The Maryland Terrapins aren’t exactly making headlines going into the 2025 season — and after finishing with their worst record in seven years under head coach Mike Locksley, it’s easy to see why. But one young player is already turning heads on the national stage.
At least one national analyst believes Maryland has something special at quarterback.
On a recent episode of “See Ball, Get Ball,” college football analyst David Pollack highlighted freshman quarterback Malik Washington as one of the Big Ten’s top names to watch this season.
“This one was easy for me — Malik Washington,” Pollack said. “He’s going to be their starting quarterback, and he was recruited by everybody. Five-star. Top-five quarterback in high school football coming out, and they got him at Maryland.”
Pollack isn’t the only one high on Washington’s potential.
Washington comes to College Park as one of the most talked-about recruits Maryland’s landed in years — and the hype around him has only gotten louder this offseason.
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He turned heads last fall with a huge senior season at Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland. He led the team to a 10-2 record and a second straight conference title, earning MIAA A Conference Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row.
His numbers backed up the hype — Washington completed over 62% of his passes for more than 2,000 yards, throwing 21 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. He also showed his mobility, rushing for over 200 yards and six scores, averaging seven yards per carry.
When it was all said and done, Washington finished as a four-star recruit with a 96 rating from 247Sports. He ranked 54th overall in the 2025 class and was considered the nation’s fifth-best quarterback prospect.
“There’s a lot of programs saying, ‘Hey, we don’t want to name our starter yet because we don’t want people to leave,’” Pollack added. “But Maryland? They’re like, ‘We got this dude, we paid him, he’s here, and he’s starting.’ He’s got that ability — he’s going to be next level.”
If Washington lives up to even a fraction of the hype, he could be the catalyst Maryland desperately needs to turn things around. With a fresh leader under center and expectations growing, the Terps might finally have the talent to compete in the Big Ten’s tough landscape.
All eyes will be on Washington as he takes the reins — and if his high school performance is any indication, Maryland football could be in for an exciting ride in 2025.