Sidney Stewart’s second year at Maryland comes with a different kind of pressure, and he seems ready for all of it.
The sophomore edge rusher is coming off a freshman season that put him on the map in a big way: he started in all but one game, finished sixth in the Big Ten with seven sacks, and led all Power Four freshmen in that category. Now, after switching from No. 29 to No. 11 in the spring and cutting off his dreads, Stewart says the changes reflect where he is in his development.
“I think I'm just growing up, second year in college and stuff. I think the hair was cool, was a little childish. I had orange dreads, so it's like, I just got it over with.”
That growth has shown up in more than just his look. Stewart has started leaning into a mentor role, especially with Zion Elee, who grew up down the street from him. Elee has been able to lean on Maryland’s edge rushers since arriving on campus, and Stewart said that relationship has made it easy to be direct with him.
“He's kind of been dealing with being a five star, being number one for some time now, so he kind of understands that you know there are people that are with him and people aren't necessarily with him. And luckily, we treat him like family, we coddle him, and we're allowing him to take in all the info.”
Stewart and Zahir Mathis have taken Elee under their wings over the past nine months, working with him in practices and offseason workouts. For Stewart, that’s become part of what he wants his second season to look like.
“I think because I have some experience now and I played and all those things, I think I should now take some time off myself and start to help those around me,” Stewart said.
Defensive coordinator noted that Elee is “in the process of learning the system and learning where he fits” as he adjusts to Big Ten football. Stewart also pointed to the progress of DD Holmes, who had already drawn praise from head coach Mike Locksley months earlier.
“He's really smart. He's one of my best friends. So to see him take strides and leaps forward, it's just for our room and for him as an individual,” Stewart added.
Even with the leadership piece growing, Stewart knows the football side of his own game is changing too. After a freshman year that forced opposing offenses to take notice, he expects more attention now, including double teams. That’s part of the job for a player who is becoming harder to ignore.
How opponents decide to handle Maryland’s pass rush, with Stewart, Mathis, Holmes, Elee and Nahsir Taylor all in the mix, remains to be seen. Stewart, though, sees being schemed against as a compliment.
“It just feels like respect and it's something that just is going to force me to evolve and force me to get better and stuff. I think that's what all the good edge guys in the league deal with, and even in college.
So it's something I started to deal with throughout the season, even last year, because you know teams have game films from the previous games. So definitely something I'm ready for.
Definitely something I've been preparing for.”
In Other News...
Marylands Biggest Fall Camp Questions Are Starting To Take Shape
Fall camp is giving Maryland a clearer picture of what the offense could look like when the 2026 season arrives. The Terrapins have a quarterback room that appears to be settling in, a backfield that already has a familiar lead option, and an offensive line that brings back enough experience to give the staff a steadier foundation. Add in a batch of new receivers, and the early shape of the unit is starting to come into focus even before the first meaningful snap is played.
The more intriguing questions may sit on the other side of the ball, where Maryland believes it has the kind of edge-rusher group that can change a game without needing much help. Zion Elee is part of that mix now, joining a group that already has established names and plenty of competition for playing time. The position-by-position projection suggests the Terps are not just sorting out starters, but also trying to figure out how much upside this roster can realistically unlock once camp battles begin to sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Track Fans Have A New DeLeon-Wilson Debate After Latest Showdown
Jayden DeLeon and Quincy Wilson are keeping Maryland track fans busy with a rivalry that already feels bigger than a summer championship meet. At the World U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore., DeLeon won the mens 400 meters in championship-record time, while Wilson was right behind him in second, underscoring just how narrow the gap is between two recent high school graduates who have turned the event into a local talking point.
For Maryland supporters, the appeal is not just that both sprinters are from the state, but that each new showdown seems to sharpen the debate about who has the edge in the 400. DeLeons latest win added another layer to the conversation, and Wilsons runner-up finish ensured the competition remains very much alive as their rivalry continues to build. [Read more 🡒]