Tarheeb Still Bio
Tarheeb Still is an American professional football cornerback and punt returner for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on June 9, 2002, in Sicklerville, New Jersey, he developed into a versatile defensive back known for his coverage skills, ball production, and punt return ability. Still played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, where he earned All-Big Ten recognition before being selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Now in his second professional season, he continues to be a developing contributor in the Chargers’ secondary.
Early Life and Background
Tarheeb Still grew up in Sicklerville, New Jersey, a community within Winslow Township in Camden County. He attended Timber Creek Regional High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. His senior year highlight came on the football field, when he was named the Defensive Back MVP at the 2019 Nike Football Opening Regional in New Jersey. That same season, he set a school-wide record for receiving yards, hauling in 71 passes for 1,541 yards and showcasing the speed and ball skills that would later define his college profile.
Coming out of high school, Still was rated a three-star recruit. Despite that modest rating, he drew scholarship interest from a deep list of programs, including West Virginia, Baylor, NC State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Purdue, UCF, Duke, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at the University of Maryland, a decision that set the stage for his rise as one of the Big Ten’s most productive cornerbacks.
Path to American Football
Still’s path to professional football began on the athletic fields of southern New Jersey, where his track and field background helped him build the speed and explosiveness that translated directly to cornerback and punt returner. His high school receiving record hinted at a player comfortable with the ball in his hands, a trait Maryland’s coaching staff would later use on special teams. By the time he enrolled at Maryland, he had already shown the kind of competitive edge that recruiting analysts look for in defensive backs.
His development at the collegiate level was steady and deliberate. Each season added new layers to his game, from tackling and coverage in his early years to a sharper nose for the football later in his career. By the time he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, Still had transformed from a three-star recruit into a polished, ball-hawking cornerback, a trajectory that illustrates the value of patience and the right coaching environment in player development.
Tarheeb Still Career
Early College Career (2020–2021)
Still joined the Maryland Terrapins during the 2020 season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in and started all four games at cornerback, recording 18 solo tackles, two assisted tackles, and 20 total tackles. That limited but productive debut gave Maryland a glimpse of his long-term potential on the outside.
His sophomore season in 2021 was a major step forward. Still started all 13 games at cornerback and finished the year with 40 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, 55 total tackles, three tackles for loss for 13 yards, two sacks, 11 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. He also delivered one of the most memorable moments of the campaign in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl against Virginia Tech, returning a punt for a touchdown that accounted for Maryland’s first points of the game.
Maryland Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Still’s junior season in 2022 solidified his standing as a key piece of Maryland’s defense. He appeared in 12 games and started 10, posting 35 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 45 total tackles, four tackles for loss for 22 yards, an interception, and a pass breakup. He was also named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, an honor given to the most versatile player in college football, a fitting recognition of his impact on both defense and special teams. His strong play earned him Second-team All-Big Ten honors.
The 2023 season represented Still’s most dramatic statistical leap. He recorded 32 solo tackles, 2 pass deflections, and 5 interceptions, the latter figure standing as a career high. The interception total showcased the ball-hawking instincts that NFL scouts covet in modern cornerbacks. He was recognized with Third-team All-Big Ten honors. On December 4, 2023, Still declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, ending his college career with the Terrapins.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–Present)
Still was selected 137th overall in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. He joined a team looking to add depth and competition in the secondary, and he quickly worked to earn a role on both defense and special teams. His rookie season gave him a chance to learn the nuances of professional coverage while contributing on punt return duties.
One of the defining moments of his first NFL season came on December 1, 2024, against the Atlanta Falcons. In that game, Still recorded two interceptions, including a pick-six that he returned 61 yards for the first defensive touchdown of his professional career. The performance highlighted the same ball skills and instincts that made him a playmaker at Maryland and signaled his growing comfort at the NFL level.
Playing Style and Strengths
Still brings an athletic, instinctive style to the cornerback position. His track background provides the speed to stay with vertical routes, while his ball production at Maryland demonstrates strong hands and field awareness. He has shown comfort in zone and man concepts and is used as a punt returner, a role that reflects the Chargers’ confidence in his open-field vision. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 196 pounds, he has the size to compete with bigger NFL receivers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant milestones of Still’s young career are his 2021 Pinstripe Bowl punt return touchdown, his 2023 career-high five-interception season at Maryland, his selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, and his first career NFL interception and pick-six against the Atlanta Falcons on December 1, 2024. Each moment reflects his steady development as a defensive playmaker.
Tarheeb Still Career Highlights
Tarheeb Still’s career is still in its early chapters, but he has already accumulated notable achievements at both the collegiate and professional levels. He earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022 and Third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 while at Maryland, and he has begun to make his mark in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers. His combination of defensive production and punt return ability gives him a multi-faceted profile that should continue to grow.
Maryland Highlights
Still’s most productive college season came in 2023, when he tied a career high with 5 interceptions to go along with 32 solo tackles and 2 pass deflections. His 2021 campaign was statistically his most complete, with 55 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries, capped by a punt return touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl. He also appeared on the Paul Hornung Award Watch List in 2022, an acknowledgment of his versatility.
Other Performances
Beyond his conference recognition, Still was named the Defensive Back MVP at the 2019 Nike Football Opening Regional in New Jersey during his senior year at Timber Creek. He has also registered postseason production, including his Pinstripe Bowl punt return score against Virginia Tech, one of the signature early moments of his career.
Tarheeb Still Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Tarheeb Still is a native of Sicklerville, New Jersey, where he was raised before pursuing his football career at Maryland and in the NFL. Details about his parents and broader family are not publicly documented in available sources. He attended Timber Creek Regional High School in Sicklerville, the same community that helped shape his early athletic identity. Information regarding his marital status, spouse, and children has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Tarheeb Still enters his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers looking to build on the promise he showed as a rookie. Through his first NFL season, he accumulated 115 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, a half-sack, and 1 defensive touchdown, a strong statistical foundation for a fifth-round pick. The 2025 campaign represents an opportunity for him to take on a larger role in the Chargers’ secondary while continuing as a punt returner.
Still’s rookie interception performance against Atlanta demonstrated that he can produce turnovers against professional competition, a quality the Chargers’ coaching staff will look to channel in 2025. As he grows more familiar with the team’s defensive schemes and builds chemistry with the secondary, his snap count and responsibilities are likely to expand. Special teams coordinator usage will also be a key storyline, given his track record as a returner.
For Still, the 2025 season is a chance to convert early flashes into sustained production. With his size, speed, and proven ball skills, he has the tools to develop into a long-term contributor in the Chargers’ defensive backfield. If he stays healthy and continues his upward trajectory, 2025 could be the year he cements himself as a regular starter and a fixture on punt returns in Los Angeles.