Maryland LB Fa’Najae Gotay enters transfer portal

Maryland linebacker Fa’Najae Gotay entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer on Monday, On3 has learned.

A contributor at linebacker for the Terrapins, he will be playing his seventh season of college football outside of College Park. The North Fort Myers, Florida, product played in 42 career games. Gotay can transfer and play immediately.

The 5-foot-11, 232-pound linebacker enters the transfer portal with 133 career tackles, 7 tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He appeared in all 13 games in 2023 for Maryland, finishing eight on the team with 44 tackles. Gotay posted 2.5 tackles for loss for 17 yards as part of a six-tackle performance in October against Illinois. He missed the 2021 season with an injury, receiving a medical redshirt.

He’s now on the move, set to use his COVID year of eligibility. Gotay was expected to receive plenty of snaps this fall and challenge for a starting role for the Terrapins. Gotay had announced in January he was returning to College Park for a final season, making the decision while sharing he would also be partnering with the Terrapin-driven NIL collective One Maryland.

Maryland didn’t have a single player leave the program this spring; Fa’Najae Gotay marks the first since the winter portal window. The Terrapins have plenty of depth at linebacker. Third-team All-Big Ten selection Ruben Hyppolite returns. Junior Kellan Wyatt, who posted 4.5 sacks in 2023, is also back.

Head coach Mike Locksley signed a contract extension in April 2023 through the 2027 season. Maryland has finished with three consecutive winning seasons, winning bowl games each year.

Maryland opens the season on Aug. 31 against UConn, set for a noon ET kick on FS1. The Terrapins open Big Ten play on Sept. 7, hosting Michigan State.