Maryland
Octavian Smith Jr. ready to be Maryland football’s top receiver after early struggles
After Tai Felton and Kaden Prather were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft last weekend, one man stands atop Maryland football’s receiver room: Octavian Smith Jr.
As the only player still on Maryland’s roster that finished top six in receiving yards last season and one of three seniors at the position, expectations have soared. He is no longer the young, speedy gadget receiver who occasionally flashes his potential on an end–around or shovel pass. His responsibility has multiplied, but Smith said he’s built for it.
“When the pressure’s on, I don’t really fold,” Smith said. “When things get rough, we need a play, I want [the team] to come look for me.”
Smith not only has an obligation to the team, but to himself. With NFL aspirations, Smith has one more season to prove he deserves a shot at the next level and continue a long list of NFL-caliber receivers to come out of College Park in recent years.
“[There’s] really a sense of urgency,” Smith said. “It being my last year … now [I’m] at a point in time [where I] really got to dig deep within [myself] and lay it all on the line.”
Smith has channeled this into motivation for the upcoming season, approaching it with an ultra-focused mindset.
In his first outing as Maryland’s go-to receiver in the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, Smith won the JoJo Walker Wide Receiver Award after he hauled in a game-high five catches for 17 yards and a touchdown from freshman quarterback Malik Washington.
His success this spring marks a continuation of the steady improvement Smith has shown since he arrived in College Park. As a freshman, Smith appeared in all 13 games as a receiver and kick returner, recording 12 receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including an impressive catch in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against NC State.
Smith totaled 10 more receptions and 52 more yards in his sophomore season than his freshman one. And the progress persisted into his third year, when Smith established himself as a starting receiver and posted 30 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Head coach Michael Locksley has likened Smith’s development to Felton’s, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings Friday night after leading the Big Ten in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1,124) in the regular season.
“He’s a guy that has kind of followed along that Tai Felton path,” Locksley said after the spring game. “As a freshman, he contributed … year two, his catches went up, his numbers went up, his reliability went up, showing up for the things he needs to do to be a better player. His junior year, he’s really grown. And now, he’s the guy that’s kind of the old man in the room per se, and I like what I’m seeing out of Octavian.”
Being one of the oldest and most experienced players at his position not only comes with a production expectation, but a leadership one as well. Luckily for the Terps, leading an offense comes naturally to Smith, who played quarterback at Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Maryland.
Smith has always been the lead-by-example type. His play on the field spoke for itself in high school, but Smith’s success started in practice. During 100-yard sprints, Smith made sure to finish at the back of the end zone, pushing himself those extra 10 yards. Soon enough, his teammates followed suit, Paint Branch head coach Michael Nesmith said.
“Being a leader, that’s something I’ve always had in me,” Smith said. “There’s pressure that comes behind that, but I’m built for it, so there’s really nothing new to me.”
Unselfishness is also an essential part of being a leader, and nothing displays Smith’s attitude more than the first play of his senior year highlight reel.
Yet getting to this point as a player and leader was never a given for Smith. Although his freakish athleticism and large hands made the transition from quarterback to receiver gracious, off the field issues held Smith back — but not in the traditional sense.
For most of his football career, Smith has been a larger-than-life, overly-positive personality. But he is also very sympathetic, and thus outside problems sometimes bled into his play on the field.
“He’s sensitive, in a positive way, and he can internalize drama and problems and issues going on amongst his friend circle, or his family even, and they can affect him,” Nesmith said. “He wants to be the problem solver, and when you’re playing at that level and the stakes are so high, sometimes that can distract you.”
As a result, Smith started last summer behind the eight ball, Locksley said. But he’s changed his habits since then and learned to compartmentalize his life, focusing on football when needed while still being there for others, Smith said.
The adjustment from bad to winning habits, as Locksley called it, powered Smith’s improvement this past season and serves as something he can build upon.
“He’s somebody that the fans can really root for. He truly is one of the good guys,” Nesmith said. “In today’s day and age, and I can’t knock the guys that get the money … and have different motivations, to each his own, [but] he still has a genuine purity of heart and spirit that is something to aspire to.”
GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) — An office building in Glen Burnie was evacuated on Thursday afternoon after its underground parking garage experienced a shift in one of its floors.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department initially responded to the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway around 2:30 p.m. on July 9 after reports of a partial building collapse.
However, the department later clarified that there has been no collapse of the 10-story building.
Officials said crews are evaluating the building’s structural integrity after work was being performed in the parking garage.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and no injuries have been reported, according to Fire Captain Jenny Macallair.
The fire department is asking drivers to avoid the area while crews continue their assessment.
FOX45 News has a crew on the way to the scene, and we will provide updates as they become available.
See America’s most iconic hot dogs
Welcome to the United States of Hot Dogs! We’ve compiled a few of the best hot dogs eaten across the country.
Although Maryland is often celebrated for its seafood, one over-the-top creation has carved out its own loyal following among locals and visitors alike: The Baltimore-style hot dog.
Sausage is merely its first layer of meat. It’s wrapped in a thick slice of fried beef bologna and piled high with toppings.
