Chris Durr Jr. came to Maryland looking for a reset, and early on, he’s giving the Terps exactly what they hoped for.
The wide receiver entered the transfer portal after flashing at Wyoming in 2025, where he led the Cowboys in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He wanted a landing spot that would lean into his game, and Maryland’s mix of Malik Washington at quarterback and first-year offensive coordinator Clint Trickett gave him that opening.
“It’s been good to just get to the school, finally, that’s just willing to take a chance on me and fully buy into me,” Durr said. “To give me the rock and allow me to make the team better.”
Maryland’s interest wasn’t casual. Coordinator of player personnel Marcus Thomas, who coached Durr at Morgan Park High School in Illinois, contacted him when he hit the portal and made it clear the Terps were serious. During Durr’s visit to College Park, another part of the pitch stuck: Michael Locksley’s track record with receivers.
Locksley’s resume, as Durr saw it, carried real weight. At Alabama, he helped develop Jaylen Waddle, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith, among others. At Maryland, the list included Stefon Diggs, Tai Felton and Jeshaun Jones.
Those names landed with Durr.
“Locks showed me his resume [with] receivers and how he got them the ball,” Durr said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I got to play under him.’”
The fit has shown up fast. Through two games, Durr has 16 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown, putting him well ahead of the pace he set last season, when he finished with 45 catches for 469 yards and four scores.
A big reason for that jump is the growing trust between Durr and Washington.
“[Our connection] has grown tremendously. Just earning his trust in practice,” Durr said.
“Just doing everything he asks of me. Making sure I can make the easy play be easy, and the hard plays be easy as well.”
That connection was on display against UConn on Saturday. Early in the second quarter, Washington floated a pass over two Huskies defenders and into a spot only Durr could reach. The ball was a little long, but Durr reached out and hauled it in with one hand for a 24-yard gain, a play that helped set up Maryland’s second scoring drive.
By the end of the game, Durr had set a new career high with ten catches, and he joined Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding above the century mark in the win.
What Durr brings is more than volume. His hands have given Maryland something it lacked last season, when drops were a problem. He also adds a clean answer on shorter routes, where his quickness and elusiveness can turn routine touches into real gains.
Playing primarily from the slot, Durr has become one of the most difficult Terps to corral once the ball is in his hands. That makes him a dependable option for Washington almost every time he’s on the field.
“He brings an explosiveness, definitely, as you see with the ball in his hands,” Washington said. “Just making guys miss in open spaces. He brings extra elements where you can find some hidden yardage from his plays.”
Trickett’s offense only sharpens that fit. Before the season, he said he wanted to use the full field with his spread system, and that creates the kind of open space Durr can exploit.
“Chris Durr, you think of a guy that's short area quickness jumps out,” Locksley said. “He has ability to make guys miss. Super first-step quickness … coming in and out of breaks as a slot guys is really important.”
Durr’s influence hasn’t stopped at the line of scrimmage, either. He’s also brought an energy to the locker room that he believes matters just as much, leaning into an uplifting presence and reminding teammates to have fun.
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Maryland is heading into its non-conference meeting with Virginia Tech knowing the matchup comes with a little more bite than a typical September tune-up. The Terps are the slight underdog at home, and the early tape says the Hokies are bringing a defense that can make life difficult, especially up front. Virginia Techs defensive line has already stood out over its first two games, giving this game the feel of an early test for Marylands protection and patience.
There is still some wiggle room for the Terps to find answers, though, because the Hokies have not been airtight everywhere. Their corner play has shown some cracks, and their run game has been inconsistent, rolling against VMI before stalling against Old Dominion. For Maryland, the most revealing part may be whether Virginia Techs offensive line can sustain success long enough to keep the pressure off the rest of the offense, because if it cannot, the Terps will have a real chance to turn this into a much bigger statement game. [Read more 🡒]
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There is also a broader coaching thread here, with Franklin and Locksley crossing paths again after both once worked under Ralph Friedgen. For Maryland, the stakes are simple enough: protect the unbeaten start, keep the non-conference run moving, and see whether the early confidence holds up against a fellow unbeaten that arrives with its own clean record and plenty to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Has A Chance To Make SECU A Real Edge Again
Maryland heads into its Hispanic Heritage Game against Virginia Tech at SECU Stadium with a chance to turn a familiar talking point into something more tangible. The Terps are expecting a sellout crowd, and the buzz around the student section has been part of the buildup, with team and athletic department officials leaning into the value of a loud, energized home environment.
It would be Marylands first sellout of the year and the fourth in the last six home games, a run that suggests the place can still tilt in the Terps favor when the stands are full. For a program looking to make SECU feel like a real edge again, Saturday offers a timely test of whether the crowd can be more than atmosphere and actually become part of the advantage. [Read more 🡒]