Terps in the NFL: 2025 Season Preview

The dawn of a new NFL season is upon us and the sun is rising on nearly two dozen Pro Terps who are ready for the spotlight in 2025. A total of 32 former Maryland football players - six rookies and an abundance of vets - have spent the offseason preparing to make NFL rosters and compete on Sundays. Now, as another NFL season kicks off tonight, they'll continue to make Terrapin alums and fans proud, while continuing to build upon Maryland's pipeline of sending players to the league.

Let's meet this year's cast of Pro Terps!

The Rookies

Four of Maryland's six players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft made rosters ahead of the 2025 season:

Tai Felton - WR (Vikings)

Felton earned a spot in a talented Vikings wide receiver room after an impressive 2024 season in College Park that saw him haul in a program-record 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. Felton was drafted by Minnesota in the third round as pick No. 102 in April. He was a team captain last season, a Biletnikoff Semifinalist, First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team AP All-American. He's third all-time in career receptions in Maryland history and will bring his talents to the same field as NFL All-Pro Justin Jefferson.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on Tai Felton's ability in the return game:

"That's one of the reasons why he's here - I believe he has that skillset, and especially what that kickoff play is turning into this year."

🎥: (minnesotavikings/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/IKwUfm2Fz2
— Inside Maryland Sports (@Terrapins247) August 18, 2025

Ruben Hyppolite II - LB (Bears)

Hyppolite II was picked up in the fourth round by the Bears at pick No. 132. He led the Terps in tackles last season with 66 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.

Bears rookie LB Ruben Hyppolite II (#47) piqued my interest with a couple of run through plays against the run pic.twitter.com/GonofQ9he2
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 11, 2025

Jordan Phillips & Dante Trader Jr. - DT & S (Dolphins)

The Dolphins used a pair of fifth-round picks (Nos. 143 and 155) on former Terp teammates. Phillips and Trader Jr. were 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.

.@jordan50OTF has entered the chat 😤 pic.twitter.com/lNvvHgYrXc
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 16, 2025

Miami Dolphins Safety Dante Trader joins the show. He talks about unleashing 'old-style football' with relentless speed. From emulating Minkah Fitzpatrick's instincts to mirroring Budda Baker's tenacity, the goal's clear. It's about being a 'pest' on the field.

Full episode… pic.twitter.com/t6sLCznhgA
— Marisa Marino (@mustbemarisa87) August 27, 2025

The Vets

Stefon Diggs

Diggs is entering his 11th season in the NFL. He's beginning a new chapter of his career with the Patriots and is bringing 10,491 career yards and 70 touchdowns with him to New England. He'll be the primary target for quarterback Drake Maye as Diggs hunts a major bounceback after tearing his ACL midway through the 2024 season, but not before putting in nearly 500 yards and three TDs.

Stefon Diggs looking ready for Week 1🔥
-@CLNSMedia #Patriots #NFL pic.twitter.com/DwM57aQgLM
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 1, 2025

D.J. Moore - WR (Bears)

Since being traded to the Bears three offseasons ago, Moore has posted back-to-back seasons with 900+ yards in Chicago. Many are expecting QB Caleb Williams to take a step forward in 2025 and Moore will be a big part of that. Fourteen of his 35 career touchdowns have come in two seasons in the Windy City and Moore could easily be in for another great year in his eighth NFL season.

Scary: DJ Moore has been taking some more reps at running back for the Bears...👀

Ben Johnson is a mad scientist.pic.twitter.com/AhvHY2DLkY
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 25, 2025

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, Savage has proved himself to be an adversary opponent to the league's best wideouts. As one of the longest-tenured Pro Terps, Savage is a staple of what a career at Maryland can lead to.

Darnell Savage is one of the guys fighting for the the starting safety job. pic.twitter.com/iweTBGjHGc
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) July 31, 2025

Chig Okonkwo - TE (Titans)

Okonkwo was a bright spot for the Tennessee offense in 2024. He brought in 52 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns last season. The Titans are starting a new era with quarterback Cam Ward taking over the offense and Okonkwo will be one of his top targets in his rookie season.

(1/3) Is a top-12 finish in the cards for Chig Okonkwo? 📈 pic.twitter.com/iiFKfb16mq
— PFF Fantasy (@PFF_Fantasy) August 27, 2025

Nick Cross - S (Colts)

Cross had a break-out season for the Colts in 2024, taking over as their starting strong safety and he's expected to fill that role again this season. In 2024, Cross started 17 games and tallied a career-high 145 tackles (86 solo). He also posted 6.0 tackles for loss, three interceptions and one forced fumble.

Nick Cross was one of the Colts' best playmakers on defense last season, ranking second (behind only Zaire Franklin) in turnovers forced.

He finished the year with 3 interceptions and a forced fumble in his first full year starting pic.twitter.com/MkS2GfOORl
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) May 20, 2025

Chad Ryland - K (Cardinals)

Ryland enters his third professional season with 182 career points in tow. In an impressive 2024 season, he only missed four kicks all season as he went 28-for-32. He was a remarkable 4-for-4 from 50+ yards out and a perfect 17-for-17 from under 39 yards. He was as automatic as they come for the Cardinals and looks to build off it in 2025.

WE LOVE YOU CHAD!!!!!!!!!!

📺: #AZvsMIA on FOX pic.twitter.com/ewxdFXS9ao
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 27, 2024

Ty Johnson - RB (Bills)

Johnson racked up 497 total yards (213 rushing, 284 receiving) and four touchdowns as an option in a dynamic Bills offense in 2024. He returns to Buffalo as a serious threat as the Bills are expected to boast one of the best offenses again in 2025. Johnson's been incredibly reliable in his career, only fumbling three times in seven seasons. He's back for an eighth NFL season as he and the Bills hunt for Buffalo's first Super Bowl Championship.

Ty Johnson just ran 67.9 yards for this INSANE fourth-down TD, per @NextGenStats 🤯🤯🤯

📺: #DENvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Z3GBiJ1p9z
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) January 12, 2025

Full List of Terps in the NFL

OG Spencer Anderson	Steelers (3rd year)
CB Deonte Banks	Giants (3rd year)
CB Jakorian Bennett	Eagles (3rd year)
S Beau Brade	Giants (2nd year)
OL Corey Bullock	Ravens (2nd year)
DT Byron Cowart	Jets (5th year) - IR
S Nick Cross	Colts (4th year)
WR Stefon Diggs	Patriots (11th year)
WR Tai Felton	Vikings (Rookie, 3rd round)
OT Delmar Glaze	Raiders (2nd year)
LB Ruben Hyppolite II	Bears (Rookie, 4th round)
RB Ty Johnson	Bills (7th year)
WR Jeshaun Jones	Vikings (2nd year) - PS
C Josh Kaltenberger	Chargers (UFA) - PS
WR DJ Moore	Bears (8th year)
DE Durell Nchami	Colts (3rd year) - PS
TE Chig Okonkwo	Titans (4th year)
DT Sam Okuayinonu	49ers (3rd year)
DT Jordan Phillips	Dolphins (Rookie 5th round)
K Chad Ryland	Cardinals (3rd year)
S Darnell Savage	Jaguars (7th year)
CB Tarheeb Still	Chargers (2nd year)
S Dante Trader Jr.	Dolphins (Rookie 5th round)
LB Josh Woods	Falcons (7th year)

PS-Practice Squad | IR-Injured Reserve

Players Mentioned

Tai Felton

Ruben Hyppolite II

Josh Kaltenberger

Jordan Phillips

Dante Trader Jr.

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