Maryland football’s secondary opened the 2025 season with two encouraging performances.

In the season opener against Florida Atlantic University, the Terps snagged six interceptions with five from defensive backs. While the unit didn’t record another takeaway on Friday against Northern Illinois, it limited the Huskies to below 100 passing yards.

Maryland allowed just 16 points through two games, its fewest in that span since 2001.Both outings offer optimism for a defense that has struggled in recent seasons.

“I’ve been really pleased with the way we’ve contested the ball in the passing game, which a year ago was an Achilles heel,” coach Michael Locksley said. “When we’ve needed to be in coverage position, I feel like we’ve been in a great coverage position.”

Since 2021, Maryland’s defense under Locksley has consistently ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten in passing yards allowed per game. The Terps finished seventh worst in the 18-team conference last season and conceded 300 or more passing yards in four games, winning only one of them.

Maryland lost outside corners Perry Fisher and Kevis Thomas through the transfer portal — who played the most and third-most snaps at the position. The pair both gave up three touchdowns in coverage, while Fisher surrendered a 74.4 completion percentage.

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The Terps also added through the transfer portal, bringing in redshirt junior Jamare Glasker and junior Dontay Joyner. Both have handled most of the snaps at outside corner this season.

Joyner has been targeted eight times, allowing four completions and recording an interception against FAU. Glasker has faced six targets, surrendering just one catch, though he exited the Northern Illinois game early with his injury status still unclear.

Locksley said he’s encouraged by the secondary’s tighter man coverage — a weakness last year — and feels they’ve been in good position on passes, though he added he wants to see more pressure on the quarterback.

Safety Lavain Scruggs praised Joyner for bringing visible energy and a playmaking presence, while Glasker was described as quieter but reliable, someone who puts his head down and does the job.

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Even if Glasker misses time, sophomore La’khi Roland and redshirt freshman Braydon Lee have played well on the outside — both notching interceptions in the win over FAU.

“We feel like we’ve got four guys [at the position], and it’s what they’ve shown all throughout camp,” Locksley said.

The caveat is that Maryland’s first two opponents featured modest passing games. In 2024, FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp started his first game with the Owls against the Terps after playing for Conference USA’s Western Kentucky, while Northern Illinois averaged under 200 passing yards a game.

Last season, Maryland held Connecticut and Virginia to a 42.8 completion percentage in non-conference play before faltering once the Big Ten slate began. Towson shouldn’t present much of a challenge either this week, leaving a matchup with Wisconsin in week four as the first real test for a rebuilt secondary.