Maryland's NFL History
Beginning with Maryland’s first-ever NFL draft pick in 1937 and continuing in 2000 with Frank Wycheck’s lateral in the “Music City Miracle” the Terrapins have fashioned an impressive tradition in the National Football League. Names like Scarbeth, Jones, Nolan, White, Avellini, Esiason, Shiner, O’Donnell, Collins, Nehemiah, Lewis, Glover, Atkinson, and Mike-Mayer have dotted NFL rosters over the years. In all, more than 200 Terrapins have gone on to play professionally following their Maryland careers.
Did you know?
Beginning with Maryland’s first-ever NFL draft pick in 1937 and continuing in 2000 with Frank Wycheck’s lateral in the “Music City Miracle” the Terrapins have fashioned an impressive tradition in the National Football League. Names like Scarbeth, Jones, Nolan, White, Avellini, Esiason, Shiner, O’Donnell, Collins, Nehemiah, Lewis, Glover, Atkinson, and Mike-Mayer have dotted NFL rosters over the years. In all, more than 200 Terrapins have gone on to play professionally following their Maryland careers.
Did you know?
- The Terrapins have had 15 players chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft, including two Top 10 picks in the last six years. Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken seventh overall in 2009 (Oakland Raisers) and Vernon Davis was selected sixth in 2006 (San Francisco 49ers).
- Butkus and Bednarik award-winning linebacker E.J. Henderson was selected early in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Henderson was the 40th selection overall and has gone on to have an All-Pro career.
- Three former Maryland head coaches (Bobby Ross, Lou Saban and Clark Shaughnessy) and four former Maryland players (Dick Modzelewski, Dick Nolan, Ron Waller, Mike Tice) have gone on to serve as head coaches in the NFL.
- Former Dallas Cowboy Randy White made eight Pro Bowl appearances during his career, among the most in NFL history. White was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII and was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Over the last four years, 15 Terrapins have been invited to the NFL Combine. WR Torrey Smith and RB Da’Rel Scott attended the 2011 NFL Combine, along with LB Adrian Moten, en route to being selected in April’s draft. In 2009, six Terps - CB Kevin Barnes, LB Moise Fokou, TE Dan Gronkowski, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, OL Jaimie Thomas and DL Edwin Williams - traveled to Indianapolis for the event. Maryland also provides a first-class work out environment for its own Pro Timing Day which is held annually in March.