The wait is over as Archbishop Spalding (MD) composite four-star quarterback Malik Washington has committed to Maryland over Virginia Tech, UCF and Syracuse among a double-digit offer list Washington, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback, becomes the highest-rated pledge in Maryland’s 2025 class as head coach Mike Locksley and the Terps get the guy they’ve prioritized for nearly two years. “It really is because I’ve always felt comfortable,” Washington told IBG. “I like the coaching staff and the offense. It’s just a place that I feel like I can see myself for the next four years.” Led by coordinators Brian Williams and Josh Gattis while Mike Locksley remained active throughout, efforts with Washington picked up during his junior year as the local quarterback made himself a frequent visitor in College Park throughout conference play. “Being able to go to the games and getting up on campus just made me feel like more of a fit. Talking to the coaches and players about the environment about gamedays, being able to see myself in their shoes definitely helped,” he said. “Being able to have my mom around me, watch my little brother grow up, things like that. Just them being able to come to the games, come support definitely played a part.” Maryland’s persistence continued into the spring as his final groups unfolded, first including Texas A&M and Penn State before narrowing down to a final four ahead of official visits. Washington took his first trip to Virginia Tech for their spring game in mid-April where the Hokies were able to generate some buzz, but not enough to challenge the Terps. Washington then resumed visits in June to UCF and Syracuse before wrapping up his recruitment with an official visit to Maryland the weekend of June 21. Washington pointed to his rapport with the full Terps’ staff as the coaches made themselves frequent faces as much as possible throughout the pursuit. “I feel like it wasn’t one that stood out above the rest. I feel like a lot of the coaches were pretty active as far as recruiting me. Coaches have been showing love for a really long time so it’ll be good to show out and put on for my city,” Washington added. “They’ve been around for a long time and they get up here every chance they can. It’s just been talking to all the coaches, everything like that, building the relationship. With my former teammates being up there I get to ask them how it really is on a day-to-day.” While spending time with former teammates like Lavain Scruggs, Kellan Wyatt and Keyshawn Flowers during his official visit, the chance to validate what the coaching staff told him throughout his recruitment solidified his decision. “The message wasn’t a sales pitch. I felt like that’s what it actually was. That’s why the players, they reciprocate that to us.” Malik Washington is expected to enroll next summer as the chance to join the offense that led the Big Ten in passing yards last fall excites him. “I like to throw the ball, they like to throw the ball so I feel like we’ll get along pretty well,” he joked. “Locksley talked about quarterbacks that he’s had in the past, what he’s done and how he saw me compare to those guys so it’s really about what I can do next. I’m trying to be the first Malik, not the next somebody else.” With its top target and its local quarterback of the future in the fold, Malik Washington will shift from recruit to recruiter with several targets expected to announce their commitments heading into the rest of summer. “I’m going to work on dudes to flip, work on guys who aren’t committed to commit. I’m going to be on it.” Related Links Florida LB Travares Daniels commits to Maryland, breaks down decisionFormer Maryland guard Jahmir Young agrees to deal with Denver NuggetsUpdate on four-star target (+)Ja’Kobi Gillespie on his transition to Maryland, football backgroundMaryland WR Kaden Prather among offensive players drawing NFL buzz
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