A Bold Commitment: Malik Washington Declares He’s Staying with Maryland Football
COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland quarterback Malik Washington, a standout freshman All-American candidate, announced on Saturday that he will remain with the Terrapins program.
“Representing this team and this region means the world to me and my family,” Washington said. “This is home, and we’re committed to keeping the best local talent here with the Terps. I have faith in everyone at our facility, and I know we’re building something our fans will be excited about for years to come.”
Washington has already attracted considerable attention in his debut season. He earned Big Ten Rookie of the Week honors twice, was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List, and earned a spot on the On3 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team.
“Malik is a Terp at heart, and I’m thrilled he’s returning to lead this team,” Maryland Head Coach Michael Locksley said. “He means a great deal to this area, and this area means a lot to him. What we’ve seen from Malik this past season is just the beginning. He has a bright future, and he’s already putting in the work for the 2026 season.”
In his first year, Washington completed 273 of 473 passes for 2,963 yards and threw 17 touchdowns. He set Maryland’s freshman record for both completions and passing yards in a single season. He exceeded 200 passing yards in 11 of 12 games and stands among a rare group of Big Ten true freshmen since 1996 to finish a season with more than 2,500 passing yards and 300 rushing yards.
Notable performances include rushing for 164 yards against Rutgers — the second-highest single-game rushing total by a Terps quarterback — and tossing for 459 yards in the season finale against Michigan State, the second-most passing yards in a single game in school history.
-MARYLAND-
Keywords: Malik Washington, Maryland football, Terrapins, Big Ten, freshman records, quarterback leadership, 2026 season
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