Episode 8 - Dante Trader Jr.

Season 3, Episode 8 of the Locker Room Podcast features Dante Trader Jr., UMD two-sport athlete. Dante talks about his experience playing both football and lacrosse for UMD over the years and goes into life as a D1 athlete. He also discusses his experience with NIL and the impact that it has had his career. Tune in to hear how Dante has grown himself as a student-athlete and as a person throughout his time at Maryland!

0:00 – 1:01 – Introduction

1:03 – 2:11 – What made Dante pursue being D1 

2:35 – 4:44 – Transferring to McDonough and the changes that came with it

4:57 – 6:55 – Talking about transferring and the mindset to work harder

7:29 – 8:42 – What made Dante choose Maryland for D1 athletics

8:47 – 10:15 – What was the biggest change going from high school to college and especially in terms of athletics 

11:00 – 12:25 – Day in the life as a D1 football player at UMD in the offseason vs during the season

12:52 – 14:36 – What is something behind the scenes that is vital to the success that’s seen on the field

15:30 – 17:51 – The biggest lessons he’s learned being a D1 athlete (Having Fun)

18:26 – 20:50 – Does having a big name add any pressure

21:10 – 23:51 – What separates Maryland’s football program from other programs

24:30 – 27:06 – What winning the bowl game felt for Dante and the team

27:52 – 28:56 – How is NIL affecting Dante and building his own brand

29:32 – 30:58 – The best ways to market himself and how to connect

31:24 – 32:38 – Advice to other athletes to stand out as a recruit 

33:20 – 35:10 – What’s the transition between the football season to the lacrosse season

35:33 – 37:00 – Is there a big difference in being in shape for football to being in shape for lacrosse

37:20 – 38:56 – What’s the mindset going into the 2023 lacrosse season

39:20 – 41:16 – What made Dante choose to play both football and lacrosse, being a 2-sport athlete

42:00 – 43:55 – What’s the pros and cons of being a 2-sport athlete and how to get back into playing lacrosse

43:56 – END – Ending Remarks and Maryland Minute