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Okuayinonu leads Maryland's All-Big Ten defensive selections

Writer's picture: Ahmed GhafirAhmed Ghafir

Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu was named third-team All-Big Ten on Tuesday while Nick Cross, Jordan Mosley, Jakorian Bennett, and Ami Finau were selected as honorable mentions.


Okuayinonu opted to return to the program after COVID presented the senior defensive end with an additional year of eligibility and he made the most of it. Okuayinonu led Maryland in both sacks (6) and tackles for loss (8.5), finishing inside the top 16 in the Big Ten in both categories, and started every game this season to provide the disruptive pressure off the edge. Okuayinonu explained back in August why he returned to the program in another opportunity to work with defensive line coach Brian Williams.


“Just working with him in that short amount of time, we only had five games and seeing how much I developed,” Okuayinonu said. “I got switched to a different position too and trying to learn all that and in the span of five games, it was pretty hard but he was always there helping me out, breaking it down and simplifying it so as the season went on I picked it up faster and faster.”

Jakorian Bennett was hampered by a broken finger during the season, but still ended the regular season leading all Power Five players with 16 pass breakups. Bennett’s feat is the most pass breakups by a Terp in one season since Domonique Foxworth had 22 in 2002. Bennett also hauled in an interception in each of the first two games to become the first Terp since Tre Watson in 2018.


Nick Cross, a former four-star prospect, sits second on the team with 64 tackles and is tied with Bennett with three interceptions this season. The postseason accolade marks the third consecutive season that Cross has been named an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection.


Cross finished with a career-best 13 tackles against Minnesota back in October and finished the season with four pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and a pair of sacks.

Ami Finau, one of four 2020 signees out of Independence C.C., started in his 17th consecutive game in Saturday’s win over Rutgers and sits fourth on the team in tackles for loss (5) and sixth in total tackles (38). Finau battled through injuries to preserve his starter streak and still excelled as he registered a career-high 11 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble against Michigan State earlier this month. Finau also registered a blocked field goal in the first quarter against Illinois, a play that proved pivotal to the Terps pulling out the road win.


One day after being named second team All-Big Ten by Pro Football Focus, Jordan Mosley was the fourth and final Terp nominated as an honorable mention after finishing the season with a team-high 77 tackles. Mosley is tied with Finau with 17 consecutive starts and has appeared in 39 consecutive games for Maryland, while finishing his senior season ranked seventh in the Big Ten with seven pass breakups.


The conference will announce offensive All-Big Ten honors on Wednesday.


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