Maryland football’s 2023 NFL Draft undrafted free agent signings

By: Harrison Rich and Brandon Schwartzberg

Five members of Maryland football’s 2022 roster — Deonte Banks (New York Giants), Jakorian Bennett (Las Vegas Raiders), Chad Ryland (New England Patriots), Jaelyn Duncan (Tennessee Titans) and Spencer Anderson (Pittsburgh Steelers) — were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Four Terps have since signed as undrafted free agents.

Dontay Demus Jr.

Wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, first reported by Ahmed Ghafir of Inside the Black and Gold. Demus joins a receiving corps headlined by Odell Beckham Jr., 2023 first-round pick Zay Flowers and former first-round pick Rashod Bateman.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Washington, D.C. native had an outstanding career in College Park, etching himself in the program record books: he ranks second in career 100-yard receiving games (seven), fifth in career receiving touchdowns (14), seventh in career yards (2,008) and ninth in career receptions (128). 

The 22-year-old was a three-time honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2019, 2020 and 2021. He led all Terps in every receiving category as a sophomore and junior, the latter of which being a pandemic-shortened five-game slate.

Demus appeared poised for a breakout senior season in 2021, recording 28 receptions for 507 yards and three touchdowns in five games before suffering a torn ACL against Iowa. He had been leading the Big Ten and stood 11th in the country in receiving yards at the time of his season-ending injury.

The three-star recruit returned for a fifth season in College Park and appeared in 12 games, recording 22 catches for 233 yards and a touchdown.

Rakim Jarrett

Wide receiver Rakim Jarrett has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was reported on Saturday. Jarrett joins a receiving corps headlined by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

“I think I’m one of the best, and to actually prove that you have to play against the best,” Jarrett said during his pro day in March. “So to go out and play against the All-Pro guys, to see where I stand at, that’ll tell me all I need to know and what I need to do to get better.”

The 6-foot, 192-pound St. John’s College product stayed in the DMV for his collegiate career, becoming the fourth-highest recruit and just the second-ever five-star receiver to commit to Maryland in 2020.

Jarrett played in four games in his pandemic-shortened freshman season, racking up 252 yards and two touchdowns en route to an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. 

Jarrett’s sophomore campaign was his best, as he led the Terps in every receiving category with 62 catches, 829 yards and five touchdowns, ranking inside the top 10 in the conference in all three categories. He was once again named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.

Jarrett’s 119 receptions, 1552 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns all rank inside the top-15 in Maryland’s program history.

Jacob Copeland

Wide receiver Jacob Copeland has signed with the Tennessee Titans, he announced on Twitter on Saturday. Copeland joins a receiving corps headlined by 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks.

The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Florida transfer led the 2022 Terps in average yards per reception (14.5), hauling in 26 passes for 376 yards. Copeland’s best outing came against Charlotte, when he snagged four balls for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Copeland showed his athleticism at the NFL combine in March, grading out with the 12th-best athletic score out of any of the wide receiver prospects, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Johari Branch

Offensive lineman Johari Branch has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, first reported by Ahmed Ghafir of Inside the Black and Gold. 

Branch joined Duncan and Anderson as members of the Terps’ 2022 offensive line to find a new home in the NFL.

The 6-foot-3, 330-pound Chicago native became a full-time starter in 2020, starting 31 of Maryland’s 32 games over the past three seasons. He started at left guard, center and right guard during his time in College Park.