From Playboy To Playmaker

The world was introduced to Tai Felton on Sept. 30, 2023.   

Felton, a junior then, burst onto the scene with a career-best performance against Indiana. The wide receiver corralled seven receptions for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-17 commanding victory. He simultaneously became the first player in Maryland history to have three receiving touchdowns in the first half of a game and the sixth Terp and first since Torrey Smith in 2010 to have three or more receiving touchdowns in a game.

The performance was one made for Maryland football’s record books. However, Felton was just warming up. 

Head Football Coach Michael Locksley praised Felton for his performance. But he also challenged him to approach the game with more confidence. 

“The irony of a guy like Tai is I think as coaches, we think more highly of Tai than sometimes I think that he does of himself,” Locksley said during the postgame press conference. “He’s a talented player. … I think this may do wonders for the confidence he needs to play with.”

Felton ended his 2023 campaign with career numbers in every category and a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection despite being in a crowded pass-catcher room. According to Locksley, other schools “came knocking,” trying to convince him to enter the transfer portal to join their respective programs. Felton didn’t budge.  

The decision to stay in College Park and remain a Terp has paid dividends. Maryland’s leading receiver last season, Jeshaun Jones, joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, and their fourth-leading receiver, Corey Dyches, transferred. Making the most of the opportunity as a senior leader, Felton has already cemented himself among the nation’s best pass catchers in 2024. 

Through four games, the 6-foot-2, 186-pound playmaker studying family science has a stat line of 41 catches for 604 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks third in the NCAA in yards, second in catches and tied for fourth in TDs. Furthermore, he leads the Big Ten Conference in catches and yards and is tied for second in touchdowns. 

“He just had to see himself do it,” Felton’s teammate in the wide receiver room, Kaden Prather, said. “I saw him get extra work all off-season. His mind is at a way higher level than it was in his first three years. The fact that he's actually doing what he thought he could do is going very well for him.”

Coming off a career-high 14-catch performance for 157 yards and a score against Villanova, Felton has recorded 100 or more receiving yards in every game to begin the 2024 season. He became the first player in program history to accomplish that feat while joining Jermaine Lewis in 1994 as the only other Terp to string together four consecutive 100-yard performances.   

Locksley and Felton say the recipe behind his breakout season and historic play was striking a newfound confidence. 

“That's something I've been working on all offseason,” Felton said. “Just my mentality, how I go about things on and off the field. That Kobe Bryant mentality, that's my favorite athlete. … Being the dominant receiver I know I can be.”

Felton worked with Maryland football’s sports performance team over the offseason to better understand the mental aspect of football. Ryan Davis, Director of Football Strength and Conditioning, sent Felton to Pensacola, Florida, for a four-day break during summer workouts to train at Exos Sports Performance Training. Many professional athletes train at the facility, and Felton got to work out with some of them. 

“He came back a different guy, taking care of his body,” Locksley said. “His confidence is through the roof. He's playing and practicing at a high level. [I] can't say enough good things about Tai, and the season he's having thus far is a byproduct of the work he put in.” 

Felton says the trip to Florida undoubtedly gave him more confidence. He also credits his coaching staff and teammates for constantly pushing him to be great. 

“We're getting pushed in practice every day by the coaches and the defense,” Felton said after Maryland’s 50-7 win over UConn in week one. “[Dante] Trader [Jr.], Glen Miller, all those guys are pushing me in practice. It only makes me better so I can show out like I did today.”

In the same postgame press conference against the Hoosiers last season, Locksley reiterated that Felton always had the talent. Attending Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Virginia, Felton was a national recruit leading up to his senior season. However, everything changed once he tore his ACL at the end of 2019, the peak of his recruiting process. 

Felton was prepared to commit to Virginia Tech, but the Hokies rescinded their offer because of his injury. Virginia Tech was one of the first Power Four teams to offer Felton a scholarship, while Maryland was one of the last. Still, the Terps remained loyal and kept their offer on the table. He committed to Maryland in November 2019, two months after the Terps offered him, and joined the Terps ahead of the 2021 season. His on-the-field production has increased each year since.  

“I've developed a lot of wide receivers in my past and been really, really successful at the position,” Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Josh Gattis said. “Tai is right up there at the top when you talk about skill set and ability. I think it showed last year. The only problem was we had so many guys.”

Felton returned the favor that Maryland did for him during his recruiting process by remaining loyal and not transferring elsewhere despite having many opportunities to do so. As a result, the senior wide receiver became one of the best in the nation at his position. All it took was a little confidence. 

Maryland’s next game is at Indiana on Sept. 28, almost exactly a year after Felton’s breakout game. 

“The biggest thing is, I'm not surprised,” quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. said of Felton’s brilliance. “I don't think he is either. I don't think a lot of people around the facility are. … He's a great person. Works hard, same guy every day [and] has the right mindset. He deserves all the success he's getting right now.”