Maryland football welcomes transfers, early enrollees to campus

Ahmed Ghafir
36 minutes ago
2 min read

While all eyes are focused on what pieces could also be headed to campus to finalize Maryland football's 2026 roster, head coach Mike Locksley and his staff will welcome the next wave of reinforcements to campus when they enroll on Monday, Jan. 19 exactly one week ahead of the start of second semester.

Tight end Preston Howard, wide receiver Na'eem Gladding and defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc are among the seven transfer portal commitments set to enroll in College Park after visiting campus at various points through January, filling several holes along the roster. That includes Howard, will fits a role in the passing attack as the second tight end alongside Dorian Fleming, while cornerback Amari Jackson adds needed experience to a cornerback room that is now top-heavy ahead of the 2026 season alongside Dontay Joyner and Jamare Glasker. Of course, Maryland has another portal commit set to return to campus with DL Lavon Johnson, who played 2025 at Texas after briefly committing to UNC, now set to close out his college career in College Park to give the interior defensive line the depth it needs.

Gladding and wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. also head to College Park looking to step into prominent roles atop the wide receiver room with a chance to still add more playmakers, but now they'll head to campus looking to build their rapport wih quarterback Malik Washington.

That also includes 12 early enrollees with five-star edge Zion Elee the obvious headliner, making his commitment to Maryland a reality roughly six weeks after putting pen to paper. While Penn State worked hard early, then Auburn during the summer followed by South Carolina and Texas in the fall, Elee remained consistent that dethroning Maryland would be easier said than done as he heads to College Park to give Locksley arguably the strongest front seven the program has seen over the last 15 years.

Elee joins quarterback Nathan Bernhard, defensive tackle Cam Brickle II, safety Darrell Carey, linebacker Kaden Carter, wide receiver Jayden Kitchens, OL Day'Jon Moore, cornerback Hakim Satterwhite, wide receiver Josiah Teasley, defensive tackle Jamarcus Whyce, tight end Damon Hall and tight end Javonte Williams as early enrollees.

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