Maryland enters its 2026 opener with Malik Washington back in the saddle, and the sophomore quarterback already has one clear personal target for Year Two: speaking up more.
Washington was one of the first Terps to say he was returning this offseason, helping spark a wave of retained players that was matched only by Notre Dame. Maryland also added a 16-player transfer portal class as it tries to get back to a bowl after back-to-back seasons without one. For Washington, the next step is less about arm talent and more about presence.
"Definitely being a vocal leader," Washington said during Tuesday's press conference. "It's kind of easier when there's less gray area about the team and your position. We knew coming into the offseason, I was staying here... it just made it a lot easier to get guys along the same path I was on."
That continuity matters even more after Maryland had to rebuild a receiving group that lost its top three pass catchers to eligibility. Washington threw 473 passes and piled up nearly 3,000 yards as a true freshman, so the Terps had to find answers fast.
Two of them arrived from the transfer market in Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and Chris Durr Jr., the leading receivers from Old Dominion and Wyoming. Both are juniors, which lines up with the two seasons Washington has left before he becomes NFL Draft eligible. The idea is obvious: this isn’t just a one-year patch.
Kaleb Webb gives Maryland a different look. The Tennessee transfer came in before last season and finished with 22 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Now he’s projected to stretch the field as the team’s deep threat.
Washington has spent plenty of time with that trio since spring camp, but he says real chemistry takes more than reps on the practice field.
"You just got to hang out with them outside the facility," Washington said. "I think that's the easiest way to build connections."
He also said the newcomers have taken on more of a leadership role themselves.
"They've grown as leaders too. They're not as reserved as they were, which I appreciate just because of the fact that they're starting to find their place within the team."
Freshman wideout Jayden Kitchens has also caught Washington’s attention. The quarterback said the local product has been "finding his stride" during fall camp, a sign he could be in line for a bigger role.
Still, Maryland’s biggest issue last season wasn’t finding talent. It was closing games. The Terps dropped three straight one-score games, and in all three they were ahead entering the final 15.
That stretch began with a Week 6 loss in which Washington - the team, not Malik - scored 24 unanswered points and handed Maryland a deflating home defeat. Nebraska followed, and Maryland again failed to score in the fourth quarter. UCLA then outscored the Terps 13-7, and later Rutgers beat them after Maryland managed only three second-half points to the Scarlet Knights’ 14.
Washington knows the lesson there is simple: the Terps have to finish.
"That'll carry over into everything else we need to do."
In Other News...
Maryland Still Waiting On Freshman WR As Serious Legal Case Lingers
Marylands wide receiver room has been operating without freshman Josiah Teasley for the foreseeable future, with the early-year absence tied to legal issues that have kept him out of games. Teasley was found guilty of second degree assault and is set to begin supervised probation in 2026, but his case is still moving through the process as he appeals the conviction.
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 🡒]