Tai Felton first met Jermaine Lewis, arguably the best wide receiver in Maryland football’s history, in August at a Baltimore Ravens preseason event.

Lewis, who played for the Terps from 1992 to 1995, gave Felton advice ahead of his senior season. He said if Felton wanted to get near his program records, he needed to double his production.

Felton texted Lewis later that week to say he would triple it.

Felton went on to amass one of the Terps’ best all-time receiving seasons. He surpassed DJ Moore’s single-season receptions record last week and became the fourth wide receiver in Maryland’s history to exceed 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. His 86 receptions and 1,040 receiving yards ranks first and second, respectively, among all Power Four players this season.

Felton’s legacy is clear — he’s a program great.

“I’ve been bragging about [him] all year,” Lewis said.

Felton was on track to commit to Virginia Tech out of high school, but had his offer rescinded during his junior year after suffering an ACL injury. Coach Michael Locksley swooped in and got Felton to commit to Maryland.

The Ashburn, Virginia, native didn’t become a full-time starter until 2023 and was stuck in a crowded receiver room with NFL talent. But Felton knew he had the skills and chose to return to Maryland for his senior season. The decision has turned him into a bonafide star.

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He registered at least 100 receiving yards in each of the Terps’ first four games, the first player in program history to achieve that feat. Felton was announced on Tuesday as a 2024 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, the annual award given to college football’s most outstanding receiver.

“I’ve been probably his biggest cheerleader, other than [his] mom, because I always thought Tai had that in him, probably more than he thought himself,” Locksley said. “It’s so rewarding to see Tai be able to have this type of year.”

Felton ranks top-five in program history in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. With two games left in the regular season, he’s on pace to move up to second all-time in yardage. He’s 200 yards away from the school’s single-season record.

Teammates and past Maryland wideouts have all raved about Felton’s talent — quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. said he’s “as physically gifted” as a receiver comes.

“It took him some time to get there but he continued to make those steps,” former Maryland and Ravens receiver Torrey Smith said. “He always had the athleticism, he always had the ability to make a play. Now I think you’re seeing what it looks like.”

Felton passed Smith, who played for the Terps from 2008 to 2010 before the Ravens selected him in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, for third place in the program’s receptions record. Smith was in attendance for Felton’s record-breaking game against Rutgers.

The former first team All-ACC selection said Felton is a perfect example of what it looks like when talent, development and commitment come together.

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Felton stays in touch with many former Terps, such as Smith and Lewis who gave him advice. The senior has also worked out a few times with Stefon Diggs and connected with Vernon Davis, who he even shares a barber with, he said.

Smith said Felton’s flexibility to line up either on the outside or inside impresses him, a quality he said he never had. Lewis has been most impressed with Felton’s big-play ability. The consensus is that Felton has found a marriage between talent and execution.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” Smith said.

Felton knew he had one final chance to “put the best tape out there” this year, and he’s done exactly that. From bench receiver to No. 1 wideout, Lewis saw Felton’s confidence grow “like a snowball rolling downhill.”

Felton said he wants to be discussed as one of the Terps’ all-time greats. He’s got the backing of many in and around the program — including Locksley, who said he hopes Felton’s legacy lives on like that of Smith, Diggs and other Terps alumni.

“He’s one of those guys,” Locksley said.

“People can have their opinions all they want. His name’s gonna be all over [those] record books,” Smith said. “I think he’ll go down as one of the best receivers to play for the Terps.”