Maryland’s trip into Week 3 comes with a different kind of energy than the first two games. The Terps are 2-0, but Mike Locksley made it plain at today’s press conference that those wins were only the setup. Virginia Tech is the real measuring stick, the “first test” that will show where Maryland actually stands.
Locksley said the opening stretch functioned as an “audit,” a chance to check fundamentals, rotations, and early-season chemistry. That phase is over now. In his view, Maryland’s record is still “2 and 0 unfinished,” which is his way of saying the Terps have done enough to earn attention, but not nearly enough to prove they can handle a step up in class.
That step up is obvious to Locksley. Maryland opened with an FCS opponent, then took on what he called a “formidable” Group of Five test in UConn.
Virginia Tech, though, is something different - an “upgrade” in physicality and talent. Locksley pointed especially to the Hokies’ front seven, saying the trenches will demand a cleaner, tougher performance from his team.
That defensive front is the part of Virginia Tech that has Maryland most focused. Locksley described Kemari Copeland as a “stout, twitchy” presence inside, and he singled out Cortez Harris, a Riverdale Baptist product and Penn State transfer, for his versatility on the edge.
Noah Chambers, the DeMatha alum, “runs the show” at linebacker and gives the unit its identity. The Hokies came off a game with seven sacks, and that kind of pressure can wreck an offense’s rhythm in a hurry.
Virginia Tech isn’t just dangerous on defense. Locksley said the Hokies are built around the run game and use that to open up run-action concepts.
Ethan Grunkemeyer brings athleticism and the ability to extend plays, and Locksley expects to see packages for a second quarterback as well. He also tied Virginia Tech to the broader “new landscape” of college football, noting that Coach Franklin brought roughly a dozen transfers, including tight end Luke Reynolds, to speed up installation and build familiarity.
For Maryland, the path forward runs through Malik Washington. Locksley said Washington has gone from “pressing” in Week 1 to finding a real offensive “flow” in Week 2, and that growth has to continue against Virginia Tech’s aggressive front. The Terps need him trusting his reads, moving the ball, and letting others carry more of the load.
That includes playmakers like Chris Durr Jr, whose short-area burst stands out, and Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding, whose consistency has earned the staff’s trust. It also means the run game has to keep developing behind younger backs. Locksley pointed to Iverson Howard’s hard running on the 90-yard touchdown drive at UConn as the kind of physical effort Maryland needs to replicate.
Still, the message from Locksley was that none of the skill-position pieces matter if the Terps don’t win up front. Against a Virginia Tech defense that just produced seven sacks, Maryland has to be sharper, stronger, and more connected in the trenches to keep Washington on schedule and preserve balance on offense.
Locksley also connected the game to Maryland’s bigger identity. He pushed the importance of “The Shell,” calling for a full sellout and noting that 10,000 students showed up for the opener. That kind of crowd, especially under the lights, is part of the formula for making SECU Stadium a difficult place to play.
And beyond Saturday, Locksley said the scheduling philosophy matters too. He talked about the value of regional games against ACC opponents and familiar names like West Virginia, saying Maryland should “play where we recruit.”
His ideal setup includes one local FCS opponent, one regional rival, and one “anybody, anytime” game before Big Ten play. For him, Week 3 is more than a matchup.
It’s a snapshot of the program’s culture, its recruiting footprint, and the standard Maryland wants to build around.
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