:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67676712/1279862994.jpg.0.jpg)
Maryland football alum Yannick Ngakoue has landed back in Maryland after being traded to the Baltimore Ravens from the Minnesota Vikings Thursday.
The Ravens sent a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth-round pick to Minnesota in the move. This comes after the Vikings originally sent a 2021 second-round pick and conditional 2022 fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the linebacker in August.
“We are excited to add Yannick Ngakoue to our football team,” Baltimore executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta stated. “Yannick is someone who we are very familiar with going back to the draft process years ago. He is an exciting player and a dangerous pass rusher who makes us better. Yannick grew up here. He’s the type of person we welcome in our building. Finally, we are not finished building this team, as we continue to chase our ultimate goals.”
Across 69 career NFL games, Ngakoue has recorded 134 total tackles (117 solo), 42.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He also received Pro Bowl honors after his 2017 season in Jacksonville.
During his three seasons in College Park, Ngakoue tallied 83 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, three pass deflections, two forced fumble and one interception. After his junior season, he was drafted in the third round, 69th overall by Jacksonville.
Ngakoue will now travel to Baltimore and begin COVID-19 testing protocols in order to join his new team, which ranks first in the NFL for points allowed per game. With the Ravens on a bye this week, Ngakoue has ample time to potentially practice ahead of the team’s week eight matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In other news
Maryland football head coach Mike Locksley met with the media Thursday night and gave one last update ahead of the Terps’ season-opener. See my thread here:
Maryland football head coach Mike Locksley is speaking with the media tonight ahead of the Terps' Saturday night matchup against Northwestern. pic.twitter.com/TudJg2m7x7
— Wes Brown (@W_Brown21) October 22, 2020
One of the biggest updates was that the program currently has no COVID-19 cases or contact tracing issues and plans to be a full-strength as of Thursday.
Maryland football head coach Mike Locksley states that he expects the Terps to be at full strength against Northwestern in regards to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.
— Testudo Times (@testudotimes) October 22, 2020
No team-related virus issues in College Park as of tonight.
On Saturday night, Maryland football players will have the ability to exercise their voice around racial justice issues with a helmet stick, optional nameplates and warm-up shirts.
In addition to "I got your back" & "Speak up," warmups will also boast the word used on uniforms: quality, Unity, Respect, Justice and Empathy.
— Lila Bromberg (@lilabbromberg) October 22, 2020
The Terps will also wear a helmet sticker with the phrase "One-Terp," which was designed by student-athletes.
Maryland women’s basketball had a few athletes switch jersey numbers ahead of the 2020-21 season.
New year, new number pic.twitter.com/YaGOGA8AJ3
— Maryland Women’s Basketball (@TerpsWBB) October 22, 2020
Maryland baseball alum Brandon Lowe received some high praise after his world series game two performance.
High praise from baseball's stars ️ ️ ️@Sweet_n_Lowe5 is a force in the #WorldSeries#ProTerps pic.twitter.com/gTPOHMebvi
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) October 22, 2020