Leading From Within

The Maryland Terrapins were the only Power Five football program with zero student-athletes entering their name in the spring college football transfer portal window. 

The feat is a byproduct of the player-led culture established by head coach Michael Locksley. Since 2019, Locksley’s first season at the helm, Maryland has boasted 57 All-Big Ten selections and 16 players drafted to the NFL. The Terps have also won three consecutive bowl games in three years (2021-23) — a first in program history. Locksley has always valued a player-led culture within his program. He often refers to it as the brotherhood and views it as the foundation of every successful football team. 

In 2024, Maryland’s player-led culture is stronger than ever. As opposed to always relying on a coach to lead the team, student-athletes are taking the initiative to lead their peers. Many within the program believe this approach has resonated deeply with players and is one of the main catalysts in the Terps’ recent success. 

“This thing has been built as a player-driven culture,” Locksley said. “The players in the locker room, those guys have led the charge, and they've done it the right way. I think our players understand that everything we get around here is either earned or taken, and they've embraced that.” 

Senior defensive back Dante Trader Jr. is one of Maryland football’s student-athletes who has led the charge in 2024. 

“We talk about everything, from meetings to locker rooms to the standard on the field and the standard in the weight room,” Trader said. “Everything is coming from a player. It's never coming from a coach like it used to be, and [we’re] building that relationship. We're no longer waiting for our coach to yell at somebody. Now we're able to do it.”

Three of Maryland’s 2023 team captains are now navigating careers at the professional level, opening doors for others to lead. Many student-athletes who have previously led by example or led themselves internally are stepping into vocal leadership positions.

Locksley says guys such as senior wide receiver Tai Felton and redshirt junior running back Roman Hemby are prime examples of developing leaders. 

“Tai's not a guy that is loud, but he's trying to come out of his shell,” Locksley said. “Roman Hemby, a guy who typically leads himself, I see all these guys really going out of their comfort zone. … Not just as internal leaders, where they lead by how they do things, but they've taken the next step of being able to [apply] peer-to-peer pressure.” 

Hemby, a two time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten player, agrees with his coach’s assessment.

“Coach hit it right on the head with me being a leader by example,” Hemby said. “That's something that I've kind of prided myself on for the last few years. Our other leaders, guys like Dante Trader, Tai Felton and Ruben Hyppolite, have pulled me along. They dragged me out of the lead-by-example mode to be more of a vocal leader. Whether I realize it or not, there are people that look up to me. There are people that respect me in this building, and I have to be a person that can use my voice to advocate for change and encourage others.”

Fifth-year linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II is the only returning team captain — voted by his teammates — from last season. The 2023 Third-Team All-Big Ten player prides himself on his leadership qualities on and off the field. 

Hyppolite says seeing his teammates step into leadership positions is a prime example of a player-driven culture. He views the dynamic as a compliment to his leadership and the others who taught him how to be an effective leader. 

“People like Dante Trader, Tai Felton and Kellan Wyatt, who is another leader that we have, seeing that rub off on others and them being inspired to lead is what it’s all about,” Hyppolite said. “It's all about teaching one another and passing down skills, abilities and communication skills. It's just a compliment to our leadership and how we've led the team.”

The Terps are leaning on their new leadership in 2024. Ahead of the season, their player-led culture is a measuring stick to gauge how far the program has come and how far student-athletes have come individually. 

“I was in the same predicament as a young guy coming into a leadership role,” Trader said. “You got Kellan Wyatt, you got Taizse Johnson, and others; those guys coming to where they are now is unbelievable.”