Six Terps Earn Preseason All-Big Ten Honors: Maryland’s Returning Stars Earn National Respect

The 2026 season is shaping up as a pivotal one for Maryland Terrapins football. After consecutive disappointing campaigns, national observers still believe the Terrapins possess some of the conference’s top individual talent.

That belief was reinforced Tuesday when six Maryland players were recognized on the 2026 Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten teams. Two Terrapins landed on the first team, while four others earned third-team honors, giving Maryland one of the larger collections of preseason honorees in the conference.

While preseason honors never guarantee wins, they provide a snapshot of how respected a program’s returning talent is entering fall camp. For head coach Mike Locksley, it is another indication that the roster contains enough high-end players to compete in the Big Ten if the team can put everything together.

First-Team All-Big Ten

Daniel Wingate — Linebacker

No Maryland player enters the 2026 season with more expectations than Wingate.

The senior linebacker developed into one of the nation’s premier defensive players last season and now returns as the unquestioned leader of the Terps defense.

Wingate finished 2025 with:

• 102 total tackles
• 62 solo tackles
• 14 tackles for loss
• 1.5 sacks
• One interception returned for a touchdown
• Multiple double-digit tackle performances

Those 102 tackles ranked among the Big Ten leaders while his solo tackle total finished near the top nationally. The Bowie native became Maryland’s first 100-tackle defender since 2018 and turned down opportunities elsewhere to return for one more season in College Park.

If Maryland’s defense is going to take a significant step forward, Wingate will be the centerpiece.

---

Bryce McFerson — Punter

Special teams often go unnoticed until something goes wrong, but McFerson has quietly become one of the Big Ten’s elite punters.

The former transfer averaged 44.2 yards per punt during the 2025 season, producing:

• 14 punts over 50 yards
• 19 punts inside the 20-yard line
• Sixth-best single-season punting average in school history

McFerson already owns Second-Team All-Big Ten honors from last season and now enters 2026 viewed as one of the nation’s top specialists. Field position frequently decides close conference games, making his value even greater than raw statistics suggest.

Third-Team All-Big Ten

Zahir Mathis — Defensive Line

Mathis made an immediate impact as a true freshman despite missing time because of injury.

His freshman numbers included:

• Six sacks
• 8.5 tackles for loss
• 31 quarterback pressures

Those production numbers earned multiple Freshman All-America honors and established him as one of the conference’s rising defensive stars.

With another offseason in the strength program, Mathis has the opportunity to become one of the Big Ten’s premier pass rushers.

---

Zion Elee — Defensive Line

Few newcomers have generated more excitement than Elee.

The five-star defensive lineman arrived in College Park carrying enormous expectations after becoming one of the nation’s highest-rated recruits.

Athlon’s preseason recognition reflects the belief that Elee can make an immediate impact despite beginning his collegiate career this fall.

His combination of size, explosiveness and pass-rushing ability gives Maryland a potential game-changing defender from day one.

---

Dorian Fleming — Tight End

Fleming proved to be a dependable target after transferring into the program.

Last season he finished with:

• 351 receiving yards
• Three touchdown receptions
• Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition

Maryland expects an even larger offensive role this season as quarterback Malik Washington continues developing into one of the conference’s most exciting young signal callers. Fleming’s ability to create mismatches over the middle should make him one of Washington’s favorite targets.

---

Myles Stewart — Edge Defender

Stewart burst onto the scene during his freshman campaign.

He led Maryland with:

• Seven sacks
• 10.5 tackles for loss

Those numbers tied him among the conference sack leaders while setting a Maryland freshman record for tackles for loss.

Pairing Stewart with Mathis and Elee gives the Terrapins what could become one of the Big Ten’s more disruptive young defensive fronts.

Why This Recognition Matters

Six preseason selections do not automatically translate into victories.

Maryland is coming off back-to-back 4-8 seasons, and expectations remain cautious until the Terrapins prove they can consistently compete against the Big Ten’s elite. Still, these honors show that league observers believe Maryland possesses legitimate high-end talent.

The biggest storyline entering 2026 will be whether that individual talent can finally become team success.

The defense appears positioned to be one of the conference’s most improved units with Wingate directing traffic behind an athletic defensive line featuring Mathis, Stewart and highly touted freshman Zion Elee.

Offensively, quarterback Malik Washington returns with improved weapons, including veteran tight end Fleming, while McFerson gives Maryland a significant advantage in field-position battles.

MSB Analysis

This recognition should create optimism throughout College Park.

Maryland has struggled to translate recruiting success into victories over the past two seasons, but the foundation appears stronger entering 2026 than it has in several years. Having two first-team selections and six total honorees demonstrates that national analysts believe the Terps possess legitimate NFL-caliber talent.

The challenge now falls to Locksley and his coaching staff.

Individual awards are nice headlines in July, but they will be forgotten quickly if Maryland cannot improve in the standings. Conversely, if the Terrapins take the next step, these preseason honors may ultimately be remembered as an early indication that the program’s young core was ready to emerge.

With fall camp approaching, Maryland enters the season with respected stars on every level of the roster and perhaps its most intriguing collection of talent since joining the Big Ten. The next step is turning preseason recognition into meaningful wins.