Six Terps Selected in NFL Draft
Pro Teams Pick Most UMD Players Since 1986
Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton reacts to being drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft at his home in Ashburn, Va., on Friday.
Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins
Six Terps heard their names called during the 2025 NFL Draft this weekend in Green Bay, Wis., the most University of Maryland student-athletes taken in the league’s draft since 1986.
That brought Maryland’s total to 13 players drafted over the past three years and 22 since head coach Michael Locksley arrived in 2019.
Wide receiver Tai Felton led the way, selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round on Friday (No. 102 overall). He turned in a record-setting senior season in 2024, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. He was named a second team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association and third team by the Associated Press, and he was a first team All-Big Ten selection. Across his career, Felton ranks third at Maryland in career receptions (172) and fourth in receiving yards (2,207) and is tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns (17).
Next, the Chicago Bears chose linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth round on Saturday (No. 132). In 47 games, he totaled 218 tackles (128 solo), 11 for losses, seven pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. The 2024 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection led the Terps in tackles last season (66) and was the 14th-highest graded defender (minimum 500 snaps) in the conference, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Miami Dolphins selected defensive lineman Jordan Phillips in the fifth round on Saturday (No. 143). The transfer from Tennessee racked up 57 tackles (31 solo), 2.5 for a loss, in his two seasons with the Terps. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 13th-best interior defender in the Big Ten, with a 71.4 grade (minimum 500 snaps). His 71.3 tackling grade ranked fourth, and his 72.7 pass-rush grade ranked eighth.
The Dolphins also picked safety Dante Trader Jr. in the fifth round (No. 155). He boasts career totals of 190 tackles (123 solo), 16 pass deflections, five interceptions and one forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, Trader—who was also a lacrosse All-American for the Terps in 2023—was the highest-graded tackler (90.0) in the Big Ten (minimum 500 snaps), and his grade against the run (83.0) ranked sixth.
Wide receiver Kaden Prather was selected by the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s seventh round (No. 240). In two seasons with the Terps since transferring from West Virginia, he caught 98 passes for 1,290 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2024, the Montgomery Village, Md., native led the conference in snaps out wide (484). Pro Football Focus gave him an 89.4 drop rating among Big Ten wide receivers with at least 50 targets, ranking fourth-highest in the conference.
To round out the Terp picks, the Dallas Cowboys selected defensive lineman Tommy Akingbesote in the seventh round on Saturday (No. 247). The Largo, Md., native wrapped up his senior season with a career-best 32 tackles (16 solo) and five for loss. He also added a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. According to Pro Football Focus, he placed second on the Terps' roster in pressures (19) and hurries (14) in 2024. His 73.7 grade against the run and 72.6 overall defensive grade ranked ninth and 12th among all Big Ten Conference interior defenders.
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