Annie Peppard never really thought of herself as a trailblazer, someone young women would look up to. But then those young women started reaching out, wanting to work in college football or college sports. They wanted to hear about her path and her work, because it is still rare to see a woman working in a prominent role within a Power 5 football program.

"Five or 10 years ago, I didn't necessarily see the growth, I didn't know what path I could take, and I didn't know what I wanted to get out of the position I was in," said Peppard, who began her career in the Maryland athletic department in 2011 as Randy Edsall's executive assistant and advanced to her current role as assistant director of football operations under Mike Locksley two years ago. "I was doing what I loved and wanted to do my best at … and I knew I wanted to keep working and networking.

"There is a really strong female presence here. It wasn't like that forever. It's definitely grown."

Maryland's program is leading the way in providing opportunities and growth for women working in college football. It started before Locksley was hired, but the effort has been supercharged since he took over.


READ THE FULL STORY AT THEATHLETIC.COM