ROSEMONT, Ill. – Senior defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu has been named Third Team All-Big Ten and four other Terps garnered honorable mention all-conference accolades as the league announced its honorees on the defensive side of the ball on Tuesday.

Okuayinonu was voted a third team selection by the coaches, while the media selected him to the honorable mention team. Other Terps voted Honorable Mention All-Big Ten include defensive back Jakorian Bennett (media & coaches), defensive back Nick Cross (media), defensive lineman Ami Finau (media & coaches) and defensive back Jordan Mosley (media). 

Okuayinonu leads the Terrapins and is tied for eighth in the Big Ten with six sacks (all solo). The defensive lineman also leads the team and ranks 16th in the conference with 8.5 tackles for loss. Okuayinonu has started every game for Maryland over the last two seasons and has appeared in 27 of 28 games during his Terps career. 

Bennett ended the regular season first among all Power Five players in pass breakups (16). It's the most pass breakups by a Terp in a season since Domonique Foxworth had 22 in 2002. Bennett is tied for the team lead and tied for seventh in the Big Ten with three interceptions, while also recording 24 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Cross ranks second on the team with 64 tackles and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. The junior, who has been named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten for the third straight season, also posted four pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and has a pair of sacks in 2021.

Finau ranks fourth on the team in tackles for loss (5.0) and sixth in total tackles (38). The senior has started 17 consecutive games, tied for the longest streak on the team. Finau had several impressive games for the Terps this season, including posting a career-high 11 tackles to go along with a sack and forced fumble at Michigan State. He also blocked a field goal in Maryland's win at Illinois.  

Mosley leads the Terps with 77 tackles, while also breaking up seven passes and forcing a fumble. In conference games, Mosley ranks tied for seventh in the Big Ten with seven pass breakups and 15th in the conference with 65 total tackles. The senior is the fourth-highest rated safety in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus. He has played in 39 career games for the Terps, including 17 straight starts.  

The Big Ten also announced each teams Sportsmanship Award Honoree with punter Anthony Pecorella being chosen as Maryland's representative. 

The conference will announce All-Big Ten honors for the offense on Wednesday.
 

-MARYLAND-