One of Maryland football’s sneaky shortcomings in 2025 was an inability for either Sean O’Haire or Philip Noyes to get kickoffs into the endzone and force touchbacks. Relief for that issue appears to be coming in the spring.
Class of 2026 kicker Eli Fulcher announced his commitment to the Terps Sunday on X. He posted an 84.4% touchback percentage during his career at Oak Grove High School in Winston-Salem.
Fulcher’s longest high school field goal was from 52 yards out, and he also punted.
It’s unlikely Fulcher will take field goals or extra points away from O’Haire. The redshirt freshman from Ireland was 21-of-24 on field goals and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in his first season after transferring from Richmond.
But O’Haire struggled with kickoffs, leaving Noyes to fulfill those duties — he was likewise subpar. Fulcher looks to provide immediate, much-needed help.
In other news
Maryland women’s basketball remained at No. 7 in the Associated Press weekly top 25 poll.
Composite five-star 2027 Overtime Elite guard Blaze Johnson — the 247Sports Composite’s No. 3 point guard in his class — took an unofficial visit to Maryland men’s basketball over the weekend.
Maryland athletics hired UMD alum Matt Smale as deputy athletic director and chief financial officer. Smale was serving in a similar role at the University of Miami.
Eighty-six Maryland athletes earned 2025 Fall Academic All-Big Ten honors.
