Maryland Football: Mike Locksley needs more NIL support, and the AD knows it
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Maryland officially welcomed AD Jim Smith to the Terrapin family this week, holding a press conference and discussing a wide range of issues. Smith, who's achieved success as a business leader throughout his professional career, understands that NIL is a key part of competing in today's college athletics. And when it comes to the football program specifically, Smith acknowledged that the Terps need more NIL resources in order to succeed in a loaded Big Ten conference.
"Coach Locksley and I have talked a lot about where we are as a program," Smith said. "I think he feels really good with the recruits that we've brought in. But also, part of it is our responsibility to make sure he's got the funding that's necessary to compete at the level with the other Big Ten programs. So I'm optimistic about the season that's coming up. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how we can bring more to the table to make sure Maryland football can be successful."
New AD Jim Smith on his expectations for Mike Locksley and the Maryland Football program moving forward: pic.twitter.com/9ffRYinLfL
— Inside Maryland Sports (@Terrapins247) May 23, 2025
That's certainly the type of language you want to hear from your AD. It's no secret that NIL is a critical factor for any successful program these days, and utilizing that tool is even more critical for a program like Maryland. It's not easy competing on the recruiting trail with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon, but NIL can certainly help level the playing field for those who are trying to achieve a breakthrough season.
With Smith throwing his support behind that effort, the Maryland Football program has a shot at establishing itself as a real contender for conference championships in the near future.
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Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. In January of 2025, he took over as Publisher for Maryland On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.
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