Six Terps Earn Preseason All-Big Ten Recognition from Athlon Sports
6/30/2026 11:17:00 AM | Football
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Six Maryland football student-athletes have been recognized on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten Team, led by first-team selections Daniel Wingate and Bryce McFerson.
Wingate was named First Team Preseason All-Big Ten at linebacker, while McFerson earned First Team honors as the conference's top preseason punter.
Defensive linemen Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart were tabbed Third Team selections, while tight end Dorian Fleming and kicker Sean O'Haire earned Fourth Team honors.
Player Spotlights:
Wingate enters the 2026 season following one of the most productive defensive campaigns in recent Maryland history. He led the Terrapins and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 102 total tackles in 2025, becoming the first Terp to eclipse the 100-tackle mark since Tre Watson's All-America season in 2018. Wingate also ranked second in the conference and tied for seventh nationally with 62 solo tackles while adding 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and two quarterback hurries. He posted five games with double-digit tackles, including a career-high 14 against Northern Illinois.
McFerson established himself as one of the nation's premier punters last season, finishing second in the Big Ten with a 44.2-yard punting average. The Indian Trail, North Carolina native averaged at least 45.0 yards per punt in six games, recorded 14 punts of 50-plus yards—the second-most in the conference—and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 19 times, fourth-most in the Big Ten. His 44.2-yard average ranks as the sixth-best single-season mark in program history.
Mathis made an immediate impact in his first season, earning recognition as a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist. Despite missing nearly two full games due to injury, the Philadelphia native finished second on the team with 6.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He recorded at least a partial sack in seven of the 11 games he appeared in and still ranked 11th in the Big Ten in sacks.
Stewart emerged as one of the conference's top young defensive linemen during his true freshman campaign. An On3 True Freshman Midseason All-American, Stewart led Maryland with seven sacks, tying for fifth in the Big Ten, while recording at least a partial sack in eight games. He also set the Maryland freshman record with 10.5 tackles for loss, surpassing the previous mark that had stood since 1979, and finished among the conference's Top 10 in tackles for loss.
Fleming earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2025 after transferring to Maryland from Georgia State. He quickly became one of the conference's most productive tight ends, tying for second among Big Ten players at the position with 40 receptions while totaling 351 receiving yards. His three touchdown receptions ranked third on the team.
O'Haire enjoyed an outstanding debut season in College Park, leading the Big Ten and tying for sixth nationally with 1.9 field goals made per game. The Kildare, Ireland native converted 50 of his 53 total kicks, going 21-for-24 on field goals and a perfect 29-for-29 on extra points. His 21 made field goals tied for the third-most in a single season in program history, while his 87.5 percent field goal percentage ranks second all-time at Maryland.
Wingate was named First Team Preseason All-Big Ten at linebacker, while McFerson earned First Team honors as the conference's top preseason punter.
Defensive linemen Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart were tabbed Third Team selections, while tight end Dorian Fleming and kicker Sean O'Haire earned Fourth Team honors.
Player Spotlights:
Wingate enters the 2026 season following one of the most productive defensive campaigns in recent Maryland history. He led the Terrapins and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 102 total tackles in 2025, becoming the first Terp to eclipse the 100-tackle mark since Tre Watson's All-America season in 2018. Wingate also ranked second in the conference and tied for seventh nationally with 62 solo tackles while adding 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and two quarterback hurries. He posted five games with double-digit tackles, including a career-high 14 against Northern Illinois.
McFerson established himself as one of the nation's premier punters last season, finishing second in the Big Ten with a 44.2-yard punting average. The Indian Trail, North Carolina native averaged at least 45.0 yards per punt in six games, recorded 14 punts of 50-plus yards—the second-most in the conference—and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 19 times, fourth-most in the Big Ten. His 44.2-yard average ranks as the sixth-best single-season mark in program history.
Mathis made an immediate impact in his first season, earning recognition as a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist. Despite missing nearly two full games due to injury, the Philadelphia native finished second on the team with 6.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. He recorded at least a partial sack in seven of the 11 games he appeared in and still ranked 11th in the Big Ten in sacks.
Stewart emerged as one of the conference's top young defensive linemen during his true freshman campaign. An On3 True Freshman Midseason All-American, Stewart led Maryland with seven sacks, tying for fifth in the Big Ten, while recording at least a partial sack in eight games. He also set the Maryland freshman record with 10.5 tackles for loss, surpassing the previous mark that had stood since 1979, and finished among the conference's Top 10 in tackles for loss.
Fleming earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors in 2025 after transferring to Maryland from Georgia State. He quickly became one of the conference's most productive tight ends, tying for second among Big Ten players at the position with 40 receptions while totaling 351 receiving yards. His three touchdown receptions ranked third on the team.
O'Haire enjoyed an outstanding debut season in College Park, leading the Big Ten and tying for sixth nationally with 1.9 field goals made per game. The Kildare, Ireland native converted 50 of his 53 total kicks, going 21-for-24 on field goals and a perfect 29-for-29 on extra points. His 21 made field goals tied for the third-most in a single season in program history, while his 87.5 percent field goal percentage ranks second all-time at Maryland.
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