LB Daniel Wingate to return to Maryland in 2026

Ahmed Ghafir
Jan 1
2 min read

Maryland football officially has a key piece back with star linebacker Daniel Wingate set to return for his fourth and final season with the program in 2026.

Wingate, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound inside linebacker, was one of 13 players named to the postseason All-Big Ten teams, named an honorable mention by both coaches and media, after finishing the 2025 season with a team-high 106 tackles, also ranked sixth-most in the Big Ten. Wingate also earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 4 and was named to the 2025 Bednarik Award Watch List. Wingate finished the season with 102 total tackles, becoming the first Terp since Tre Watson in 2018 to record 100+ tackles in one season.

He becomes the latest to announce his return to Maryland with cornerbacks Dontay Joyner and Jamare Glasker, along with edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart, all part of what should be a much more experienced roster ahead of the 2026 season.

The former three-star out of Pallotti became an integral piece in the inside linebacker rotation through his first two seasons, combining for 57 total tackles and 7.5 TFLs to solidify an experienced room. But after drawing buzz as a potential emerging star in Maryland's defense, Wingate stepped into a full-time starting role in 2025 where he posted double-digit tackles in four of the first five games, including 11 tackles in the road win vs. Wisconsin to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

Wingate, who was also named to both the Butkus and Bednarik Award watch lists, will now return to anchor a defense after head coach Mike Locksley compared the in-state product to one of the most productive players in program history to open the 2025 season.

“Daniel Wingate is a warrior,” head coach Mike Locksley said after the season-opening win vs. Florida Atlantic. “We're very fortunate to have that guy around here. I hate comparisons, but I was around here for a guy who wore number 42 and played heavy handed and physical in EJ Henderson, one of our most decorated players. And I would say he is in that category because his leadership, he plays tough, he plays hard, he plays smart. He has a positive impact on our team in all three phases. He's running out covering kicks as a starter. We're really fortunate to have Daniel as a true junior. I think he's only going to get better, and like I said, I'm looking forward to him having a big year for us.”

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