Locksley Announces Addition of Six Transfers
Press release...
COLLEGE PARK, MD – Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley announced the additions of six transfers to the Terrapin program on Tuesday.
Locksley welcomes Donnell Brown (Saint Francis, Pa.), Tyrese Chambers (FIU), Marcus Dumervil (LSU), Jordan Phillips (Tennessee), Ja’Quan Sheppard (Cincinnati) and Avantae Williams (Miami) for the 2023 season.
“I’m thrilled to welcome these six student-athletes to our Maryland football family,” said Locksley. “This is a group of players that will help bolster areas of need on our roster and create competition at a number of key spots. I’m looking forward to getting them going in our Terp Time program and spring ball.”
The group features two All-Conference honorees, a FCS All-American, a program receiving record holder, and two four-star recruits out of high school. In total, this class of transfers has played in 129 games, won conference championships, appeared in the College Football Playoff and features additions at wide receiver, defensive back and offensive and defensive line.
Donnell Brown
Defensive Line
Jr., 6-3, 240
Upper Marlboro, MD (Saint Francis, Pa.)
Two-time FCS All-American
2022 NEC Defensive Player of the Year
Two-time All-NEC
In three seasons at St. Francis, Brown posted 99 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
In 2022 alone, Brown totaled 48 tackles (31 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks en route to becoming the NEC Defensive Player of the Year
In 2021, totaled 46 total tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, six quarterback hits and four pass breakups.
Attended Riverdale Baptist High School, named Second Team All-MET.
Two years of eligibility remaining
Tyrese Chambers
Wide Receiver
Gr., 5-11, 185
Baltimore, MD (Florida International)
In two seasons at FIU, has totaled 96 receptions for 1,618 yards and 13 touchdowns
Has four 100-yard receiving games
Tallied 51 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns in 2022
Had phenomenal 2021 season, earning Second Team All-CUSA honors
Set FIU single-season records in receiving yards (1,1074) & touchdown receptions (9) (2021)
Ranked second nationally with an average of 23.87 yards per reception (2021)
Posted three games with over 150 receiving yards and hauled in a total of 10 catches that went for at least 40 yards
2019 FCS All-American at Sacred Heart, tallying 50 catches for 811 yards and eight TDs
2019 NEC Rookie of the Year
Attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, becoming one of only two wide receivers named to the USA Today's Maryland First Team All-State list in 2017
One year of eligibility remaining
Marcus Dumervil
Offensive Line
Jr., 6-5, 305
Lauderdale Lakes, FL (LSU)
Has appeared in 16 games over three seasons at LSU, redshirting in 2020
Earned start against Arkansas in 2021
Was rated as a four-star offensive tackle by 247Sports and Rivals out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Rated as the No. 11 offensive tackle in the nation in HS
No. 65 in the ESPN300
Led St. Thomas Aquinas to a perfect record of 14-0 in 2019, including a win in the 7A FHSAA State Championship game
Nephew of five-time Pro Bowler Elvis Dumervil
Two years of eligibility remaining
Jordan Phillips
Defensive Line
RFr., 6-2, 295
Ocoee, FL (Tennessee)
Appeared in three games for Tennessee in 2022, who went 11-2 and won the Orange Bowl
No. 47 defensive tackle in the country according to 247Sports out of high school
Posted 56 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks as a senior at Ocoee High School
Tallied 71 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in eight games during his junior season
Also competed in wrestling and weightlifting for his high school
Four years of eligibility remaining
Ja’Quan Sheppard
Defensive Back
Gr., 6-1, 195
Zephyrhills, FL (Cincinnati)
2022 First Team All-AAC
Has totaled 64 tackles (43 solo), 10 pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack over four year Cincinnati career
Led Cincinnati with 10 pass breakups in 2022, to go with 50 total tackles (33 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 12 games
Had at least one pass breakup in seven of 12 games this season
Has played in 37 games over Cincinnati career, helping lead Bearcats to 2020 & 2021 AAC Championships, and a College Football Playoff berth in 2021
Played alongside top-10 pick Sauce Gardner for first three years of career
Played both wide receiver and defensive back at Zephyrhills HS
One year of eligibility remaining
Avantae Williams
Defensive Back
Jr., 6-0, 197
DeLand, FL (Miami)
Has played in 17 career games with one start, posting 27 tackles, one interception and fumble recovery at Miami
Played in 11 games and totaled nine tackles (seven solo) in 2022
Tallied 18 tackles (15 solo) with one interception against Georgia Tech in 2021 season
Was the No. 1 safety in 2020 class by Rivals and ESPN and a top-50 player nationally by Rivals and 247Sports
2019 Sports Illustrated All-American
Two years of eligibility remaining