Maryland football OT Rahtrel Perry named portal standout ahead of 2025 season

Maryland football’s offensive line is tasked with replacing at least three starters from a 2024 unit that struggled through conference play, but head coach Mike Locksley and his staff worked to bolster the unit after signing former Central Connecticut LT Rahtrel Perry.

Perry, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound redshirt junior, joins the program after playing in 26 games in three seasons as Central Connecticut State paved their way into the FCS playoffs. But how Perry did it was enough to turn heads across the country as the former three-star portal prospect didn’t allow a sack against FBS competition in 2024 en route to an All-NEC first team selection.

Now slotted to line up as a tackle in College Park, likely on the left side, Perry was named among the standouts who transferred from FCS into the Power Four level this offseason.

CBS Sports: Maryland lost a few offensive linemen to the transfer portal, so adding Perry was imperative. He was a 2024 All-NEC first team selection after starting all 13 games and, most impressively, did not allow a single sack in CCSU's games against Central Michigan and UMass, two FBS opponents. Though he'll certainly face stiffer competition in the Big Ten, that's a good sign for Perry's ability to acclimate with the Terps.

Perry will likely be tasked with filling the shoes left vacant by Andre Roye, who left the program in late February after losing his starting job, while former blue-chip signee and freshman OT Jaylen Gilchrist continues to prove himself as an impact addition heading into the 2025 season.

Perry committed to Maryland after a length recruiting battle among several Power Four teams over Ohio State, Florida State, Syracuse and Pitt among others.

“Coach [Mike] Locksley was the one who called me,” Perry said at the time. “I was mainly talking with coach Locks and coach [Damian Wroblewski] the rest of the time. I love both of them.”

“Mostly because of what coach Locksley talked to me about, about the culture over there and the environment and how much they can provide for me and my development. I believe what he says. I can see the passion behind what he’s talking about. I can see his dreams, goals in motion as we speak. I want to play for him.”

Perry joined the program with two years of eligibility remaining after committing to Maryland as the 17th-best offensive tackle in the transfer portal, per On3.

Related Links