Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 62-0vs Hampton | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 20 | Season-high 20 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 38-14@ UConn | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | 15 | |
| Total | 3 | 40 | 15.0 | 0 | 20 |
#8
Preston Howard
Senior tight end for Maryland. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′5″ · 236 lb · Arbutus, MD · McDonogh
CFB Index 39 · #101 of 135 TEsMedium-low confidenceTransferred Auburn → Maryland for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
40
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 13.3 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 rec, 20 yds, at UConn
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 tight end for Maryland. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Maryland in 2022.
- Transferred from Auburn to Maryland in 2026.
Preston Howard
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. Two head coaches in four seasons, at two different programs. The receipt on tape: 20 rec yds, 2 receptions against UConn, Week 2, 2026.
40 REC YDS · 3 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
5 programs, one constant: he played.
The week the volume broke through — put up 59 yds vs Northwestern.Northwestern · L 10-372024
2022
- Signed with Maryland3-star out of McDonogh School
20257 games
- Entered the portal
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Maryland
Played his entire career under Mike Locksley.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Maryland
2025Auburn
2026Maryland
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Maryland8-5HC: Mike Locksley · Pass-leaning
2024Maryland4-8HC: Mike Locksley · Pass-leaning
2025Auburn5-7HC: Hugh Freeze · Run-leaning
2026Maryland2-0HC: Mike Locksley · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidence
Elite: yards / catch (86th percentile). Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 20.0 YDS/g, 15.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Locksley
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 62–0
vs Hampton
1 rec · 20 yds
Dominant 62-point win at home against Hampton.
With D. Williams — 116 rush yds (3 car) · 2 TD · M. Washington — 186 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · 4 rush yds (3 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
TE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Dylan Leonard’s 2021 season.
Matches Dylan on
Height
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Dylan on
Yards / reception (higher)
Class year (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Louis Hansen's junior season at UConn (2025).
Matches Louis on
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Differs from Louis on
Class year (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Preston Howard
Background
As a Redshirt Junior at Auburn (2025): Played in all 12 games and started at TE in seven contests Had 10 catches for 84 yards on the year Set season high with four catches for 33 yards against Georgia (10/11) Recorded single catches in games at Baylor (8/29), vs. Ball State (9/6), vs. Missouri (1...
The tight end room · Maryland
- #9Dorian Fleming351 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Preston Howard84 receiving yards · 2025
- #89AJ Szymanski32 receiving yards · 2025
- #39Daniel Owens2 games · 2026
- #84Thomas McCluskeyno box-score line yet
4 more on the roster · Maryland team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology