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University of Maryland Athletics

2024 Football Roster

12 Dante Trader Jr.

  • Position DB
  • Class Senior
  • Ht./Wt. 5-11 / 202
  • Hometown Delmar, DE
  • High School McDonogh
  • Major African American Studies
  • Instagram Dante.trader
  • Opendorse dante-trader-jr
  • Twitter DizzyDante
  • Shop Visit Shop

Biography

CAREER HONORS

  • Jason Witten Collegiete Man of the Year Semifinalist
  • Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16, 2024)
  • Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List
  • 2024 Athlon Sports Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big Ten
  • 2024 Phil Steele Preseason Fourth-Team All-Big Ten
  • 2024 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
  • 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee
  • 2024 Shrine Bowl 1000 
  • 2023 CSC Academic All-District

TRADER JR. IN THE NEWS
• With Dante Trader Jr., the Terps have a lacrosse star starting at safety (Washington Post, September 15, 2022)
• ‘Meeting room rat’: Dante Trader impresses Maryland football with work ethic (Diamondback, August 10, 2022)

As a Senior in 2024:
  • Started all 10 games he played
  • Finished with 59 tackles (37 solo), five passes defended and one interception
  • Second on the team in tackles (59.0), despite missing two games due to injury
  • Game-high 10 tackles (eight solo) vs. Iowa (11/23)
  • Six tackles and a PBU vs. Rutgers (11/16)
  • Nine tackles and one PBU at #1 Oregon (11/9)
  • Six tackles at Minnesota (10/26)
  • Tied career-high with 11 tackles at Virginia (9/14), also had a big first-half INT that he returned for 17 yards. Earned B1G DPOW honors as a result.
  • Four tackles vs. UConn (8/31)
As a Junior in 2023: 
  • Started all 12 games he played
  • Finished third on the team in tackles with 58 (38 solo)
  • Also added two interceptions and and seven pass breakups
  • Tallied one tackle and a pass breakup in win against Auburn at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl (12/30)
  • Was all over the field at Rutgers (11/25), securing a career-high 11 tackles (eight solo), a forced fumble and a pass breakup 
  • Recorded seven tackles (four solo) vs. #2 Michigan (11/18)
  • Had first career two interception game, returning them for a combined 21 yards, to go with five tackles (three solo) at Nebraska (11/11)
  • Tallied three tackles and a pass breakup vs. #9 Penn State (11/4)
  • Missed Illinois game due to injury (10/14)
  • Matched career-high with six solo tackles (seven total) and a pass breakup at #4 Ohio State (10/7)
  • Recorded four tackles (three solo) in win over Indiana (9/30)
  • Set career-high with three pass breakups in win at Michigan State (9/23) to go with nine tackles (five solo) and half a tackle for loss

As a Sophomore in 2022:
  • Started in all 13 games at safety
  • Stood second on the team with 62 tackles (34 solo), while tying for the team lead with two interceptions and tallying four pass breakups
  • Tallied four tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup in Duke's Mayo Bowl win vs. #23 NC State (12/30)
  • Notched seven tackles (five solo) vs. #2 Ohio State (11/19)
  • Had game-high 10 tackles (six solo) and a half tackle for loss at #14 Penn State (11/12)
  • Tallied two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup at Wisconsin (11/5) 
  • Picked off Northwestern QB Brendan Sullivan in third quarter and returned it 23 yards to give the Terps ball back for game tying drive in third quarter to go with six tackles (two solo)
  • Recorded five tackles (three solo) and a pass breakup in win at Indiana (10/15)
  • Posted five tackles (four solo) vs. Purdue (10/8)
  • Notched four tackles (three solo) in win vs. Michigan State (10/1)
  • Tallied a career-best six tackles (five solo) and second pass breakup of career at #4 Michigan (9/24)
  • Recorded first career interception in fourth quarter of tie game vs. SMU (9/17), returning it 23 yards to give Terps possession back for ensuing game-winning drive; Notched five tackles (one solo)
  • Matched career-high with five tackles (one solo) in win at Charlotte (9/10)
  • Earned first career start vs. Buffalo (9/3)
  • 2022 Academic All-Big Ten selection.

As a Freshman in 2021:
  • Appeared in 12 of 13 games
  • Totaled 16 tackles (14 solo), one tackle for loss for two yards and one pass breakup
  • Matched career-high with three solo tackles at Minnesota (10/23)
  • Notched first career pass breakup at #7 Ohio State (10/9)
  • Tallied career-best three solo tackles vs. #5 Iowa (10/1)
  • Posted two tackles including one for a two yard loss in win at Illinois (9/17)
  • In career debut vs. Howard, led the team with five tackles (three solo)

Before Maryland: 
  • Tallied 25 solo tackles, six interceptions and 14 pass breakups in 2019 season, helping lead McDonogh to an 11-1 record
  • 2019 All-MIAA
  • 2018 Delaware Second Team All-State
  • 2017 Delaware State Champion at Delmar Senior High School
  • Also a member of the nationally-ranked Maryland lacrosse team
  • Was the No. 5 ranked lacrosse player in the Class of 2021 according to Inside Lacrosse 

Personal: Son of Dante Sr. and Roniell ... Dad played football at Widener ... Chose Maryland because it was his "dream school since I was young" ... Sports hero is Kobe Bryant

TRADER'S CAREER-HIGHS
Tackles: 11 (2x, last at Virginia, 9/14/24)
Solo Tackles: 8 (at Rutgers, 11/25/23)
Tackles for Loss: 1 (at Illinois, 9/17/21)
Interceptions: 1 (2x, last vs. Northwestern, 10/22/22)
Pass Breakups: 3 (at Michigan State, 9/23/23)

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 20

    2021Freshman

    Defensive Back
    6'0" 190 lbs
    20
  • 12

    2022Sophomore

    Defensive Back
    6'0" 190 lbs
    12
  • 12

    2023Junior

    Defensive Back
    5'11" 200 lbs
    12
  • 12

    2024Senior

    Defensive Back
    5'11" 202 lbs
    12