For the first time in seven years, a Maryland receiver was named an All-Big Ten first-team selection.
Tai Felton was chosen for the honor by both the coaches and media. He is the first Terps wideout to earn all-conference first-team accolades since DJ Moore, a Chicago Bears wide receiver who was a first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2018 NFL draft, in 2017.
Felton capped a brilliant senior campaign by pacing the Big Ten in both catches (96) and receiving yards (1,124) and tying for third in touchdown catches (nine). He set a school single-season record for receptions, smashing the previous mark of 80 set by Moore in 2017.
Felton led the league in 100-yard receiving games with five. Nationally, he ranked third in catches per game (8) and total receptions, eighth in total receiving yards and ninth in receiving yards per game (93.7). He is tied for 11th in the country in touchdown catches.
A semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award that is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding receiver, Felton finished second in program history for receiving yards in a single season (Marcus Badgett had 1,240 in 1992) and tied for second with Badgett in 1992 and Jermaine Lewis in 1994 for touchdowns in a year.
The 6-foot-2, 186-pound Felton was invited to the Senior Bowl on Sunday. He declared for the NFL draft the next day.
Felton heads a group of Maryland players who were acknowledged by Big Ten coaches and media. Safety Dante Trader Jr. and punter Bryce McFerson were lauded as honorable mention selections by coaches and media, while linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II and cornerback Glendon Miller were cited as honorable mention choices by the media.
Trader Jr., a McDonogh graduate, wrapped up his senior year by leading the defense in solo tackles (37) and pass breakups (four) and finishing second in total tackles (59) despite missing two games because of an undisclosed injury. He was invited to the Senior Bowl and is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes players who exhibit leadership, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
McFerson ranked second in the Big Ten in punting average (45.1 yards) and third in punts of 50 or more yards (18) and punts inside the 20-yard line (21). The Notre Dame transfer and redshirt sophomore ranked 11th in the nation in punting average among those with a minimum of 3.6 punts per game.
Hyppolite II paced the defense in total tackles (66) and was tied for third in tackles for loss (6 1/2). The fifth-year senior was tied for 26th in the Big Ten in total tackles and was an all-conference third-team pick last fall.
Miller led Maryland in interceptions (three) and was tied for sixth in the league in that department. The redshirt senior also compiled 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one recovered fumble.
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