2025 Maryland football opponent overview: Washington Huskies

Ahmed Ghafir
Jul 20
3 min read

Date: Oct. 4

Venue: SECU Stadium

2024 record: 6-7 (4-5)

Series history: 1-0, Washington

Coaching staff: HC Jedd Fisch (23-29 overall in five seasons, 6-7 at Washington)

Who to know: RB Jonah Colman, QB Demond Williams, CB Tacario Davis, LB Taariq Al-Uqdah

Offense

After a transition season where the Huskies lost both its head coach in Kalen DeBoar (Alabama) and eventual first-round picks in QB Michael Penix and Rome Odunze, Washington’s quarterback room finds itself similar to Maryland with the promising young talent likely taking over to lead the offense. Demond Williams era is expected to begin for the Huskies in 2025 after playing every game and starting in two as a true freshman last season, amassing over 1,200 total yards of offense, ten total touchdowns and just one interception. Prior to enrolling early to begin the Jedd Fisch era, Williams amassed nearly 12,800 yards through his high school career through the air and on the ground, tossing 135 combined touchdowns to just 12 interceptions before ending his time at Basha High School (AZ) as a top-200 prospect.

The dual-threat quarterback will have veteran pieces to lean on with running back Jonah Coleman, one of the top at the position in the Big Ten after rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2024. Coleman isn’t alone with Williams able to lean on returning WR Denzel Boston, who amassed 834 yards and nine touchdowns on 63 catches in 2024. While the Huskies briefly had WR Johntay Cook in the spring before he was dismissed and landed at Syracuse, former Penn State WR Omari Evans is expected to factor into the 2025 rotation with Boston anchoring the room under OC Jimmie Dougherty.

The biggest concern for the Huskies in 2024 was the offensive line after allowing 39 sacks, including 30 during Big Ten play, but they’re led by a quartet of upperclassmen and added former Kansas State LT Carver Willis to provide a jolt to the trenches.

Defense

After a 5-19 record over two seasons as the head coach at Purdue, Ryan Walters steps back into an assistant role as he now takes over as Washington’s new defensive coordinator where the Huskies have several new, yet experienced pieces to lean on in 2025. The first one is a big piece in the secondary in CB Tacario Davis, a one-time potential NFL first-round pick while at Arizona. The repeat all-conference selection now reunites with Jedd Fisch after flirting with the idea ahead of the 2024 season, while sixth-year FIU transfer CJ Christian is in line for a feature role as a starting safety. Davis has a chance to become an All-Big Ten selection after previously named an All-Pac 12 and All-Big 12 selection at Arizona.

And after allowing the most rushing yards per game in 2024 among any Big Ten team, Walters restocked the front seven through the portal to address the units. Washington State transfer Taariq Al-Uqdah, tabbed a preseason All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele, also joins the program where he UCF transfer Xe’ree Alexander look to lead the inside linebackers, while Russell Davis is in line for a feature role after missing almost all of 2024 due to injury. They’ll have an experienced defensive line in front of them with Simote Pepa, a 340-pound nose tackle who transferred from Utah, anchoring the unit in his fifth college football season. Former Western Michigan DL Anterio Thompson and Arizona DL Tai’ita’i Uiagalelei joined the program this offseason to add depth in the trenches.

Matchup to watch: RB Jonah Coleman vs. Maryland’s run defense

Maryland will have new and emerging pieces leading the front seven in 2025 after allowing just over 150 yards per game on the ground in Big Ten play last season. Maryland will be coming off its first bye week of the season and will be two weeks removed from facing a Badgers rushing attack likely anchored by second-year RB Dilin Jones, and while the Badgers present their own challenges on the ground, Coleman could serve as the best running back the defense faces in 2025. The Huskies’ passing attack has optimism surrounding the Williams-Boston connection as Maryland looks to turn the Huskies one-dimensional on family weekend.

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