Tai Felton stays at Maryland, becomes Big Ten’s leading pass catcher

CEDAR RAPIDS - Tai Felton had a chance to bolt. A lot of college football players these days would have done so.

Yet he stayed at the University of Maryland for his senior season. What has turned out to be a record-setting senior season.

The wide receiver is the Big Ten Conference’s leading pass catcher going into Saturday’s game for the Terrapins at home against the Iowa Hawkeyes. It’s an 11 a.m. kickoff and televised by the Big Ten Network.

Felton has 86 receptions, which is a program record, 1,040 yards with those receptions and seven touchdowns. He has 18 more catches and 174 more yards than the next-highest person in the Big Ten in those categories.

Again, he has done so at the school in which he began his career. Admirable.

“A year ago, he had a chance to leave here,” said Maryland Coach Mike Locksley at his weekly press conference. “But this is what I respect about Tai, and this is why our relationship is so strong. He remembered that he lost a bunch of people (schools) when he had his injury in high school and those that decided to stick with him. To see young kids who have that type of loyalty and who remember ‘You did have my back, Maryland football,’ when nobody else did ... He stuck it out.”

Felton tore his ACL his senior season at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va. A lot of schools subsequently backed off from recruiting him, though Maryland didn’t.

He played in eight games as a freshman in 2021, started six games in 2022 and began to break out last season as a junior, starting every game and leading the Terps in TD catches (six). This season he went from beginning to break out to breaking out.

“I remember moving into the (dorms) yesterday, being a freshman and trying to figure everything out. College definitely went by very fast,” Felton said this week. “It’s definitely been a blessing just being here, going through the ups and downs and the adversity I’ve been through, we’ve been through with the program. It’s definitely been an interesting time here. I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot throughout the years.”

Felton’s development was aided by he and a handful of teammates attending a performance training facility in Florida over the summer. The work done there carried over into fall camp.

Confidence has been a significant part of his emergence as well.

“Tai is one of my favorites,” Locksley said. “He has been even before he caught (a) ball. This year has been his breakout year, and I think Tai would attest to (this) over the years, that next to his mom, who has been a huge cheerleader, I’ve probably been his (next) biggest cheerleader.

“Because I always thought Tai had that in him, probably more than himself. We’ve worked really hard with Tai on the mental piece of sports performance ... Really talented players who somehow we’ve got to get out of their heads. For me, it’s so rewarding to see Tai have this type of year.”

Felton recently was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, as college football’s top receiver. He is firmly on the radar of NFL teams, considered an expert route runner whose only flaw might be not having elite speed that can break the top off of opposing defenses.

“The biggest thing is, I'm not surprised,” Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. told local media. “I don't think he is, either. I don't think a lot of people around the facility are … He's a great person. Works hard, same guy every day, has the right mindset. He deserves all the success he's getting right now.”

Felton just wishes that success would have trickled down to his team as a whole. Maryland is 4-6 and must win its final two regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

The Terrapins 1-6 in the Big Ten and have lost five of six.

“It’s obviously been a blessing to have the team that I’ve had,” Felton said. “(The Biletnikoff) is a team award. I think they’ve pushed me to be a great person every day, on and off the field. To have made the plays that I’ve made, to have that record and still try to break more records ...

“But my main focus is to win these last two games. Me and this senior group have done a lot for this program, a lot of sweat, tears and blood. Our main focus is to try and get this ‘W’ this week and then next week try and get the next ‘W,’ so we can send this team to a bowl game.”

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