Maryland football’s secondary must pick up the pieces after notable offseason departures
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With Maryland football’s season opener inching ever closer, we now examine head coach Mike Locksley’s secondary unit. Testudo Times has previously covered the quarterback, running back, wideout, tight ends, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker corps.
While Maryland football ranked sixth nationally with 19 interceptions in 2025, the Terps’ secondary lost just over 31% of that production — All-Big Ten defensive backs Jalen Huskey and Dontay Joyner are gone.
Huskey, the lone Terp selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, was Maryland’s top safety last season. He tied for the team-lead with four picks and totaled the second-most tackles behind linebacker Daniel Wingate.
Despite having another year of eligibility, Joyner and head coach Michael Locksley mutually agreed to part ways after the junior was arrested in June. Joyner’s absence leaves a gap opposite standout cornerback Jamare Glasker.
With a pair of transfer additions and breakout candidates, Maryland is equipped to fill those departures. The Terps’ defensive back room is loaded with talent, but new faces will need to emerge as clear starters.
| Name | Year | 2025 stats |
|---|---|---|
| Lavain Scruggs | Redshirt Senior | 64 tackles (45 solo), 0.5 TFL, 2 INT, 5 PD |
| Messiah Delhomme | Sophomore | 39 tackles (27 solo), 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FR, 4 PD, 2 BLK |
| Gavin Edwards | Redshirt Junior | 7 tackles (6 solo) |
| Alex Moore | Redshirt Junior | 3 tackles (2 solo) |
| Taylor Best | Redshirt Junior | N/A |
| Darrell Carey | Freshman | High school (3-star) |
| Zahir Cobb | Freshman | High school (3-star) |
| Name | Year | 2025 stats |
|---|---|---|
| Jamare Glasker | Redshirt Senior | 32 tackles (27 solo), 6 TFL, 4 INT, 10 PD |
| Jordan Scruggs | Redshirt Senior | 32 tackles (21 solo), 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 3 PD (at West Virginia) |
| Jayden Shipps | Sophomore | 11 tackles (9 solo), 1 TFL, 1.0 Sacks |
| Amari Jackson | Redshirt Senior | 7 tackles (4 solo), 4 PD (at Boston College) |
| Ricardo Cooper Jr. | Redshirt Junior | 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD |
| Mekhai White | Redshirt Sophomore | N/A (11 games played) |
| Lloyd Irvin III | Redshirt Sophomore | N/A (3 games played) |
| Judah Jenkins | Redshirt Sophomore | N/A |
| Sean Johnson | Freshman | High school (3-star) |
| Hakim Satterwhite | Freshman | High school (3-star) |
| Ontario Washington Jr. | Freshman | High school (not rated) |
The notable returners
Glasker’s first season in College Park didn’t disappoint. The All-Big Ten honorable mention became the program’s first player since 2014 to record an interception in three straight games, a stretch that included a pick-six against UCLA.
While Glasker was targeted a team-high 50 times last season, only 24 of those passes were caught — the lowest reception rate allowed of any Maryland defensive back. Glasker wasn’t frequently penalized either; he had just two flags called against him in his 10 starts. He likely will be the Terps’ top cornerback in 2026.
Safety Lavain Scruggs appeared in 23 games across his redshirt freshman and sophomore campaigns. But the 6-foot-3 Archbishop Spalding product broke out during the 2025 season, showcasing all the tools that made him the No. 21-ranked class of 2022 player in Maryland.
Scruggs started all 12 games and finished third on the team with 64 tackles, highlighted by a career-high 11 tackles against Illinois. He also hauled in two picks and broke up three passes to solidify the back end of the Terps’ secondary.
With a full season as starters under their belt, Glasker and Scruggs will look to shore up a Maryland pass defense that allowed all but two opponents to throw for over 200 passing yards.
Veteran transfers
After nine players departed from Maryland’s defensive back room in 2025, Locksley sought out a pair of experienced pieces in the transfer portal to challenge for the starting cornerback job.
West Virginia transfer Jordan Scruggs was a late addition, joining the program on Aug. 17 to fill an open roster spot. While Scruggs will have a quick adjustment period to learn defensive coordinator Ted Monachino’s scheme, he has the potential to make an immediate impact.
Despite his undersized frame — he stands at 5-foot-11, 176 pounds — Scruggs was a dominant force in his lone season at West Virginia. He registered 32 tackles and three pass deflections in his 12 games. Scruggs lands at his sixth different school, working his way up from the NJCAA level.
A former four-star recruit, Amari Jackson only appeared in four games last year after recovering from a season-ending injury in 2024. But the talent is undeniable. He started 28 games across his four seasons at Boston College, serving as the team’s primary cornerback.
Jackson recorded 87 tackles, 38 of which came in his breakout sophomore campaign. He allowed only 66 passing yards in his 15 targets last year.
Potential sophomore leaps
In a talented 2025 freshman class across the roster, safety Messiah Delhomme and cornerback Jayden Shipps somewhat flew under the radar. But with a clear path to regular playing time, the duo are poised for breakout seasons.
Delhomme split time between safety and the special teams unit, but was an impactful piece across the field. He was one of 11 players nationally to log two blocked kicks while also finishing third on the team with four passes deflected and 39 tackles. As the No. 6-ranked class of 2025 safety, Delhomme will likely start alongside Lavain Scruggs.
While Shipps is battling Jackson and Jordan Scruggs for starter snaps, he has the edge as the returner. He appeared in every game last season, showcasing his versatility on the field. Shipps notched 11 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.
Without much depth behind the two, Maryland will likely need Delhomme and Shipps to emerge as key cogs in the secondary.
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