Maryland got exactly what it wanted in the opener against Hampton: a blowout win and a 62-0 final that sent the Terrapins into week two on the right side of the ledger.
But the biggest question coming out of Saturday wasn’t about the score. It was about Malik Washington.
The quarterback had shown plenty last season, even in a 4-8 campaign, and plenty of people expected a sharper start. Instead, his first half came with some uneven moments. When Maryland tried to push the ball downfield, Washington had trouble hitting targets consistently, and on other snaps his receivers simply didn’t finish catches that were there to be made.
That lack of rhythm showed up in the numbers, too. Maryland had four drives in the first half that ended without a touchdown, and the offense never quite looked as crisp as it should have in those stretches. Hampton’s defense was overwhelmed overall, though, as Maryland piled up 365 total yards and averaged 9.1 yards per carry.
Washington finished 19-of-31 for 186 passing yards with one touchdown and a 17.7% QBR.
After the game, wide receiver Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding talked about the growing connection with his quarterback.
"It felt great. Once we got into our rhythm, things started to flow very well, and obviously I have the utmost confidence in Malik," Gladding said. "As the season goes on, he's [Malik] going to keep progressing."
Gladding led Maryland’s receivers with six catches for 57 yards and the lone receiving touchdown.
That touchdown came on a cleaner sequence from Washington, who settled in on the final drive of the first half. He was more accurate, showed better touch, and used his legs to extend the play when the pocket started to close.
The throw to Gladding was the best of Washington’s day, dropped perfectly into the back of the end zone for a leaping catch after Gladding slipped behind the Hampton defense over the middle.
Even with the shaky stretches, Washington did show one thing Maryland wants to keep leaning on: he spread the ball around. He completed passes to 11 different Terrapins, a sign of a quarterback willing to involve multiple pieces of the offense.
That kind of distribution matters, especially for a team looking to keep defenses guessing.
Now the focus shifts to East Hartford, where Maryland will need its offensive line to hold up against UConn’s aggressive four-man front and give Washington enough time to read the field and operate.
In Other News...
Locksley Just Made Marylands Biggest UConn Concern Clear
After Marylands first game, Mike Locksley spent time on the practical stuff every coach has to manage early in a season: player health, recovery and how the roster looks as the Terrapins turn their attention to UConn. He also started laying out the scouting report for Saturdays matchup, pointing to quarterback Kalieb Osborne and the Huskies overall defensive shape as the next test for a Maryland team still settling in after its opener.
Locksleys read on UConn makes clear this is not the kind of game Maryland can treat casually, especially with a defense that has a few pieces worth circling before kickoff. He also touched on edge rusher Zion Elees debut and named the captains for the upcoming game, giving the week a more finished feel even as the staff continues sorting out what carried over from the opener and what still needs tightening. [Read more 🡒]
Marylands Ground Game Faces A New Test At UConn
Marylands trip to Storrs brings a little extra edge with it, especially for a ground game that is about to see a different kind of front. The Terrapins are back at UConn for the first time since 2013, and both sides have spent the week sizing up what should be a more demanding matchup than the Huskies last outing. UConn coach Jason Candle has already acknowledged Maryland as a tougher test, while Mike Locksley has singled out linebacker KVon Sherman as one of the names worth watching in the buildup.
The part that could make this game especially interesting is how UConns defense may look once its interior gets a boost. Defensive tackle Esean Carter has been cleared by the NCAA to play this season and could soon be in the mix, giving the Huskies another body to throw at Maryland up front. For a Terps offense trying to establish its run and keep its line steady, that adds one more variable to a matchup that already feels different from the usual early-season tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Enters A Bigger Test Than UConn With Distractions Building
Maryland heads into a tricky road trip to UConn with the kind of opponent-focused urgency that comes with a pivotal stretch of the season. The Terrapins know the assignment starts with staying disciplined against dual-threat quarterback Kalieb Osborne, while keeping their own defensive structure intact and leaning on what Michael Locksley sees as strengths, including the outside linebacker group and an offense that has shown more explosiveness.
There is also a quieter layer to the week around personnel matters the program has kept largely in-house, part of the backdrop as Maryland continues to talk about its Championship Mindset. Locksley has made it clear the staff is handling sensitive issues internally while trying to keep the group locked in on the field, which only adds to the sense that this game is about more than a simple Big Ten-to-American matchup. [Read more 🡒]