Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart share a separate pregame routine from most of Maryland football’s roster.
After the team bursts out of the tunnel into pyrotechnics, cheers or opposing-stadium boos, the pair step aside, drop to their knees and stretch their arms forward. They share a brief prayer rooted in their Muslim faith.
Their shared beliefs help anchor their bond.
“It’s already brought us closer together,” Mathis said. “[I] trust him on and off the field, just based off of religion … he helps me and guides me as well, the same that I do for him.”
Stewart and Mathis realized they shared the same faith on June 14 — the first day of summer training. Assistant coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim helped spark the connection, noting the team’s Muslim players, including receiver Jalil Farooq and offensive lineman Rahtrel Perry.
That shared identity shows before kickoff. Stewart and Mathis often exit the team bus wearing thobes — traditional garments common in many Muslim cultures — as an understated expression of their faith.
“If I could shed a little light on my faith, I’ll do that,” Stewart said.
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The team has held a Catholic mass on game days for years. This season, it added a Muslim service in the team hotel, giving the small group of Muslim players a dedicated space.
Coach Michael Locksley said his own Christian faith shapes how he approaches player development, adding he respects all faith traditions. He sees spirituality as crucial to building well-rounded young men.
“We build the whole character of a kid,” Locksley said. “Faith plays a big role in that, and it’s a big part of my program.”
Mathis’ spiritual journey began long before he suited up for Maryland.
The Philadelphia native grew up around Christianity, attending church and Bible study as a child and continuing to do so even after his mother converted to Islam. Mathis said as he got older, he struggled to fully connect with church teachings. By eighth grade, after reading the Quran and feeling its message speak to him more clearly, he chose to convert.
Mathis said Islam gave him structure and maturity at an important time. Being the only Muslim in his immediate family makes parts of that journey difficult, but the faith helps him understand life with more purpose, he said.
His mother — who practiced Islam for much of her life before returning to Christianity during her battle with cancer — remains a major influence. She died in 2020, but Mathis said watching her navigate both faith and hardship still shapes the man he’s trying to become.
“[My faith] helps me guide myself,” Mathis said. “Helped me not question a lot of things — just realize everything happened for a reason.”
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Stewart’s path to Islam began at 14 years old, shaped less by a single moment and more through the people and places around him. He spent much of his childhood traveling to Philadelphia, where he was surrounded by a large Muslim community. The exposure pulled him toward the faith — hearing prayers, seeing discipline and daily structure.
Even after converting, Stewart attended Concordia Prep, a Christian high school in Towson. He said the experience deepened his understanding of both religions.
Learning Christianity made the overlap clearer: shared Abrahamic roots, a focus on how to treat others and the belief that faith guides action. Islam gave him discipline at an age when many teenagers drift, he said.
Stewart said he’s often had to explain parts of his faith to people who misunderstand them, especially Ramadan and how fasting fits alongside Division I football. He doesn’t take offense when questions come. He sees them as teachable moments.
“I understand there’s a lot of ignorance in this world,” Stewart said. “I’ll take every opportunity I can to provide information people are searching for.”
Mathis and Stewart are still early in their Maryland careers. The pair, who lead the Terps in sacks, say their growth off the field has mattered just as much as anything they’ve done between the lines.
“Being different is an opportunity. Don’t shy away from who you are,” Stewart said. “If that leads to you acting different … to maintain things in a way to stay strong to your faith — then so be it.”
