Later this week, Maryland fans will get their first look at the 2025 version of the football team during its spring game on Saturday at noon at SECU Stadium. One of the more prominent storylines is which quarterback — redshirt junior and UCLA transfer Justyn Martin or freshman Malik Washington, a Glen Burnie resident and Spalding graduate — will line up under center first.
Before then, however, the Terps will have to address roster holes after players announced plans to enter the transfer portal during the spring window. How the team adapts to those departures could impact whether it can bounce back from last year’s 4-8 overall record and 1-7 mark in the Big Ten.
Transfer additions
Cam Rice from Ohio — The 6-foot-3, 290-pound senior spent only one season with the Bobcats, but registered 30 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 games. After beginning his career at West Virginia, Rice played two years at Division II West Liberty, where he racked up 89 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 14 1/2 sacks, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. Rice’s arrival – which he made official on Saturday – should fill the hole created when Lavon Johnson left the team.
Jordan Scott from Florida State — While last year’s numbers (20 receptions for 358 yards and four touchdowns at Southwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to the Seminoles in January) might not be eye-catching, what does stand out about the sophomore is his 6-7, 224-pound frame. Scott, who committed on Friday, is the tallest player on the roster and the tallest wide receiver by four inches over redshirt junior Kaleb Webb, a transfer from Tennessee. Scott’s presence might help offset the graduations of Tai Felton and Kaden Prather, who were selected by the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills, respectively, during this weekend’s NFL draft.
Edwin Moore Jr. from Western Carolina — Maryland added another defensive lineman Friday when the 6-3, 280-pound sophomore agreed to join the program. Moore Jr. played in 12 games last fall and accumulated 18 tackles, 3 1/2 for loss and a half sack. He was a three-star prospect in 2024 who chose the Catamounts over offers from Navy, Toledo and Tulane.
Sedrick Smith from Alabama A&M — A day after Moore’s commitment, the team continued to bolster the defensive line by bringing in the 6-4, 310-pound redshirt freshman. Smith notched 20 tackles, 3 1/2 for loss and two sacks in 11 games last season. He reportedly entertained offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech and Purdue.
Joel Starlings from North Carolina — The 6-4, 320-pound defensive tackle has three years of eligibility remaining. He played in three games for the Tar Heels in 2024, recording one tackle. The Virginia native is a former four-star prospect and top-300 ESPN recruit.
Gavin Edwards from Austin Peay/North Greenville — The safety began his career at North Greenville, where he spent a couple seasons. While there, he had six pass breakups. He joined Austin Peay over the offseason but reentered the portal earlier this month and received offers from Iowa and Michigan State, among others.
Transfer losses
Caleb Wheatland to Auburn — The 6-foot-1, 227-pound junior was the man in the middle of last year’s defense. Wheatland led the unit in sacks (four) and ranked second in tackles for loss (seven) and sixth in tackles (42). Eleven of his 12 career starts occurred last fall, demonstrating how his growth and contributions were key to the team. On Sunday, Wheatland joined a Tigers defense that ranked No. 27 nationally against the run (117.8 yards per game) and No. 28 in points allowed (21.3 per game), but went 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the Southeastern Conference. The loss of Wheatland is a significant development for new defensive coordinator and former Ravens outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino.
Kellan Wyatt to Indiana — The 6-foot-2, 262-pound linebacker was a key cog in the defense’s 3-4 alignment. Wyatt led the team in tackles for loss (7 1/2) and forced fumbles (two) and ranked second in sacks (three) and 10th in tackles (30). By deciding on the Hoosiers on Tuesday, he will reunite with running back Roman Hemby, the Edgewood resident and John Carroll graduate who transferred to Indiana in December. The losses of Wyatt, a junior from Spalding, and Wheatland and the graduations of Ruben Hyppolite II (66 tackles, 6 1/2 for loss) and Donnell Brown (23 tackles, five quarterback hits, four tackles for loss) mean Maryland will field four new starting linebackers in the fall.
Terez Davis to Ole Miss — Despite being only a freshman last fall, the 6-4, 308-pound Davis made two starts at left tackle and might have had the inside track to open the season as the starter to replace sophomore Andre Roye Jr., who has stepped away from the team. But the arrival of 6-4, 295-pound freshman Jaylen Gilchrist, a four-star prospect, might have influenced Davis’ decision to find greener pastures elsewhere. Still, depth is a necessity, especially in the trenches where going through an entire season injury-free is the exception rather than the norm. On Saturday, Davis committed to the Rebels, who compiled a 10-3 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the SEC, but missed qualifying for the College Football Playoff.
Lavon Johnson to Texas — The 6-2, 311-pound sophomore might have been the heir apparent to replace starting nose tackle Jordan Phillips, who declared for the NFL draft early. In eight games last fall, Johnson compiled 14 tackles. This marks the second time in four months that Johnson has entered the portal, which he did on Dec. 23 before pulling out three days later. On Friday, Johnson seemed to join North Carolina before changing his mind later that day and agreeing to go to Texas. He will be expected to contribute to a Longhorns team that went 13-3 overall and 7-1 in the SEC and fell to Ohio State, 28-14, in the national semifinal on Jan. 10. Either way, Maryland will have to find another player to fill that defensive role.
Dylan Gooden — The 6-3, 212-pound redshirt freshman and four-star prospect made just one tackle in two appearances last fall, but could have gotten more playing time this season. The Columbia resident and son of New York Mets Hall of Fame pitcher Dwight Gooden certainly would have given the Terps more depth in the linebacking corps.
Champ Long — The 5-11, 202-pound redshirt sophomore quarterback appeared in just one game in his first two years, completing one of two passes for 10 yards in a regular-season finale at then-No. 4 Penn State on Nov. 30. Long likely would have had to vie with redshirt junior Jayden Sauray for the right to back up Martin or Washington as they are set to battle for the starting quarterback position. So leaving might result in more playing time elsewhere for Long.
Andre Roye Jr. — Losing Davis might have been easier to stomach because the 6-6, 294-pound Roye Jr. had started seven games at left tackle last season. But the redshirt sophomore left the team in February, and what had once been a position of strength suddenly looms as a significant area of concern. With the departures of Roye Jr. and Davis and the graduation of Marcus Dumervil, the Terps do not have a single player who started at least once at left tackle a year ago.
Tamarus Walker to Connecticut — The 6-3, 320-pound redshirt freshman was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class, redshirted as a freshman in 2023 and played in nine games last fall. The Owings Mills resident and McDonogh graduate is the third offensive lineman to join the Huskies out of the portal. UConn also picked up Notre Dame’s Ty Chan and Brown’s Hayden Bozich.
Jayvin James — In December, James left Akron to transfer to Maryland. Four months later, the 6-4, 285-pound redshirt freshman opted to return to the portal. Last year with the Zips, James appeared in 12 games, making nine starts. With the losses of Davis and Roye Jr., James might have had the inside track towards earning a starting role at offensive tackle.
Jack Howes — The 6-1, 205-pound kicker appeared in all 25 games over the past two seasons. He converted 68.8% (24 of 35) of his field goal attempts with a career long of 49 yards in 2023. Howes, who announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday, has one year of eligibility remaining. In Saturday’s spring game, redshirt sophomore kicker Ryan Capriotti made a 34-yard field goal but missed a 46-yarder wide left.
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