The shift from the college football offseason to the preseason really can be felt as the summer gets underway, and it is palpable once you get a preseason preview magazine in your hands.
Phil Steele has set the gold standard for college football previews, and his latest copy became available this week.
As part of his Big Ten preview, Steele has four All-Big Ten preseason teams, and a few Terps were selected. Sophomore Braeden Wisloski was named a first-team kick returner, seniors Tai Felton and Kaden Prather were named second-team wide receivers, redshirt senior Ruben Hyppolite II was named a second-team linebacker and senior Dante Trader Jr. was named a fourth-team safety.
Wisloski broke onto the scene as a freshman in 2023, being named an All-Big Ten honorable mention. The wide receiver was just a three-star prospect and the No. 1,095 player in the class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite ratings, but he found his role as a solid return man. Wisloski appeared in all 13 games and returned 16 kickoffs for 380 yards and a touchdown. He was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after taking a 98-yard return to the house against Virginia on Sept. 15 of last season. Wisloski’s kickoff return average of 23.8 yards was third in the Big Ten and tied for 19th nationally.
Felton was an All-Big Ten third-team selection in 2023 after starting all 13 games. The Ashburn, Virginia, native had 48 catches for 723 yards and a team-leading six receiving touchdowns. Felton averaged 15.1 yards per catch, the fifth-most in the Big Ten. He had a career game in the regular-season finale against Rutgers, hauling in five passes for 140 yards. Felton had a true breakout year, more than doubling his receptions, yards and touchdowns from 2022, and could become a star this fall.
Prather was a big-time addition via West Virginia in last year’s transfer portal cycle, and he had a strong Year One in College Park. Prather had 42 catches for 666 yards and five scores en route to being named an All-Big Ten honorable mention. He led the team with 15.9 yards per catch, the fourth-most in the Big Ten. Prather had a heck of a one-handed touchdown grab at Ohio State last year. Steele has Prather as his fifth-ranked draft eligible receiver in the country (Felton is 18th).
Hyppolite returns for a fifth and final season at Maryland. From Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Hyppolite had a stellar 2023 campaign, earning All-Big Ten third-team honors and being named a team captain by his peers. He made 66 tackles, the second-most on the team, and had 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a pass breakup. Hyppolite has been a defensive cornerstone for the Terps under Brian Williams, and his return is a big boost for a defense that finished 11th in ESPN SP+ last season.
Trader has also been a defensive mainstay as he enters his third season as a starting safety at Maryland. Trader made 58 tackles last season, the third-most on the team, and added two interceptions and seven pass breakups. Like Felton, he had a career game against Rutgers, posting 11 tackles (eight solo), a forced fumble and a pass breakup. He formed a dynamic duo with Beau Brade, who is now a Baltimore Raven, the last couple of seasons. Steele has Trader listed as his No. 2 draft eligible strong safety in the country.
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