Maryland’s 2026 offense has a promising center of gravity in Malik Washington, but the real swing factor might be who he’s throwing to.
The sophomore quarterback is coming off a strong spring and building on his first year as the full-time starter, yet the Terps still have to prove they’ve got enough firepower around him at the skill spots. That’s where the transfer additions come in, and Maryland went hunting in the portal after losing a trio of top receivers to the NFL this offseason.
FOX Sports highlighted Old Dominion transfer Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding as one of the biggest additions Maryland made. Michael Cohen of FOX Sports wrote, "Maryland is building around sophomore quarterback Malik Washington after an encouraging freshman season.
With the Terrapins losing their top three receivers, Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding fills a significant need," Michael Cohen of FOX Sports wrote. "He led Old Dominion in receptions and touchdown catches while recording multiple 100-yard performances last year.
His production should give Washington another reliable target."
Gladding is expected to bring a vertical element to the room and should have a real shot at one of the starting jobs. The former Stone Bridge (Va.) standout is also still close with former high school teammate Tai Felton.
But if there’s a transfer receiver who could end up being the most critical by season’s end, Wyoming’s Chris Durr Jr. has a strong case. The shifty slot option gives Maryland a different kind of weapon, one built for the screen game and quick throws in Clint Trickett’s offense. He also stood out in spring ball, flashing soft hands and even hauling in a one-handed touchdown catch in practice.
That matters because Maryland’s wideout group had issues with drops in 2025, and cleaning that up was a clear offseason priority. Both Gladding and Durr were productive at avoiding drops in college, which gives Washington a better chance to settle in with dependable targets.
The pass-catching depth doesn’t stop at receiver, either. Maryland has a tight end room that could help carry some of the load.
Preston Howard is back in College Park after one season at Auburn and joins Dorian Fleming at the top of the group. JT Taggart adds another layer of intrigue after appearing in every game as a true freshman, helped by an 81.25-inch wingspan and nearly 33.5-inch arms.
Ryan Manning returns as an upperclassman with eight career catches, and Maryland will also be watching two true freshmen from St. James, Jayden Kitchens and Josiah Teasley, as they try to carve out roles. Former four-star Zymear Smith is heading into his second season, too, giving the Terps a few more names to monitor as they sort out the rotation.
In Other News...
D. J. Wagner Could Decide How Far Maryland Can Really Climb
Maryland spent last season trying to piece together a roster after a 17th-place Big Ten finish and a 12-21 record, an ugly follow-up to its Sweet Sixteen run in 2025. The turnover was heavy, with departures through the transfer portal and graduation thinning the core, so the Terps leaned into a mix of incoming transfers and freshmen to reset the rotation and give the program a clearer direction.
A big part of that reset now rests with D. J. Wagner, the guard expected to play a major role in his first season in College Park after stops at Kentucky and Arkansas. Maryland is betting that a player once viewed as a cant-miss prospect can help stabilize the backcourt and raise the teams ceiling, even if the bigger question is whether his arrival is enough to push the Terps back toward the kind of season that changes how the program is viewed. [Read more 🡒]