Maryland’s defense has its latest preseason headliner, and it’s no surprise who’s wearing it.
Senior linebacker Daniel Wingate has landed on the Butkus Award Watch List for the second straight year, adding another preseason honor for the Bowie, Md. native and Pallotti graduate as he heads toward the 2026 season.
Wingate’s 2025 season made the recognition feel inevitable. He finished with 102 tackles and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, becoming the first Terp to top 100 tackles in a season since Tre Watson did it in 2018. After working into the inside linebacker mix in 2024 alongside Ruben Hyppolite, who is now entering year two with the Chicago Bears, Wingate took on a bigger role in 2025 and is positioned for another major workload in 2026.
He opened last season with a pick six against FAU and added two pass deflections, 1.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. He also brushed aside outside interest in the offseason, joining a group of key Maryland players who chose to come back for 2026. That decision has already paid off in the form of more preseason recognition, including a fourth-team All-American nod from Phil Steele.
Wingate was also one of Maryland’s representatives at Big Ten Media Days last month, alongside quarterback Malik Washington and center Michael Hershey. He remains a central piece of a front seven that has depth, even as the unit adjusts to the loss of edge rusher Zahir Mathis, who is sidelined for the 2026 season.
“Daniel Wingate is a warrior,” head coach Mike Locksley said after the season-opening win vs. Florida Atlantic.
“We're very fortunate to have that guy around here. I hate comparisons, but I was around here for a guy who wore number 42 and played heavy handed and physical in EJ Henderson, one of our most decorated players.
And I would say he is in that category because his leadership, he plays tough, he plays hard, he plays smart. He has a positive impact on our team in all three phases.
He's running out covering kicks as a starter. We're really fortunate to have Daniel as a true junior.
I think he's only going to get better, and like I said, I'm looking forward to him having a big year for us.”
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Illinois Faces A Dangerous Big Ten Test Between Two Huge Games
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For Maryland, the opportunity is obvious: catch an opponent looking ahead to Oregon and Nebraska while still trying to keep its conference momentum intact. Those are the kinds of games that can turn on focus and discipline as much as talent, and the Terps have the pieces to make Illinois earn every bit of progress it has made in the Big Ten. [Read more 🡒]