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Star Maryland DE suffers season-ending injury, per report
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Star Maryland defensive end Zahir Mathis suffered a leg injury is expected to keep him out of the entire 2026-27 season, according to a report from InsideMDSports’ Jeff Ermann.
Mathis suffered the injury while practicing for the Terrapins this week.
That’s a significant blow for Maryland football. Mathis was a star as a true freshman in 2025, totaling 6 sacks (2nd most on the team) and 8.5 tackles for loss. The former 4-star prospect finished 2nd among all freshman in the country last season in pressures (31), according to PFF.
With Mathis now sidelined, keep an eye on 5-star freshman Zion Elee as well as returner DD Holmes, who is looking for an expanded role entering his second season at Maryland.
Maryland is set to enter Year 8 under Mike Locksley, and things are trending in the wrong direction. Locksley put together 3 solid seasons from 2021-2023, totaling 23 wins across that span, but has since won 8 games across the past 2 seasons.
The Terps are looking to make their first bowl appearance since 2023 this season, and now they’ll have to do it without one of their top defensive stars.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.