It’s proof that while hot dogs are truly an All-American food, their real power lies in how they adapt to local tastes.
Hot dogs were “invented” in the U.S. after German sausages were served in buns. They’re a staple of baseball games — the all-American pastime. And they are truly a democratic food: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them.
But even more, hot dogs are American because of their adaptability, reflecting the ingenuity and diversity that gives our country such a rich culinary tapestry.
“You can tell the story of America through hot dogs. There are probably other things you could use, other objects or icons, but I think hot dog is a really good one,” said Bruce Kraig, a Ph.D. food historian and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History’ and ‘Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America.”
Regional hot dog toppings, from chili in Cincinnati to celery salt in Chicago to jalapeños in the Southwest, tell distinct stories of place.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, our contribution to the United States of Hot Dogs is the Baltimore-style hot dog.
What is a Baltimore-style hot dog?
At its core, the Baltimore dog is a meat-on-meat masterpiece. It starts with a kosher all-beef sausage that is split, fried and wrapped alongside thick, charred bologna slices.
It’s traditionally topped with raw onions and yellow mustard, with a pickle spear on top or on the side. Some variations include the addition of sweet relish, ketchup or cheese.
“In this creation, grease from the bologna mixes with the grease from the hot dog, and both find their way into the bread to form an unforgettable aroma, taste and aftertaste — and 200 points on your cholesterol count,” Baltimore historian Gilbert Sandler told The Baltimore Sun in a 2019 story.
Where did the Baltimore-style hot dog come from?
Its origins are often somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated during the Great Depression when, according to TasteAtlas.com, “people added bologna slices to the hot dog in order to make it a fuller, heartier meal.”
Jewish delis along Baltimore’s historic “Corned Beef Row” were looking for ways to offer working-class customers a filling, calorie-dense meal for a small chunk of change, leading to the birth of the Baltimore-style hot dog.
First becoming popular in the early 1940s at Mandell and Ballow deli, the bologna-wrapped hot dog spread throughout Baltimore, The Sun reported.
“Despite being a nutritionally questionable combo of two of the world’s least-healthful meats, the bologna dog continues to be a local favorite, enjoyed without apology,” FoodRepublic.com wrote in 2023.
Four best places to try a Baltimore-style hot dog
Attman’s Delicatessen: A Baltimore institution since 1915, Attman’s version of the Baltimore-style hot dog sits at the top of its menu. Its dog — for $7.99 — comes with your choice of mustard, relish, chopped onions and ketchup. Details: 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-563-2666, attmansdeli.com.
Weiss Deli: Another Baltimore staple, Weiss serves speciality sandwiches and, of course, the Baltimore-style hot dog. You can customize the $7.49 dog with up to eight toppings, but its most popular version comes with just deli mustard and raw onions on top of the bologna-wrapped sausage. Details: 1127 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-276-7910, baltimoreweissdeli.com
The Dog House Carryout: A legendary landmark in Baltimore, The Dog House Carryout has been slinging its classic comfort food for more than 75 years. You can get a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog for $6.95, with bologna added for an extra $1.25. The dog comes with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and ketchup. Details: 617 Fallsway, Baltimore; 410-685-7269, thedoghousebaltimore.com
Killa Dogz: Killa Dogz, one of the more modern hot dog spots in the city, offers a wide variety of options, including what it calls the “Bmore” dog. At $7, its version is deep fried, wrapped in bologna and “served on a squishy bun with mustard.” Chili and cheese are among the top ways to customize its dog. Details: 6106 Belair Rd, Baltimore; 443-438-7822. killadogz.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
BALTIMORE, MD. – A Hanover man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release on Wednesday for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, federal prosecutors announced.
Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in January 2026 after unknowingly revealing a plot to travel abroad and fight for the designated foreign terrorist organization to an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said.
What we know:
Court documents reveal that between March and October 2024, Teekaye coordinated travel arrangements with a Somali ISIS fighter. His itinerary detailed a flight departing from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Turkey, with subsequent travel through Ethiopia to cross into Somalia.
FBI agents arrested Teekaye at BWI on October 14, 2024, after he cleared airport security, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
READ MORE: Maryland man arrested for allegedly attempting to join ISIS
Leading up to his arrest, court documents say that Teekaye prepared for his departure by practicing at a Maryland shooting range and attempting to purchase an assault rifle, which was blocked due to an existing state probation status.
Days before his arrest, Teekaye sent the undercover officer a photograph of himself wearing a mask and wielding a large machete, declaring a choice of “victory or martyrdom.”
Following his arrest, prosecutors say Teekaye made multiple unprovoked statements to law enforcement vowing to resume his violent efforts upon his eventual release from custody and threatening the lives of prison guards.
Dig deeper:
Federal authorities noted that Teekaye established a secondary plan to execute domestic terrorist attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions supporting Israel within Maryland if his international travel failed. A digital forensic search of his phone uncovered specific search histories focused on Jewish organizations and community members in Howard County, alongside queries regarding home break-ins and escaping murder charges.
A local rabbi impacted by the surveillance spoke during the sentencing hearing regarding the threat’s toll on the community.
The Source: Information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
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