Where Maryland Football Stands About Two Weeks Before The 2026 Season Opener?
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About two days ago, members from the Maryland Terrapins football team sat down with the Big Ten Network to discuss all things that have transpired over the offseason: player additions through the transfer portal, returns, & incoming class, how fall camp has been going, coordinator's expectations, players' expectations, and much more.
The 2026 season is full of hope for fans, staff, and players, as the Terps hope to turn the page on back-to-back under-.500 seasons that only had four wins during each.
For Maryland, 71% of its production will be returning from a year ago, the highest mark in the Big Ten. It also highlights the belief that players have in this staff to improve this season and deliver results on the field.
Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt of the Big Ten Network highlighted that last season, for a group that featured many true freshmen slotted into big roles, seeing them keep attacking every week despite not getting the results they wanted in the win column says a lot. Butt said of [the returning Terps] that it shows an "Instead of running, they said, I want to come back and fix it here" mentality regarding that production coming back another year.
Came back to finish what they started 🐢 pic.twitter.com/bOuokdn8xz
— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) August 20, 2026
How Has Fall Camp Moved Along?
Head coach Mike Locksley talked about how camp has been going these past couple of weeks in August and where they stand as the season fast approaches, stating:
"It's that third or fourth week of camp, when camp legs have come upon us, " Locksley said. "I really like the intensity that we've been able to keep throughout the camp. The depth we've created on our O-line and D-line has been evident when you watch us practice in the last few years to see these guys kind of grow up. Also, to see the run game has been really good to see."
Locksley reemphasized a point he made at Big Ten Media Day, where he's had to have the patience to watch this young core grow after experiencing the high of three straight bowl appearances from 2021-2023, and now trying to rebuild the program into winning ways and take away from the lessons of an inexperienced group that had to get over the hump from last season.
Run Game Improvement?
In regard to adding offensive coordinator Clint Trickett this offseason, Locksley had nothing but praise for the young coordinator:
Highlighting Trickett's time at FAU under Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr., and noting how they ran the ball at Jacksonville State, which has helped shape Maryland's system, bringing it full circle with the ties. Attributing this to how sophomore quarterback Malik Washington was recruited to play in a system that he and Trickett were familiar with.
Malik Washington is a big, athletic, strong guy who can run the ball, which adds another element. For guys like DeJuan Williams, Iverson Howard, Jordan Scott, and others, it creates packages where the run game naturally comes in.
New-Look Receiver Room
Locksley talked about the additions of Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and Chris Durr Jr., adding tremendous value. Kaleb Webb has a high level of comfort within the system in year two. Then shouting out tight end Dorian Fleming and those guys where you can create packages for, while making it look multiple while doing some of the similar things because of the skill set built around Malik Washington.
Malik Washington
Locksley described Malik's growth from year one to year two, noting that he came in not demanding the reins from the jump but earning his place and making his mark within the team in year one. Now, heading into the upcoming season, this is Washington's team, with a great spiritual foundation from his family, but he is also imposing his verbal will on the team to adhere to the standards.
To watch the full interview on Maryland's 2026 Fall Camp, click here.
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Jaden's sports journalism career began at the College of Southern Maryland from 2022-2023, where he was brought in to cover baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball at CSM. In late 2023, he began interning at the University of Maryland Athletics Department as a contributing writer to help develop feature stories and game recaps. He also creates his own sports media content on professional Washington teams with LegacyMaker Sports Network.