Terps

of that room and how the NFL has valued or viewed the guys that have come through that room,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “What’s developed that culture in there? I think it’s the tradition of the room. When you’ve got big shoes to fill, a first-round draft pick like Deonte Banks. It puts a little bit of added pressure on you.”

Building that foundation starts with recruiting. Locksley and his defensive staff have a system, looking for specific traits when evaluating secondary players. That process is rooted in the uniqueness of the position, where one misstep or wrong action can lead to a touchdown.

One of those key qualities is confidence. The Terps coaches value defensive backs who play with a swagger and believe in their playmaking ability. But with the position’s volatility, defensive coordinator Brian Williams looks to measure a prospect’s resilience early in the recruiting process.

“If you’re going to ask kids to come to your campus and play man coverage against the likes of [former Ohio State star] Marvin Harrison Jr. and players of that stature, they’ve got to have a short memory,” Williams said. “You watch them in high school play against really good competition, and you want to see how they respond in those moments where they need to be resilient, where they need to bounce back.”

‘Everything’s got to be competitive’

Identifying those traits is only one step in establishing that culture. The next step begins when players arrive in College Park. Several defensive backs and safeties coaches, including Cory Robinson, Jon Hoke, Henry Baker and Zac Spavital, have aided that development process.

After the departure of Savage and Brooks, the next wave of future draftees arrived. Cross and Banks came to Maryland in 2019 and earned substantial playing time as freshmen. Bennett, Brade, Still and Glendon Miller arrived in 2020, adding talent and more fuel to the group’s competitive fire.

During the pandemic-shortened season, Still started four games as a freshman, while Bennett appeared in four of five games after transferring from Hutchinson Community College. The group’s confidence and collective work ethic proved contagious for the younger players.

“That competitiveness was in the room when I first got here,” Trader said. “I’m like, ‘Yo, these guys are crazy.’ They’re getting beat or this is happening and they’re coming back saying, ‘You ain’t better than me, you ain’t like that, you ain’t cut like that.’ That’s always been the Maryland defensive back room, and that’s what I’m trying to tell these young guys.”

The defensive backs thrived on healthy competition. They battled in any way they could, from who could run the fastest, jump the highest, or lift the heaviest weight. Hands on hips during workouts was a big no-no.

“It could be as simple as a ball drill out of your break, whose break was faster,” Miller said. “Everything’s got to be competitive, but fun, competitive though. It gets the best out of you.”

However, the players always came together after practice and helped one another learn from their mistakes. They trusted each other, and their group-wide moxie proved beneficial on game days, particularly on the road.

The secondary showed that fire on a big stage, hosting undefeated No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 19, 2022. Heisman Trophy finalist and future Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud led the Buckeyes’ high-octane offense with several explosive playmakers, including Harrison, the 2024 No. 4 overall pick, and potential 2025 first-round selection Emeka Egbuka. The defensive backs met the night before the game and talked about the importance of locking in and playing like they have nothing to lose.

While the Terps lost 43-30 that afternoon, the secondary’s performance and fourth-quarter fight showcased their collective talent and pro potential on a national stage.

“Our mentality was, ‘We don’t care who you are. You’ve got to prove to us that you’re the best. If people think you’re so good, you’ve got to show it to us,’ ” Brade said. “Approaching every game and every play like that. As we got to close games like Ohio State at home and those other higher ranked teams, that’s when we really had a better game against them, because we were confident in our own game.”

‘You want them to be just as great, if not greater, than you are’

Banks and Bennett took the torch in 2023, with Still following suit in 2024, inspiring other Terps to realize their NFL dreams.

“It really meant everything to me just to continue on the legacy,” Still said. “You always have dreams about doing something. But then, when you see somebody close to you accomplish it, it becomes that much more real. When Nick did it, it brought me closer to the dream. Then the next year, when Deonte and Jakorian did it, I said, ‘OK, I can do this thing. It’s really going to happen.’”

Since reaching the NFL, those former Terps have become a valuable sounding board for the defensive backs still at Maryland hoping to take that next step. Still spoke with Cross, Banks and Bennett to glean more insight throughout his draft process. Now, the Chargers rookie is looking forward to returning the favor.

Many of those former Terps have returned to College Park to share their wisdom. They’ve stressed the importance of taking care of your body and the value of playing with a pro mentality.

“Those guys were competitive and competed at everything they did from Day 1 until the time they left,” Williams said. “It gives us a chance to have a model to show the guys that we have here now that if they put their head down and go to work the way those guys did, then the opportunities are there for them.”

Like the veterans before them, Miller and Trader are passing down the lessons that were once taught to them. Trader still seeks advice from former teammates like Brade and Cross. He sends them film clips, and they offer perspective on the intricacies of playing safety at the highest level.

“At the end of the day, what good is the knowledge you have, if you’re not able to share it and help the other people around you?” Cross said. “I’ve gained knowledge through other people or trial and error. I would be remiss if I didn’t share it with the guys coming up.

“You’ve got to pass down the knowledge, you want them to be just as great, if not greater than you are.”