Malik Washington is back, and that settles the biggest question in Maryland’s quarterback room. The real intrigue now sits behind him.
With the Terps set to open their 2026 season against Hampton in 20 days, the starting job is not up for debate this time. Washington, who starred as a freshman and chose to return in the offseason, gives Maryland a clear No. 1 after the program’s 71% returning production - the second-highest mark nationally.
The challenge comes in figuring out who follows him.
Maryland’s quarterback room changed shape fast. Justyn Martin transferred to Ohio State, Khristian Martin went to Fresno State and Roman Jensen committed to Shippensburg.
Jackson Hamilton, the son of offensive assistant Pep Hamilton, is now listed at wide receiver after redshirting last season as a quarterback recruit. To shore things up, Michael Locksley brought in three transfers and a three-star commit, but the depth chart still has a few loose ends.
Washington’s first season showed why he was such a highly regarded four-star recruit. He became Maryland’s first freshman to start a season opener at quarterback since 2012 and handled the role with poise.
In a pass-heavy offense, he threw 473 passes, which ranked sixth nationally. His best day came in the finale, when he passed for 459 yards and three touchdowns.
Washington’s arm strength and quick release to the outside gave Maryland more options downfield throughout 2025.
His legs were used more selectively. That was by design.
Outside of a 164-yard rushing performance against Rutgers, Washington ran for 139 yards across his other starts. With new offensive coordinator Clint Trickett in place, that could change.
Trickett’s quarterback run game should give Washington more chances to use his athleticism and take some pressure off his arm.
Still, Maryland’s biggest issue with Washington last season came late in games. The Terps had fourth-quarter drives stall against Washington and Nebraska, including chances to grab the lead back. Those moments were part of three straight close losses during an eight-game losing streak.
“[It’s] all about the finish. Really, that was the part we lacked in last year,” Washington said. “It’s something that we needed the experience to go through.”
There’s no mystery about the offense’s ceiling in 2026: it rises and falls with Washington. The difference is that an expanded playbook should give him even more room to show what he can do.
Behind him, Maryland is leaning on veteran transfers. Sacramento State transfer Cardell Williams looks like the most seasoned option.
The 6-foot-2 redshirt senior took over after coming off the bench in the first two games and finished with a 63.1% completion rate, the sixth-highest single-season mark in program history. He also brought a real running threat, piling up 378 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025.
Jack Capaldi and Max Lawrence arrive with far less passing production on their résumés. Neither attempted a pass last year at Fordham University and Graceland University, respectively.
Capaldi, though, does have game experience directing an offense. In 2024, he started nine games after the starter was injured, throwing for 1,573 yards and eight touchdowns, including a 310-yard outing against Bucknell.
Even so, his four-year total of 13 appearances at Fordham leaves him as more of an unknown than a proven answer.
Then there’s Nathan Bernhard, the freshman with the clearest long-term upside. A three-star recruit and the No. 19 quarterback in the 2026 class, Bernhard put together a big senior season in high school, throwing for 2,878 yards and 31 touchdowns while tossing only two interceptions in 2025. He added 674 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 4.5 yards per carry, and at 6-foot-5, he has the kind of frame that makes him difficult to bring down.
Bernhard is likely headed for a redshirt season, but his profile makes him a name to remember. If Maryland doesn’t settle the backup job cleanly, he could force his way into the conversation during nonconference play. For now, though, the more proven options sit ahead of him, and his best bet is to spend most of the season waiting his turn.
In Other News...
Marylands Rutgers Test Could Look Very Different By Homecoming
Rutgers is already looking ahead to an Oct. 17 trip to Maryland, and the matchup could carry a different kind of weight by the time it arrives. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a season that reinforced how much Greg Schiano still shapes the program, even as the roster continues to change around him. There is a quarterback battle to sort out between AJ Surace and Dylan Lonergan, while offensive pieces like KJ Duff and Antwan Raymond give Rutgers some familiarity on that side of the ball.
On the defensive side, the additions of Malachi Davis and Ty Morris add another layer to a team trying to keep moving forward in a Big Ten that rarely leaves much room for settling in. For Maryland, the game fits into a stretch where both coaches will be judged not just by the standings but by how well their teams have adapted as the year unfolds. By the time Rutgers reaches College Park, the matchup could look a lot different than it does on paper now, which is part of what makes it worth watching. [Read more 🡒]