ESPN points to trenches as position of intrigue for Maryland football in 2026

Ahmed Ghafir
Mar 3
2 min read

Maryland football is set to open spring ball exactly three weeks from today as head coach Mike Locksley and the revamped coaching staff approach a pivotal month, tasked with meshing the new transfer portal additions alongside the returners from the 2024 season, including freshmen class. While ample roster familiarity on both sides of the ball, the question this year isn’t as much about how the pieces acclimate to Big Ten pace of play, but rather where the areas of growth are along the 2026 roster. While the skill positions will have a chance to prove something at the end of the month and cornerback depth a question ahead of 2026, ESPN pointed to defensive tackle as the position of intrigue this spring.

"Although the Maryland pass rush thrived at times, the Terrapins also surrendered 175.6 rushing yards per game last season -- 15th most among Big Ten defenses. Maryland will be counting on multiple transfers to help plug the middle, including Armon Parker (Washington), Lavon Johnson (Texas) and Derrick LeBlanc (UCF). Four-star defensive tackle signee Jamarcus Whyce and Cameron Brickle, who was once an Ohio State commitment before inking with Maryland, could boost the interior, as well. Either way, the Terrapins have to do a much better job stopping the run in 2026 if they want to return to bowl eligibility."

Maryland also returns both Bryce Jenkins and Eyan Thomas where they can step into the nose tackle rotation with the interior defensive line now boasting an experienced and deep rotation with Jayven Parker becoming the final transfer portal addition announced by the program on Tuesday morning, but maybe the bigger intrigue will be the edge rushers.

Ahead of his first round of spring ball, former blue-chip edge rusher Zion Elee was tabbed as the player to watch for Maryland this spring.

“Last year, Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis combined for 13 sacks as freshmen. Assuming Elee, who enrolled early to participate in spring ball, is ready to play immediately, he could team up with them to give the Terrapins one of the top young pass-rushing trios in the country,” ESPN added.

The trio will give Maryland arguably their most dominant pass rush of the 2000s as they routinely get extra on-field reps together inside Jones-Hill House through the spring semester ahead of spring ball, noting the versatility that they add to the front seven.

“They make you better. Having Zahir on the other end, I think I would be hard pressed to find somebody pretty much the exact same age as me with pretty much the exact same ability as me on the same team as me,” Sidney Stewart said.

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