COLLEGE PARK, MD --Â In 2019, Maryland Football Head Coach
Michael Locksley started a spring awards tradition that honors past Terrapin greats. At the conclusion of the Spring Showcase, Locksley handed out a variety of awards to current players. Each award is named after a Terrapin legend with the award names changing each year. Here are this year's award winners.
Â
Mike Corvino Headhunter Award
Corvino played for the Terps from 1979-1982 and compiled 347 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 24 sacks over his impressive career. He ranks 2nd all-time at Maryland in career sacks and fifth all-time in career TFL's.
John Zernhelt I Like to Practice Award
Zernhelt earned three letters in football for the Terps and played on three ACC championship teams. Zernhelt played in the Liberty, Gator and Cotton bowls and later coached at Maryland from 1987-1991.
Eric Ogbogu Defensive Lineman Award
Ogbogu was named both All-ACC and Academic All-ACC during his four-year career from 1994-97. He registered 18.5 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss in his career and led the Terps in sacks for three straight seasons from 1995-97.
Winners: Derrick LaBlanc and EJ Moore
Melvin Fowler Offensive Lineman Award
Fowler starred for the Terps from 1998-2001. Fowler was named a Football News All-American and First Team All-ACC selection in 2001. The center was part of the 2001 ACC Championship team that played in the Orange Bowl.
Kenny Tate Most Improved Freshman Award
Tate played for the Terps from 2008-12. Tate was named Maryland's Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, a season in which he forced four fumbles and had an interception returned for a touchdown.
Ty Johnson Community Service Award
Johnson is a running back who is currently starring with the Buffalo Bills. In four seasons with the Terps, Johnson tallied 4,196 all-purpose yards, third in program history. In his sophomore season in 2016, Johnson set the Terrapins' single-season yards per carry record.
Ralph Lary Most Improved Player Award
Lary is a former Terp safety that played in College Park from 1977-80. Lary ranks seventh all-time at Maryland with 10 interceptions, including seven during the 1979 season. Also an excellent student, Lary was named Academic All-ACC four times.
Paul Vellano, Sr. Commitment to Excellence Award
Vellano Sr. is a former Terp great who was induced into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Vellano Sr. was an All-American defensive lineman for the Terps from 1971-73. He was named Honorable Mention All-American as a junior in 1972 and then a First Team All-American in 1973. Vellano Sr. was also a two-time All-ACC selection.
Todd Wike Leadership Award
Wike is a former Maryland offensive lineman that played for the Terps from 1999-2002. He was a College Football News All-American and a two-time First Team All-ACC selection.
Ernest Torain Offensive Back Award
Torain is a former running back that played for the Terps from 1965-67. Torain was a two-time letterman with Maryland football and a star running back on the freshman squad in 1964 and on the varsity roster in 1965 and 1966. He led the Terps in rushing yards in 1965.
Brian McMahon Outstanding Non-Scholarship Player Award
McMahon joined the Terps football program as a preferred walk-on in 2012. He played both tight end and quarterback for the Terps and was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2014.
Nick Cross Defensive Back Award
Cross was part of Coach Locksley's first recruiting class and played for the Terps from 2019-21. He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and led or tied for the team lead in interceptions all three years he played. He was drafted into the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts and is currently a member of the Washington Commanders.
Ralph Felton Linebacker Award
Felton is a former Terp who played in College Park from 1951-53. Maryland went 27-3 and won the 1953 National Championship during Felton's time. He led Maryland in rushing two seasons and was named Honorable Mention All-American and Second Team All-ACC in 1953. He played nine seasons in the NFL as a linebacker.
Torrey Smith Wide Receiver Award
Smith was an explosive Terp wide out that went on to win a pair of Super Bowls in the NFL. Smith still owns the Maryland record for most all-purpose yards during his college career with 5,264. He ranks third all-time at Maryland in career receiving yards and fourth with 152 receptions.
Daryl Whitmer Special Teams Award
Whitmer is a former Terp that played from 1998-2001. He saw action in 39 career games and took tremendous pride in contributing on special teams.
Kevin Glover Alumni Impact Award
Given annually to a Maryland Alum who has given to and helped the football program. Glover devoted his life to Maryland Athletics – first as a standout football player and later as an administrator and mentor to hundreds of Terps. Glover was a First-Team All-American with the Terps and went on to a Pro Bowl career in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.
Winner:Â Mike Strittmatter
