Terps Take the Field as 2025 NFL Season Kicks Off

Maryland football already scored big to kick off its 2025 season, routing Florida Atlantic for a 39-7 victory last weekend. Now, University of Maryland fans can root for even more Terp touchdowns—or goal-line stops on the defensive side—at the sport’s highest level.

As a new NFL season begins Thursday night with a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the reigning Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles, 24 Terps are on rosters across the league. Huddle up to meet some of them before kickoff:

Tai Felton - WR (Vikings)
Felton, selected in the third round of last spring’s NFL Draft, earned a spot in a talented Minnesota wide receiver room after an impressive 2024 season in College Park. As a team captain at Maryland, he hauled in a program-record 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. The First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team AP All-American ranks third all-time in career receptions in UMD history.

Ruben Hyppolite II - LB (Bears)
A fourth-round draft pick, Hyppolite II led the Terps with 66 tackles last season and was named to the 2024 Butkus Award Watch List. He tallied 16 tackles for Chicago in the preseason and looks to be a force in the Bears’ 2025 defense. 

Jordan Phillips and Dante Trader Jr. - DT and S (Dolphins)
Miami used a pair of fifth-round picks on former Terp teammates, both staples of Maryland’s defense in 2024. Phillips recorded 1.5 sacks during the preseason for Miami, and Trader Jr. proved himself a worthy member of Miami’s secondary for the upcoming season. 

Stefon Diggs - WR (Patriots)
Diggs, entering his 11th season in the NFL, is bringing 10,491 career yards and 70 touchdowns to New England. He’ll be the primary target for quarterback Drake Maye as he eyes a major bounceback after tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 season—but not before putting in nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns.

D.J. Moore - WR (Bears)
Since being traded to the Bears three offseasons ago, Moore, entering his eighth NFL season, has posted back-to-back seasons with 900-plus yards in Chicago. He scored 14 of his 35 career touchdowns in two seasons in the Windy City.

Darnell Savage - S (Jaguars)
Savage is entering his seventh season in the NFL and second with the Jaguars. With 38 career passes defended and 10 interceptions, he has proved himself a worthy opponent to the league’s best wideouts.

Chig Okonkwo - TE (Titans)
Okonkwo was a bright spot for Tennessee’s offense in 2024 as he brought in 52 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns. The Titans are starting a new era with quarterback Cam Ward, and Okonkwo, in his fourth year in the league, will be one of his top targets. 

Chad Ryland - K (Cardinals)
Ryland enters his third professional season with 182 career points in tow. He only missed four kicks in an impressive 2024, going 4-for-4 from 50-plus yards out and a perfect 17-for-17 from under 39 yards.

Ty Johnson - RB (Bills)
Johnson racked up 497 total yards (213 rushing, 284 receiving) and four touchdowns as an option in a dynamic Buffalo offense in 2024. He has been incredibly sure-handed in his career, only fumbling three times in seven seasons.

Nick Cross - S (Colts)
Cross had a breakout season for the Colts in 2024, taking over as their starting strong safety. He started 17 games and tallied a career-high 145 tackles (86 solo). He also posted six tackles for loss, three interceptions and one forced fumble.