This is the Maryland Minute, a short story followed by a roundup of Terps-related news.
Following Maryland football’s win over Auburn in the Music City Bowl, senior defensive backs Beau Brade and Ja’Quan Sheppard revealed their plans to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
Varun Shankar of The Baltimore Banner broke the story on Brade’s decision, while Sheppard took to social media for his announcement.
Thank you Cincinnati thank you Maryland pic.twitter.com/HqxCq4dpPx
— Ja’Quan Sheppard (@Quan813) December 31, 2023
After joining the Terps ahead of the 2020 season, Brade quickly became a key cog in the secondary. He became one of the top safeties in the conference in 2022, garnering an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
This past season, Brade was also an all-conference honorable mention. He led the Terps in tackles (75) and added an interception. Brade accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, considered a preliminary step in the NFL draft process.
Sheppard joined the Terps this season after three years at Cincinnati. The first half of his 2023 season was up-and-down, but he found his footing in the final seven games. During that span, he registered six pass breakups and two tackles for loss.
Sheppard’s final performance in the Music City Bowl was arguably his best of the season, as he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 93.1.
In other news
Maryland football took down Auburn in the Music City Bowl, 31-13. Emmett Siegel had the game story and Andrew Chodes shared his takeaways.
Maryland women’s basketball fell to Nebraska, 87-81. Ryan Alonardo wrote about the game.
One day after the Terps’ bowl win, former Maryland wideout D.J. Moore caught a touchdown for the Chicago Bears — his eighth of the season.
DJ Moore!!
Terp vibes so high rn pic.twitter.com/HfHfCeN2hH
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) December 31, 2023