Vernon Davis has seen Maryland from just about every angle that matters. He arrived in College Park as a young tight end with promise, turned into a first-round NFL pick, and later became one of the most accomplished players to come through the program. Now, years after his playing days, he’s looking at the Terrapins with real optimism - especially when it comes to head coach Mike Locksley and quarterback Malik Washington.
Davis, who played at Maryland from 2003 to 2005 before going No. 6 overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, built his reputation the hard way. He was on the field in all thirteen games as a true freshman in 2003, catching five passes for 87 yards while also leading the kickoff coverage unit with eight solo tackles.
By 2004, he had become a major part of the offense, appearing in nearly every game, starting multiple times, and finishing second on the team with 27 catches for 441 yards. His 16.3 yards per reception and three touchdowns showed the kind of playmaking ability that would soon make him a nightmare for defenses.
Then came 2005, the season that put him in another class entirely. Davis earned consensus All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition while finishing as a finalist for the Mackey Award.
He led Maryland with 51 receptions and paced the ACC with 871 receiving yards, averaging 17.1 yards per catch. His six touchdown catches tied for a spot among the school’s best single-season totals, and both his receptions and receiving yards landed in Maryland’s top 10.
He also did the dirty work that doesn’t always get the headlines, posting an 82.5 percent blocking grade, 67 knockdowns, and eight touchdown-resulting blocks.
That kind of background gives his opinion some real weight. In a recent exclusive interview with Kyle Odegard from Online Casinos Canada, Davis talked about the direction of the program and made it clear he doesn’t buy the doubt around Locksley.
Davis said he’s known Locksley since the coach recruited him out of high school, and he credited him with building the right kind of staff, keeping local talent in the fold, and carrying himself like a “businessman” and a “leader.” His bottom line on the program was simple: Maryland is “going to be just fine” with Locksley in charge.
Davis was even more animated when the discussion turned to Washington. After seeing the young quarterback at practice, he came away impressed by the mechanics, the quick release, the accuracy, and the poise. He called Washington “a really good talent” and sounded convinced the quarterback has a chance to matter right away and down the road.
But Davis also made sure not to put the whole thing on Washington’s shoulders. He said the quarterback is “everything the Terps need to win games,” while also stressing that Maryland will need everyone pulling in the same direction. His view is that the roster has enough talent to make some noise, as long as the team buys into the collective effort around its young leader.
Since retiring in 2019, Davis has moved into Hollywood, working as an actor and producer. Even so, his connection to Maryland clearly hasn’t faded.
What he sees now is a program with a coach he trusts, a quarterback he likes, and enough pieces to keep moving forward. In Davis’ eyes, the Terps aren’t drifting - they’re building.
And if that continues, he believes they’ll be “just fine.”
In Other News...
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Maryland is heading into its 2026 season opener with Malik Washington back at quarterback and a roster that looks noticeably different around him. The Terps brought in 16 transfer players to help plug the holes left by departed receivers, and that reshuffling has made fall camp an important proving ground for a passing game that will need new answers early.
Washington has made clear he wants to be more vocal as he takes on a bigger leadership role, and the first signs of that responsibility are showing in how the new pieces are coming together. Maryland has seen encouraging development from the incoming receivers, along with a promising freshman wideout, but the real test will come once the lights come on and the offense has to show it can keep moving without the familiar targets it leaned on before. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Still Waiting On Freshman WR As Serious Legal Case Lingers
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The situation remains unsettled because Teasley also faces additional charges related to an alleged violation of a protective order, adding another layer of uncertainty around his status. His attorney, Douglas Gansler, is disputing the allegations and says video evidence supports that challenge, leaving Maryland waiting for a resolution before there is any clarity on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]