Maryland’s preseason recognition is starting to pile up, and the latest sign comes from the 2027 East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List, which includes nine Terrapins.
The breakdown is even across the roster, with four Terps on offense, four on defense and one special teams standout. For a team still moving through fall camp and building toward its season opener against Hampton at SECU Stadium, the list offers another reminder that several of Maryland’s key pieces are drawing national attention.
The Shrine Bowl will be played February 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT.
Maryland’s secondary is well represented, led by returning starters Jamare Glasker and Lavain Scruggs. Scruggs is set to line up at safety alongside sophomore Messiah Delhomme, while Glasker and Jackson are positioned to be the Terps’ top two corners.
Jackson arrives from Boston College after four seasons there, giving Maryland another experienced piece in the back end. That group was a ball-hawking unit last year, forcing 13 interceptions and taking two back for touchdowns.
At linebacker, Wingate is back after playing through injuries in 2025 and still putting together a strong season. Wearing the green dot for Maryland’s defense, he reached the 100-tackle mark for the first time in his career, something no Terp had done since 2018. Now entering his senior year, Wingate is expected to keep expanding his leadership role.
Up front, Maryland brings back a group that protected quarterback Malik Washington well in his first season. The Terps allowed only nine sacks last year, and Wright and Perry return to anchor the left side. Lockette comes in from Texas State after leading his line group last season with the highest PPF grade, and he is expected to compete for the right guard spot, which is still open heading into camp.
Fleming also returns after posting a solid season at tight end. He finished tied for second among Big Ten tight ends with 40 catches, 351 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t the breakout he may have wanted, but he heads into this season with a strong connection to Washington and a chance to fit even better in Clint Trickett’s offense.
Special teams is covered by McFerson, who is back after earning 2025 Second Team All-Big Ten honors and landing on the Ray Guy Award Ray’s 8 List three times. He averaged 44.2 yards per punt last season, the sixth-best single-season mark in Maryland history.
The full watch list also reflects just how deep the SEC is entering the year, with LSU leading all schools with 21 selections. Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M each had 20 players named.
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Zion Elee Gives Maryland Fans A New Reason To Watch The Pass Rush
Fall camp has brought a fresh layer of intrigue to Marylands defense, and a big part of it is Zion Elee. The freshman edge rusher is getting his first real crack at competing for playing time while adjusting to the speed of the college game and the Terps defensive system, a transition that comes with as much teaching as it does evaluation.
ESPN already pegged Elee as the Big Tens ninth-best impact freshman, a nod to both his recruiting reputation and the physical tools that made him such an enticing addition. Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino has talked through the learning curve with the kind of patience this stage requires, looking to lean into Elees strengths while cleaning up the rough edges, which is exactly why Maryland fans have reason to keep an eye on the pass rush as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]