Maryland’s offense could look a lot different in 2026, and the buzz around Clint Trickett’s arrival is easy to understand. The new offensive coordinator is bringing a system that mixes an air-raid feel with his own “Flat and Fast” run concept, and that combination is built to keep defenses guessing while giving the Terps more ways to move the ball.
At its core, Trickett’s approach leans on tempo and spacing. The air-raid side of the offense works with short underneath throws to chip away at a defense, then opens the door for rushing lanes and more intermediate shots downfield. It’s typically built from shotgun, though it can also come out of pistol, and it creates stress with RPOs that put pressure on linebackers and edge rushers.
That matters for Maryland because the ground game has been stuck in the mud. The Terps averaged 104.3 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked second-worst in the Big Ten, and they were only at 4.1 yards per carry. They also scored nine rushing touchdowns.
A more balanced setup should help lead back DeJaun Williams get more out of his skill set. Williams is more than just a physical runner; he’s also a dangerous pass catcher who can do damage after the catch. In 2025, he caught 45 passes for 426 yards, setting a new Maryland single-season record.
The system should also fit Malik Washington well in his second season. The passing structure gives him quicker answers, so he doesn’t have to wait on longer-developing routes to uncover. It also lets him get into a rhythm early and use his legs when plays break down, which can create bigger gains downfield.
Trickett’s “Flat and Fast” run game adds another layer. In a traditional flat-and-run look, the quarterback reads the defensive end’s leverage to decide whether the ball goes inside or outside.
Trickett flips that relationship, with the running back working toward the outside while the tight end handles the outermost defender. If the edge defender attacks the back, the quarterback keeps it and bounces the other way.
Trickett also stresses “ball to block” for the running back so the tight end doesn’t get tagged for holding, and he wants the quarterback to avoid drifting too wide on the exchange. The larger idea is to read from the line to the middle and then to the deep halves, so the offense can tell how hard the defense is committing to one side.
With Washington, Williams, and transfer additions Harry Dalton III and Terrez Worthy, Maryland has the kind of speed and agility that can make this scheme dangerous outside the hashes. The Terps can also use jet sweeps and end arounds to stretch the field horizontally and create more explosive plays.
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Maryland Keeps Building Quarterback Depth Behind Malik Washington
Maryland will open fall camp with Malik Washington still in place as the starter for a second straight season, but the quarterback room around him has quietly become one of the more crowded parts of the roster. The Terps have kept adding options for the future, bringing in a transfer from Fordham to go with other newcomers as they continue to stockpile depth behind the incumbent.
The latest addition gives Maryland a quarterback with some real game experience, not just arm talent on the practice field. He arrived after playing in 13 games at Fordham and making nine starts last season, when he threw for nearly 1,600 yards and eight touchdowns. For a program trying to protect itself against the unpredictability of the position, that kind of resume only makes the competition behind Washington more interesting as camp approaches. [Read more 🡒]
DeJuan Williams Looks Ready To Become Marylands Offensive Identity
DeJuan Williams spent his redshirt freshman season doing a little bit of everything for Maryland, and the results were hard to miss. He played in every game, cracked the starting lineup nine times and finished as the Terps most productive back in both all-purpose yards and receptions among Big Ten running backs, a strong sign that his game already stretches beyond the traditional role of a runner.
Williams also gave Maryland a glimpse of what an offense can look like when he is featured more heavily. He set a school single-season record for receiving yards by a running back and picked up the teams Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honor, and now the bigger question is how far that production can carry in 2026 as his role is set to grow even more. [Read more 🡒]