Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton is ready to hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft after performing well at the Scouting Combine.
Felton posted 2,207 receiving yards and caught 17 touchdowns during his time as a Terrapin from 2021-2024. He set the single-season program record for receptions in a single season in 2024 with 96.
The 6-foot-1, 183-pound receiver then ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
“I grew up watching the Combine with my dad since I was like 4 or 5 years old,” Felton said on Glenn Clark Radio March 21. “Being in the moment, living in there, talking to the coaches, running the 40, doing everything at the Combine, it was very surreal and just a blessing.”
Felton impressed viewers at the Combine by doing a flip after competing in drills:
Felton and a friend did parkour on the playground growing up.
“I’ve been doing that stuff for a long time. It’s pretty easy for me,” Felton said of his flip at the combine. “I got all the head bumps and nicks and bruises out of me when I was younger, busting my butt doing it. Now that I’m older, I’m way more comfortable. I’ve got it pretty much down pat, so I’m all good. If someone tells me to stop, I’ll calm down.”
Felton is hoping his Combine performance helps his draft stock. While Felton hopes he doesn’t go under the radar, he’s also not worrying about going unnoticed.
“I try to block it all out because at the end of the day, I just want an opportunity,” Felton said. “Coming out of high school, I tore my ACL and didn’t really have many too many opportunities. Maryland still took me on and still was very loyal to me. It’s all about the opportunities. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first round or seventh round. All that matters is me getting an opportunity and putting in the work to show the team that I can contribute to the team and win.”
Maryland helped Felton get to where he is now. He initially committed to the Terps in November 2019, not long after suffering a torn ACL at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va. As such, he opted to remain at Maryland instead of pursuing other opportunities via the transfer portal.
“When I was at my lowest, [head coach Michael Locksley and his staff] were still very loyal to me when a lot of other colleges and programs had backed off,” Felton said. “I actually tried to commit to another school and they straight up told me they wouldn’t take me even though they were my first offer. That definitely put that chip on my shoulder.”
Felton believes he brings a lot to the table for any team that drafts him.
“My IQ has definitely elevated a lot being at Maryland in the complex offense we ran,” Felton said. “My ability to be an all-around football player, whether that’s running down on kickoff, making tackles, catching punt returns, kick returns and obviously being the dominant receiver I believe I am. Just being an all-around football player and my joy for the game.”
The Ravens are on Felton’s mind, and he certainly wouldn’t mind catching passes from Lamar Jackson in the future.
“It would honestly be a dream,” Felton said. “I remember watching Lamar at Louisville, almost winning two Heisman Trophies, almost beating Clemson in the ACC championship and stuff like that. I kind of looked up to him growing up because I watched how explosive he was in college and stuff like that and his journey.”
For more from Felton, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox