Maryland football will wrap up the 2024 season this upcoming weekend when they travel to State College to face fourth-ranked Penn State, marking the final time a long list of key players on both sides of the ball will wear a Maryland uniform. But after producing ten draft picks over the last four years, a handful are expected to hear their names called next April as they continue their NFL careers.
Three Terps were included in PFF’s top 250 draft prospects this week and it was none other than wide receiver Tai Felton leading the way. Felton was ranked the 117th-best overall prospect and 15th-best wide receiver, while teammate Kaden Prather checked in as the 167th-best overall prospect and 21st-best wide receiver. Safety Dante Trader Jr. was the lone defensive player included as he ranked the 226th-best prospect and 24th-best draft-eligible safety.
Felton and Prather will look to become the first and second wide receivers drafted since Mike Locksley took over as head coach in 2019, while Trader has a chance to become the second safety drafted after Nick Cross became a third-round pick in 2022.
Felton leads the country in receptions (92) and the Big Ten in receiving yards (1,097) as he remains the lone wideout in the conference to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in 2024. Felton is also tied with Pat Bryant (Illinois), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) and Denzel Boston (Washington) for the most receiving touchdowns this season with nine. Felton, who has recorded at least five catches in every game this season, is one of seven Power Four players with at least 100 receiving yards in five games. Felton set the single-season reception record on his first catch vs. Iowa.
Prather sits second on the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (599) after averaging over ten yards per catch in both seasons with the program. The West Virginia transfer posted a career-high nine catches for 111 yards in the homecoming win vs. USC back on Oct. 19. While he’s recorded four or more catches in eight games in 2024.
Trader leads Maryland in pass breakups (4) and sits second in total tackles (54) as the three-year starter wraps up an accomplished career. Trader has started in all 36 games he’s been available over the last three seasons, while he registered ten tackles including eight solo on Senior Day vs. Iowa. He set a new career-high with 11 tackles in the road win vs. Virginia, along with his lone interception of the season. Trader, who also suited up for the Terps’ lacrosse team back in the spring of 2023, was named one of 2024 Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalists.
Related Links