DeJuan Williams finalizes his return to Maryland football in 2026

Ahmed Ghafir
5 hours ago
2 min read

With a pair of running backs part of the seven transfer portal commitments for head coach Mike Locksley and Maryland football this offseason, the offense will have another key piece back in 2026 with running back DeJuan Williams the latest to finalize his stay-or-go decision.

Williams, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back, was officially announced by the program as returning to Maryland in 2026, joining portal commits Trequan Jones and Harry Dalton alongside Iverson Howard and Bud Coombs.

The local product serves as another key offseason win for Maryland after prioritizing the retention of its young stars as Williams joins QB Malik Washington, edge rushers Zahir Mathis and Sidney Stewart and safety Messiah Delhomme among several others including veterans like LB Daniel Wingate and CBs Jamare Glasker and Dontay Joyner.

Williams arrived at Maryland in 2024 battling back from a torn ACL suffered during the spring game in his senior year while at St. Frances, eventually totaling 46 yards and one touchdown on just eight carries in 2024. But the Baltimore native drew buzz as a key piece in Maryland's rushing attack in 2025 under offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, but it was his role in the passing attack that made a name for himself.

Williams finished the season leading all Big Ten running backs and finishing second on the team with 45 catches, while his 426 receiving yards marked a school record for single season receiving yards by a running back, passing Bruce Perry's record of 359 back in 2021. With Maryland looking to flip the script from one of the worst rushing offenses in the country, Williams joins a now-deep running back room looking to accomplish exactly that in 2026.

Williams was also one of two players announced by the program as returning in 2026 after safety Lavain Scruggs is set to return for a fifth season with Maryland.

After not appearing in a game in 2022, the Archbishop Spalding product stepped into 23 apperances and four starts through 2023 into 2024 before materializing into a full-time starter in 2025. Scruggs finished fourth on the team with 60 tackles, including a career-high 11 vs. Illinois and eight vs. Michigan.

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