Maryland got an early preseason nod from Pro Football Network, and the Terps came away with three names on the Big Ten’s second and third teams.
Tight end Dorian Fleming and linebacker Daniel Wingate landed on PFN’s second team, while offensive lineman Tellek Lockette was placed on the third team. For Maryland, it’s another sign that the roster is starting to draw real attention in a conference that doesn’t hand out praise lightly.
Fleming’s rise has been fast. The redshirt sophomore played in all 12 games last season, starting 10 times in his first year with Maryland, and quickly established himself as one of the Big Ten’s most productive tight ends.
He finished tied for second among conference tight ends with 40 catches for 351 yards and added three touchdowns. His nine-catch outing against Washington was the second-most by any FBS tight end last season, and he also delivered a 48-yard touchdown and a team-high 70 receiving yards against NIU.
In the season opener against FAU, he had six receptions and a score.
PFN gave Fleming a 78.1 grade, a reflection of how dependable he’s become as a receiver and how much he brings in the red zone. With Maryland ranked No. 52 in the preseason, his role looms even larger in 2026. He’s one of the key pieces in a passing game that needs consistency and finishing power.
Wingate’s case is even more decorated. The junior started all 12 games in 2025 and turned in one of the best defensive seasons Maryland has had in years.
He led the Terps with 102 tackles, becoming the first Maryland player to top 100 since Tre Watson’s All-American season in 2018. That total ranked sixth in the Big Ten and 35th nationally.
His 62 solo tackles were second in the conference and tied for seventh in the country.
Wingate also piled up 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown and two quarterback hurries. He had five games with double-digit tackles, including a career-best 14 against NIU. Against Wisconsin, he posted 11 tackles, a sack, 1.5 TFLs and a QB hurry, a performance that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The honors keep stacking up for Wingate. He was Honorable Mention All-Big Ten, voted Team MVP, served as a season-long captain and represented Maryland at Big Ten Media Days.
He’s also on the 2026 Butkus Award Watch List and the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. PFN’s second-team selection, paired with his 80.4 grade, fits the broader picture: he’s no longer just one of Maryland’s best defenders, he’s one of the league’s most respected linebackers.
Lockette rounded out Maryland’s preseason recognition by making PFN’s third team with a 73.6 grade. His selection points to the Terps’ continued work up front, where development in the trenches matters every week in the Big Ten. Lockette gives Maryland a steady piece on the offensive line as the program looks to sharpen its offense in 2026.
Taken together, the three selections say a lot about where Maryland stands entering the season. Fleming brings proven production, Wingate brings star-level defensive impact, and Lockette adds stability in the trenches. PFN’s preseason list doesn’t decide anything, but for the Terps it’s another clear sign that the program’s top players are starting to get noticed well beyond College Park.
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