COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland men's lacrosse standouts Will Schaller, Eric Spanos, Leo Johnson, Eric Kolar, and Braden Erksa were selected in the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft on Tuesday night.
Schaller was selected in the third round, 17th overall, by the Utah Archers. Spanos was also taken in the third round, going 22nd overall to the Carolina Chaos. Johnson will join Schaller in Utah after being selected 25th overall in the fourth round. Kolar, also a fourth-round selection, was picked 28th overall by the Maryland Whipsnakes, while Erksa joined him there after being drafted 32nd overall in the fourth round.
With these selections, Maryland now boasts 81 professional outdoor lacrosse draftees, the most of any college lacrosse program.
Schaller joins former Maryland teammates Bryce Ford '25 and Jackson Canfield '25 on the Utah Archers. A 2025 USILA First Team All-American defender, Schaller also earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors, was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and First Team All-Big Ten. A 2026 preseason All-American and Tewaaraton Award watch list selection, he anchored the Terps' defense to the 2025 national championship game, leading the unit with 32 ground balls while consistently matching up against the nation's top attackers.
Spanos, a 2025 USILA Honorable Mention All-American attacker, earned NCAA All-Tournament Team honors, First Team All-Big Ten, and Big Ten All-Tournament Team recognition in 2025. In 2024, he was named a USILA Honorable Mention All-American, USA Lacrosse Magazine Honorable Mention All-American, Second Team All-Big Ten, and was named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list. He currently ranks 31st in Maryland history in points (140) and 19th in goals (98).
Johnson, an attacker in his first season as a Terp, leads the team with 22 goals and 19 assists for 41 points through 10 games. He ranks second in the Big Ten in total points and third in points per game (3.4). Nationally, he sits fifth among active players in career points (213) and ninth in goals (123). He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week following Week 1.
Kolar, a short-stick defensive midfielder, is a 2025 USILA Second Team All-American and 2025 USA Lacrosse Third Team All-American, as well as a Tewaaraton Award watch list selection. He is a key part of a Terps defensive midfield unit that ranks second in the Big Ten, allowing just 9.2 goals per game.
Erksa, an attacker, was the 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and currently ranks 23rd in Maryland history in points (163) and 20th in career goals (95). This season, he is second on the team in assists (13) and points (25) through 10 games.
Erksa and Kolar will join eight fellow Terp alumni on the Whipsnakes roster, including former teammate Jack McDonald '25 from last season's national championship run.
Schaller, Spanos, Johnson, Kolar, and Erksa, and the No. 7 Terps return to action this Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. at Homewood Field for the final game of the 2026 regular season and the 120th meeting in "The Rivalry." The game will air on ESPNU and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
