Maryland football starters Michael Hershey, Sean O'Haire selected to preseason watch lists

Aug 7

2 min read

After both tight end Dorian Fleming and linebacker Daniel Wingate drew recognition in preseason watch lists this week, two more Maryland football starters were honored this week.

The first was center Michael Hershey, who was tabbed to the 2026 Rimington Trophy Award Watch List on Thursday, an annual award presented to the top center in college football.

Though only a preseason list, it marks yet another step of acknowledgement in the rising offensive lineman after Hershey arrived in College Park as an underrecruited, three-star prospect out of Spring Grove (Pa.) After enrolling June 2024, Hershey became a staple in the offensive line rotation behind current Chargers center Josh Kaltenberger before stepping in as the full-time starter in 2025 and a leader ahead of 2026.

Hershey previously pointed to the “game slowing down” during his first season as a starter as he and quarterback Malik Washington lead a new-look offense under new coordinator Clint Trickett.

“Michael Hershey is a guy that I have a lot of respect for and how he's been able to develop himself into what I call one of the best centers in the country. Will be a guy that by the end of the year that people will know who will know the name, Michael Hershey,” head coach Mike Locksley said at Big Ten Media Day. “Super smart, tough, reliable. As you know, the center position is kind of the escort, the Secret Service for the quarterback, and how he gets the lines all set up. And Hershey's one of those smart, tough, reliable players.”

Hershey would be the first of two after kicker Sean O’Haire was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List on Friday.

O’Haire will look to become the program’s first Lou Groza Award winner since Brad Craddock did so in 2014, though the Irish kicker also dazzled in year one en route to being named a Coaches First Team All-Big Ten selection.

As a freshman, O’Haire led all FBS freshmen in both made field goals and percentage while his 21 made field goals are tied for the third-most in a single season in program history among several freshmen records broken. His 87.5% field goal conversion rate also ranks second-best in a single season in program history after going 21-of-24 in his first season with the program, including 5-of-5 in attempts between 40 and 49 yards. Maryland brought in kickers to upgrade the kickoff depth as O’Haire looks to anchor a strong specialist tandem alongside Bryce McFerson.

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