Maryland just got a big boost up front - and it comes in the form of a family affair.
The Terrapins have landed twin defensive linemen Armon and Jayvon Parker out of the transfer portal, adding two Big Ten-tested bodies to a defensive front that’s quietly shaping up to be the deepest of the Mike Locksley era. The brothers, who spent the last few seasons at Washington, made their visit to College Park over the weekend and didn’t waste much time making it official.
Let’s start with Jayvon, who brings the more extensive résumé. After getting his feet wet in 2022 with a sack and five tackles over eight games, he became a regular contributor in 2023, suiting up in all but two games.
His most productive stretch came in 2024, when he tallied ten tackles and half a sack - numbers that don’t leap off the page but speak to a player who’s been in the mix and understands the grind of Power Five football. He played just one game in 2025, preserving a redshirt and setting himself up for a fresh start at Maryland.
Armon, on the other hand, took a bit longer to crack the rotation. He didn’t see the field in his first three years at Washington but made his debut in 2025, appearing in eight games and recording eight tackles and a sack. While his sample size is smaller, the upside is there - and with multiple years of eligibility remaining, the Terps have time to develop his game and let him grow into a larger role.
With the Parkers on board, Maryland’s defensive line room is suddenly looking stacked. They join a group that already added Derrick LeBlanc and Lavon Johnson this offseason, while returners Eyan Thomas and Bryce Jenkins are back to anchor the interior. Throw in edge rushers Zion Elee, Sidney Stewart, and Zahir Mathis, and you’ve got a front that can rotate, stay fresh, and bring pressure from multiple spots.
For a defense that’s been steadily improving under Locksley, this kind of depth in the trenches is a game-changer. The Parkers may not be headline-makers yet, but they’re the kind of experienced, hungry players who can help elevate a unit from solid to disruptive. And as any coach will tell you, it all starts up front.