Maryland football has typically had two or three NFL draft prospects of varying caliber in recent years. But the program’s talent level has increased thanks to the recruitment of Mike Locksley. Evidence: According to a Maryland press release, seven terps were invited to the 2023 NFL Draft Combine, the most the program has sent to the combine since at least 1987.
cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett and Deonte Bankswide receivers Jacob Copeland, Dontay Demus Jr. and Rakim Jarrettleft tackle Jaelyn Dunan and kicker Chad Ryland The school announced on Friday that everyone had been invited to the scouting event in Indianapolis. Maryland’s known previous high was six invitees in 2009, and since the 1994 NFL draft switched to seven rounds, most terps selected in a draft have been five (2004 and 2009).
Maryland Football Recruiting Scoop: Blue Chip Weekend at College Park
Banks and Duncan ended up in the first round of various mock drafts, while the other five players could end up in the middle or later rounds.
About the release:
Banks registered nine pass abandonments and one interception while not allowing 30+ yard receptions when aimed during his junior season. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed just a 43.3 percent completion rate this year when it came to opposing offenses (26 to 60), the 18th-best brand in the nation and second-best in the Big Ten.
Bennett had an excellent senior season for the Terps, ranking third in the Big Ten in pass break-ups (11) and fifth in passes defended (13). Bennett, a Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee, leads all FBS players in passes defended since the start of the 2021 season with 29.
Copeland spent a year with the Terps after relocating from Florida. He led the team in averaging 14.5 yards per reception. Copeland had 26 receptions a year for 376 yards and clinched two touchdowns.
Demus finishes his distinguished Maryland career by ranking second in program history in career 100-yard receptions (7), fifth in career touchdowns (14), seventh in career yards (2,008), and ninth in career receptions ( 128). Demus has been named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention three times and was on the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
Duncan, a three-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, had 39 career starts in a Terrapin uniform. He blocked for a Maryland passing offense that ranked third in the Big Ten in 2022 at an average 259.8 yards per game in the air. Duncan will attend Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 4th
.Jarrett finished second on the team with 40 receptions and third with 471 in reception yards during his junior campaign. His 42.8 receiving yards per game was responsible for the team lead and his three touchdown receptions for the second-best mark on the roster. The wide receiver ended his Maryland career with one pass in 25 straight games.
Ryland excelled in his only season with the Terrapins, finishing the year with 19 of his 23 field goal attempts (82.6%). He hit within 50 yards on 16 of his 17 field goal attempts while also earning first place in the Big Ten and third nationally with three field goal brands of 50 yards or more.
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Preliminary 2023 NFL Scouting Combine On-Field Training Schedule:
· Thursday, March 2 – Defensive linemen, linebackers
· Friday, March 3 – Defensive Backs, Kickers, Special Teamers
· Saturday, March 4th – Tight ends, quarterbacks, wide receivers
· Sunday, March 5 – Offensive linemen, running backs
