The Maryland football program is heading into the new season with all eyes on head coach Mike Locksley, who may be coaching for his job. Adding to the pressure, the Terrapins will be turning to true freshman Malik Washington as their opening day starter at quarterback.
Maryland is coming off its worst finish since 2020, and the Big Ten isn’t getting any easier. After losing so much talent on offense from last year, that’s where the spotlight sits.
Washington will have a key target in Dorian Fleming, who steps in as the team’s go-to receiver.
However, the bigger shift occurs on the sidelines, where Maryland has brought in Pep Hamilton as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to elevate the offense. Fleming said he’s already noticed a difference under Hamilton, offering the new coordinator some early praise.
“Coach Pep [Hamilton] does a great job with being able to spread the ball around,” Fleming said. “Anybody can get the ball at any moment. We got a lot of playmakers that can make plays when the ball gets to their hands. I’m excited.”
Hamilton comes in with a reputation for maximizing quarterbacks, and with Washington now the program’s most significant investment, that’s precisely what Locksley is banking on.
The hope is that Hamilton’s experience can give Washington the foundation to succeed right away while helping Maryland’s offense find the consistency it lacked a year ago.
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Over his career, Hamilton has worked with and developed several standout quarterbacks, including Andrew Luck, Kevin Hogan, Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, and Michigan alum Brian Griese.
For Locksley, Hamilton’s arrival and Washington’s development aren’t just storylines. They may very well decide whether Maryland can get back on track in the Big Ten—or take another step backward.