Maryland DL Tommy Akingbesote accepts invite, joins more Terps in Shrine Bowl

A fourth Terp is now set to suit up in the Shrine Bowl after defensive lineman Tommy Akingbesote accepted his invite on Thursday morning.

Akingbesote joins DL Jordan Phillips, SAF Glen Miller and WR Kaden Prather in the East-West Shrine Bowl, set for Jan. 30, 2025 at AT&T Stadium. Akingbesote, a former four-star out of CH Flowers (Md.), is one of six players from the 24-man 2021 class to end his career at Maryland.

After totaling three tackles in seven games as a true freshman, Akingbesote moved into the two-deep in 2022 where he started in a pair of games and appeared in all but one, recording his first career start against Wisconsin just weeks after recording his first career sack vs. Indiana. He started 19 games over the last two seasons, including all 12 in 2024 where he became the unit’s leading tackler with 32 total.

He ends his career at Maryland with 77 total tackles, eight TFLs, four sacks and a pair of pass deflections in 44 games.

Akingbesote’s first career forced fumble came in his final game at Maryland after forcing a turnover on Penn State’s opening possession before reaping the benefit of his efforts to snag the recovery.

“With him, it's the motor,” head coach Mike Locksley said after the win vs. Villanova.” 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. That's what you're seeing with Tommy. And so that maturity is continuing with him. Now, the consistency is something that we've got to get from him. And I like what I'm seeing so far.”

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