Maryland Football’s annual Pro Day on Friday was a success for many Terps football players who were able to either continue to grow their draft stock or to put their name on the map for NFL coaches, scouts, and other personnel across the league.
In total, 14 current and former Terps participated in Maryland’s pro day, ranging from highly-touted wide receivers Tai Felton and Kaden Prather, to former players under Mike Locksley who hit the transfer portal like Corey Dyches, and there were many eyes watching on from all over the NFL.
According to a team spokesperson, 66 total NFL team personnel were in attendance representing 31 of 32 teams. 55 of the 66 were NFL scouts, and the other 11 were coaches from various NFL organizations.
Felton was without question the biggest draw for everyone inside Jones Hill House. He had an eye-opening NFL Combine performance as one of five Terps invited to Indianapolis, alongside fellow wide receiver Kaden Prather, safety Dante Trader Jr., and two Maryland defensive lineman in Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips.
What raised Felton’s draft stock the most at the combine was a fantastic time in the 40-yard dash. With a time of 4.37, Felton was tied for the fifth-highest wide receiver time at the combine, and tied for ninth-fastest overall.
Although he did not run the 40 on Friday, as assumed, Felton, who said the Commanders "definitely stoodout" while also noting he speaks with the Patriots "a lot", along with the Titans, showed well in his route running opportunities. Locksley elected to invite former Terp and all-time Big-Ten passing yards leader Taulia Tagovailoa to throw to Felton for his workout. The duo played together for three seasons from 2021-2023 for Maryland.
"We told him bring his butt down here," WR Kaden Prather said.
Beyond Felton, other Terps were able to earn the attention of scouts in College Park with eye-opening workouts of their own. Perhaps no one benefitted more so from the day than linebacker Ruben Hyppolite, a veteran linebacker who has been at the nucleus of Maryland’s defense throughout his collegiate career.
Hyppolite, like Felton at the combine, showed best in the 40-yard dash running an impressive 4.39 that had everyone in the building impressed. The sub-four time would have been over half a second quicker than the top linebacker time at the NFL Combine this year, a mark held by UCLA’s Kain Medrano.
Phillips, as mentioned earlier, was invited to the NFL Combine mainly due to the oozing potential that the young defensive tackle processes. At not even 21 years of age, teams are beyond excited about this young man’s future at the next level. The only concern is whether he will be able to provide a substantial impact against NFL offensive linemen and blocking schemes, as he was unable to record a single sack in his two seasons at Maryland after transferring over from Tennessee.
Maryland also hosted many former Terps now in the NFL, including Baltimore Ravens safety Beau Brade and Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still. The Ravens also brought with them pro-bowl wide receiver and former first-round pick Zay Flowers. Given that Felton is Maryland’s biggest name in this year’s draft, it leaves one wondering if Flowers was potentially looking at his future battery mate out wide for the Ravens.
The draft process is on-going, and nothing is final up until the period to sign undrafted free agents closes, but the day for Maryland Football was a success as the next crop of NFL hopefuls out of College Park got an opportunity to shine for what could be their future employers.
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