Maryland extensive receiver Dontay Demus Jr. introduced Thursday that he’ll forgo the staff’s bowl recreation to organize for the 2023 NFL draft, someday after fellow wideout Jacob Copeland introduced he would do the identical.
After coming back from a season-ending knee damage he suffered in October 2021, Demus didn’t have the yr many anticipated. The Washington native caught 22 passes for 233 yards and a landing, however his finest recreation got here on the most important stage towards No. 5 Ohio State on Nov. 19, when he had 5 receptions for 67 yards in a 43-30 loss.
Demus remains to be thought-about probably the greatest wideouts in program historical past. A 3-time All-Big Ten honorable point out in 5 seasons, he finishes his Terps profession with 2,008 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns whereas averaging 15.7 yards per catch. He ranks seventh in program historical past in receiving yards, trailing present Carolina Panthers star DJ Moore (2,027).
Demus was thought-about a mid-round NFL draft choose by a number of consultants final season. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Demus the ninth-best wide receiver in the 2022 draft class after he racked up 507 yards and three touchdowns within the first 5 video games of 2021, together with three contests with 100-plus yards.
Demus was on the verge of a breakout efficiency towards then-No. 5 Iowa final yr earlier than injuring his knee. He had 4 receptions for 61 yards within the first quarter, including to his Big Ten-leading whole, earlier than his proper leg buckled as he twisted to the bottom throughout a second-quarter kickoff return. He was carted off the sector and later dominated out for the rest of the 2021 season.
Demus put his NFL desires on maintain, electing to return to College Park to reestablish his reference to quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa and proceed to construct Maryland’s program. Although the Terps are bowl-eligible for the second straight yr and gained seven regular-season video games for the primary time since 2014, Demus by no means received again to his outdated self.
He had 5 video games by which he caught just one cross and by no means exceeded 100 receiving yards. After the loss to the Buckeyes, coach Mike Locksley emphasised Demus was nonetheless recovering from the knee damage however was bettering.
Copeland introduced his determination to skip the bowl recreation and enter the draft on Wednesday. The Florida switch, who was one in all Locksley’s finest pickups, recorded 376 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns this season, together with a 110-yard, two-touchdown efficiency towards Charlotte in September.
Meanwhile, beginning sophomore tight finish CJ Dippre and senior linebacker Ahmad McCullough are amongst 9 Terps to enter the switch portal. Dippre caught 30 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns after taking part in in simply two video games as a freshman. McCullough entered the switch portal after showing in 33 video games (seven begins) in 4 seasons. He recorded 45 tackles and a sack in 2022.
Reserve tight finish Weston Wolff, defensive again Jayon Venerable, defensive linemen Austin Fontaine and Zion Shockley, offensive lineman Ja’Khi Green and linebackers Kameron Blount and Terrance Butler additionally introduced their intentions to play elsewhere.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com