Maryland football defense leaning on experience, familiarity ahead of 2026

Ahmed Ghafir
41 minutes ago
3 min read

While the offense will look to gel together as new coordinator Clint Trickett installs tempo in the 2026 Maryland football offense, the defense enters spring ball with familiarity. Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino returns eight starters with both edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart back for year two, but maybe none were bigger than the return of linebacker Daniel Wingate, who bypassed the 2026 NFL Draft and ignored outside portal interest to cement his fourth season with the program. There wasn’t much question that Wingate would end up returning if another year of college was the ultimate choice, but it gives Maryland “a good anchor point” to lead the 2026 defense.

“I think he was very open about communication and his intent to be a Terp,” inside linebacker coach Zac Spavital said.

The returning experience along the defense isn’t lost on defensive coordinator Ted Monachino with a strong nucleus to build on ahead of the OTA-structured spring ball. With practices closer to 90-105 minutes this year with less wear and tear along the roster, that experience along the roster has allowed the defensive staff a chance to address the offseason differently compared to last year.

“Being able to go back and start at step one but not spend as long on step one has been a huge advantage for us,” Monachino said. “So I think that by the time we get our installs done in the spring, I think we'll be way ahead, and then we'll even speed it up even further.”

Still, cornerback depth is a question mark that will have to be addressed ahead of the 2026 season. The top of Maryland’s unit has a trio of NFL Draft prospects with both Jamare Glasker and Dontay Joyner back, while Boston College transfer Amari Jackson is expected to round out the starting rotation. Beyond them, Maryland lacks experience after both La’Khi Roland and Braydon Lee transferred to Arkansas this offseason, leaving Lloyd Irvin and Ricardo Cooper as the lone cornerbacks with game reps behind the starters. Maryland also added former St. John’s (DC) and St. Frances (MD) cornerback Hakim Satterwhite among the batch of early enrollees, but developing that depth is something co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is working to bolster over the next month.

“I think that's going to be more of the challenge that I put on myself, is getting the developmental side of some of those young players up to speed as fast as possible,” Abdul-Rahim said. “Fortunately, a lot of the younger players that are in our room are serious about football, and they've been great. And then fortunately, they've come in and in January, so you're able to get your hands and be around them, get your hands a little bit more than someone who just walks up in June.

“In this day and age, there’s no such thing as a redshirt anymore. And we try to recruit. I know in my position, I want to recruit with the mindset that a kid can come in and be in the two-deep. I think we've accomplished that with some of the guys that are here so far.”

The backline returns experience with one starter back in Lavain Scruggs and another in Messiah Delhomme who safeties coach James Thomas noted played over 200 snaps as he rotated behind Jalen Huskey in every game during his true freshman season. Darrell Carey was another among the early enrollees where the former DeMatha defensive back will get a chance to play a “dual role” in the secondary with a chance to become an early impact piece.

“Being here early helps change his body a little bit and get stronger. And I think that's a good thing,” Thomas added.

“We’re excited about the depth we have in the room.”

The depth doesn’t extend to just the secondary as defensive coordinator Ted Monachino pointed to linebackers CJ Smith and Keyshawn Flowers as two he’s excited to watch “emerge,” along with a healthy Bryce Jenkins.

“I think that those are two really good young linebackers that all they needed was some seasoning and time with our [defensive] line guys,” Monachino added.

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