Maryland Football Makes All-Big Ten History With 11 Honorees on Defense and Special Teams
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Maryland football just put together its most decorated defensive and special teams season since joining the Big Ten in 2014 - and the honors prove it. Eleven Terps earned All-Big Ten recognition on Wednesday, highlighted by redshirt freshman kicker Sean O’Haire’s First Team selection from the conference’s coaches.
Let’s break it down.
Sean O’Haire: From Ireland to All-Big Ten First Team
In his first season of college football, Sean O’Haire didn’t just hold his own - he dominated. The redshirt freshman out of Kildare, Ireland, was named First Team All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches and Second Team by the media.
His numbers speak for themselves: he led the Big Ten and tied for sixth nationally in field goals per game (1.9), converting 21-of-24 attempts while going a perfect 29-for-29 on PATs. That 87.5% field goal percentage?
Second-best in Maryland single-season history. His 21 made field goals tie for third-most in a single season by a Terp.
For a freshman kicker to come in and perform with that kind of consistency and poise - especially in a league known for cold-weather games and tight margins - is no small feat. Maryland may have found its long-term answer at kicker.
Jalen Huskey and Colton McFerson: Anchors in the Backfield and Special Teams
Senior safety Jalen Huskey and junior punter Colton McFerson both earned Second Team All-Big Ten nods from coaches and media alike, and they earned every bit of it.
Huskey was a turnover machine in the secondary, tying for fourth in the Big Ten with four interceptions. He picked off three passes in a four-game stretch against Wisconsin, Washington, and UCLA - all while finishing second on the team in tackles with 72, the sixth-most among Big Ten defensive backs. His ability to cover ground and make plays in space made him a steadying presence in Maryland’s back end all season long.
McFerson, meanwhile, was a field-position weapon. He averaged 44.2 yards per punt - second-best in the Big Ten - and dropped 19 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Fourteen of his punts traveled 50-plus yards, also second-most in the league. His average ranks as the sixth-best single-season mark in Maryland history.
For a Terps team that often leaned on defense and special teams, McFerson’s leg was a difference-maker.
A Historic Haul: Eight Terps Earn Honorable Mention
Maryland also saw eight players earn Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors - seven on defense and one on special teams - setting a new program high since joining the conference.
Let’s go rapid-fire through the standouts:
- Jamare Glasker (DB): Tied for the team lead with four interceptions, including a pick-six at UCLA. The Temple Hills native added 6.0 tackles for loss and 32 total tackles in a breakout debut season.
- Dontay Joyner (DB): Led the team with eight pass breakups and added two interceptions, one of which he returned 67 yards for a touchdown against Nebraska. He finished with 40 tackles in his first season in College Park.
- Zahir Mathis (DL): A semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, Mathis tallied 6.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss despite missing nearly two full games. He logged at least a partial sack in seven of 11 games played - a model of consistency and disruption.
- Cam Rice (DL): The graduate senior played in all 12 games, registering 33 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His 19-yard sack at Wisconsin was a highlight in a solid final campaign.
- La’khi Roland (DB): Made history with a 100-yard pick-six against Towson - the first by a Terp since 1962. He added two more interceptions and 21 tackles and earned a spot on the PFF Team of the Week in Week 1 with an elite 86.4 grade.
- Sidney Stewart (DL): One of the most exciting young defenders in the Big Ten, Stewart led Maryland with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss - both ranking top-10 in the conference. He broke the school record for TFLs by a freshman, a mark that had stood since 1979.
- Daniel Wingate (LB): The tackling machine led the team with 106 total stops, good for sixth in the Big Ten. He hit double-digit tackles in five games and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in Week 4. He also landed on the 2025 Bednarik Award Watch List, a nod to the nation’s top defensive player.
- Ethan Gough (LS): The veteran long snapper wrapped up his fourth season as the Terps’ primary snapper, handling duties for McFerson’s standout season. While long snappers rarely get the spotlight, Gough’s consistency was a key part of Maryland’s special teams success.
Big Picture: Maryland’s Defensive Identity Is Taking Shape
This kind of All-Big Ten recognition isn’t just about individual accolades - it’s a reflection of a program that’s starting to build a real identity on defense and special teams. Eleven total honorees, including eight on defense, is a high-water mark for Maryland since entering the Big Ten. That’s not a coincidence.
With young stars like O’Haire, Stewart, Mathis, and Glasker already making noise, and veterans like Huskey, McFerson, and Wingate setting the tone, the Terps are showing signs of a balanced, tough-minded team that can compete week in and week out.
The offensive All-Big Ten teams will be announced Thursday, but one thing’s already clear: Maryland’s defense and special teams made a statement this season - and the rest of the Big Ten is taking notice.