skills,” former defensive coordinator Brian Williams said. “He’s playing a lot faster, he’s seeing things a lot better and he’s knowing how and when to utilize his speed. He’s gotten stronger in the weight room, so he’s playing with more power. It’s like a cheat code to have him right now."

Hyppolite was a four-star recruit out of McArthur high school in Florida. Following his commitment to Maryland, he earned an offer from Alabama.

DL Jordan Phillips becomes latest draft pick

Former Maryland Defensive Tackle Jordan Phillips was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round.

A raw prospect with huge upside at the next level ,Phillips recorded 58 tackles and three tackles for loss in two years at Maryland. Following the end of 2024, Phillips was invited to the East-West Shrine game when he impressed scouts in practice.

"It became extremely evident that Maryland defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is the best player on the field for the East squad. Not only that, but he’s likely the best player here in general. I came into the event already high on Phillips. I have a higher grade on Phillips than on Kenneth Grant and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen," Cory Kinnan said of Phillips at the East-West Shrine Game.

Phillips spent a year at Tennessee where he redshirted after only playing in three games his first year recording one tackle. Before that he was a three-star recruit out of Ocoee, Florida.

SAF Dante Trader Jr. reunites with DL Phillips on Dolphins

Former Maryland safety Dante Trader Jr has been drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round with the 155th overall pick.

Trader now reunites with DL Jprdan Phillips in Miami as he becomes the fifth drafted defensive back out of the program since 2020.

Trader signed with Maryland in 2021 and spent three years as a starter. He finished his college career with 109 tackles, a tackle for loss, 19 passes defended, a forced fumble, and five interceptions. Trader finished second on the team in tackles in 2022 and 2024, and third in 2023. He earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2024 and was an academic All-Big Ten in 2022. As a sophomore he played both football and lacrosse.

"Dante Trader Jr., pound-for-pound, was one of the best players in the Big Ten. And I think for Maryland, for the Terrapins, he was a guy that he screamed, ‘hey, look at me – why am I not getting more attention?’ And he's going to get it," ESPN's Mel Kiper had to say of Trader.

A product of McDonogh, Trader committed to Maryland as a three-star recruit in football and a top recruit in lacrosse.

WR Kaden Prather becomes second WR drafted

Former Maryland wide receiver Kaden Prather was drafted by Buffalo Bills in the seventh round.

With Prather and Felton off the board, the former Maryland duo become the first set of Terp receivers to be selected in the same draft since Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof (Chiefs) and James Milling (Colts) were drafted in 1988.

In two years at Maryland, Prather finished with 98 catches for 1290 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2024, he was second on the team in catches (56), receiving yards (624), and touchdowns (4). The year before, Prather was named as an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention following a 42-catch, 666-yard, five touchdown season.

"I always knew this was a destined location," Prather said in his first year at Maryland. " As soon as I hit the portal, I knew where I wanted to go."

Before coming to Maryland, Prather spent two years at West Virginia. At Northwest High School, he was a four-star recruit that had offers from over 30 schools.

DL Tommy Akingbesote heads to Texas

Former Maryland Defensive Tackle Tommy Akingbesote was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round with the 240th overall selection.

Akingbesote had been at Maryland since 2021, raking up 77 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 passes defended, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He might have been the Terps’ best defensive lineman in 2024, with the most tackles from that position with 32. He also added five tackles for loss, one sack, a fumble recovery and forced fumble.

"He has the size, he has the skill, and now he's playing with the necessary motor that you need big guys to play. And I think he's starting to understand that if you want to play at the next level, that group likes big guys that play with a motor. And I think Tommy because of the way he's practicing and I keep talking about practice should be the show and the show should be more like practice," head coach Mike Locksley said of Akingbesote following the Villanova win.

Akingbesote was a former four-star recruit from Flowers in 2021 that was seen as having huge upside.

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