Maryland’s coaching search is already starting to take shape, and one name sits at the center of it.
After reports surfaced Wednesday afternoon that the Terrapins had fired Mike Locksley following eight seasons in College Park, CBS Sports insider John Talty connected former Florida coach Billy Napier to the opening. The move came on the heels of Maryland’s 37-30 Week 7 loss to Rutgers, a result that dropped the Terps to 2-5 this season.
For second-year athletic director James Smith, the search for a new head coach is now underway, and Talty’s reporting puts Napier at the front of the early conversation. That’s a notable development considering where Napier has been since his Florida tenure ended.
Napier landed in Gainesville in 2022 after a successful four-year run with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, but things never clicked with the Gators. He was fired last October after a rough 3-4 start, and his Florida stint ended with a 22-23 record.
Since then, he has quickly gotten back on track at James Madison. The Dukes hired Napier shortly after he left Florida to replace Bob Chesney, and he has them rolling with a perfect 7-0 record as of this writing. James Madison also appears on pace for a second straight College Football Playoff appearance.
Maryland is still early in the process, so no final call is close yet. But if Napier keeps winning with the Dukes, his return to the Power 4 level could come a lot sooner than expected.
In Other News...
Adam Peters Framed Washingtons Coaching Response In A Telling Way
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Instead, the club has settled into a quieter response, with Dan Quinn expected to remain the head coach through the end of the season. Peters also pointed to a defensive addition that has been part of the plan for some time, a move that gives Washington another experienced voice in the room without signaling a broader shakeup. [Read more 🡒]
Rasul Douglas Is Giving Commanders Fans A Bigger Question Than Expected
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Now the Commanders have a decision hanging over a short-term fix that has looked a lot like a longer-term answer. Douglas is playing well enough to make next season a real conversation, but his age and contract situation keep the picture cloudy, which is why his value here feels bigger than the original signing suggested. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Faces Pressure To Make Washingtons Offense-Saving Move
With Washington sitting at 1-4-1, the pressure around the franchise has only sharpened, and it is spilling beyond the weekly questions about coaching and into the bigger issue of roster construction. The Commanders have been drawing criticism for the way the team has been built, and the offense has become the clearest area where help is needed if this season is going to stop drifting.
That is why the trade talk is starting to matter, even this early in the broader calendar. League chatter has linked Washington to a possible upgrade along the offensive line and another impact option at receiver, two areas that could change the look of the offense quickly if the front office decides to get aggressive before the 2026 NFL trade deadline. Whether Adam Peters is willing to pay the price for that kind of move is the question hanging over everything. [Read more 🡒]