Maryland football is gearing up for an exciting spring as they kick off practice tomorrow afternoon. Head coach Mike Locksley is leading the charge into a crucial offseason phase, with the team bringing back an impressive 71% of its production from 2025.
This ranks them second nationally, just a hair behind Notre Dame. On offense, they’re returning 68% of their production, placing them 17th in the nation, while their defense is even more formidable, returning 74% and ranking fourth nationally.
Veteran players like Dontay Joyner and Jamare Glasker are set to solidify the cornerback position, joined by Boston College transfer Amari Jackson. Isaiah Wright is back for his third season to anchor the offensive line, and linebacker Daniel Wingate, a top draft prospect for 2027, has decided to return for his senior year, turning down outside offers to lead the defense.
A promising sign for Maryland is the strong core of last year’s freshmen class moving into their sophomore seasons. Quarterback Malik Washington, along with edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart, are emerging as key figures in the program.
However, there are still questions to tackle, such as integrating a new wide receiver group, bolstering cornerback depth, and whether new coordinator Clint Trickett can spark the rushing attack. The team is also working to incorporate 12 new transfer commits into the lineup.
The big question looming is whether these efforts will be enough in this pivotal eighth year of the Locksley era, especially after back-to-back four-win seasons. With a preseason win total projected at 4.5, Maryland faces a challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by a week three matchup against Virginia Tech and a trip to UConn in week two, following their opener against Hampton.
CBS Sports has projected Maryland to slightly exceed their preseason win total, predicting a 5-7 finish with victories over Hampton, UConn, UCLA, Rutgers, and Purdue. Despite being among the FBS leaders with 14 returning starters, translating that experience into wins remains the challenge. Malik Washington offers significant potential at quarterback, but it’s uncertain if it will be enough to shift the trajectory of Locksley's tenure in College Park.