Malik Washington on Maryland football's upcoming Spring Showcase, spring ball

Ahmed Ghafir
32 minutes ago
4 min read

Rising sophomore quarterback Malik Washington is set to take the field on Saturday for his second spring game with the Spring Showcase set to begin at 1 PM at SECU Stadium, a chance for fans to get a glimpse into the 2026 roster featuring a blend of several familiar names alongside the newcomers. Washington talked about spring ball, offseason emphasis, his focus and more:

On spring ball

“We've had a great spring so far. This is a great way for us to end it off in front of our fan base, people that you know love and support us.”

On expectations for sophomore year

“The same thing, really, a huge step. I have a year under my belt of experience. There [were] things that I learned in the game last year that I just wouldn't have known without playing. So I'm very appreciative and grateful for being able to play last year and take what I know into this year.”

Anything specifically Washington emphasized this offseason

“One thing I really focused on was the mental side of the game, just understanding defenses and coverage better and how our route concepts kind of match up with those that way my pre-snap picture is a lot better.”

On starting as a true freshman, a game whether he felt confident in being a Big Ten QB

“Yeah. I mean, of course, the Wisconsin games on our road, getting that win in the Big Ten and then to finish up the year at Michigan State was another game where things kind of slowed down for me, and I was able to see how well I can play on the field.”

On battling through a losing season

“Really just understanding the lessons that come with it. In life, you know you're gonna take some losses. It just was unfortunate for us that they all came in a row. But that was his way to show us that no matter how far down we fall, there's always room for us to improve and grow.”

On getting off to a strong start at home

“Really important. When we start strong and we make the, you know, fans want to come and watch, they help support us. It's just, it's a mutual relationship, really. We put out some good football for them to watch. They make it hard for the opposing teams.”

On looking at Indiana’s blueprint

“That's just what happens when you buy into the process really. It's the game that we play. We talk about any given Saturday, anybody being able to beat anybody with the process that you put in and the outcome that you want from it. If you stick to what you know and stick to what you do, anything can happen.”

Who has stuck out through spring ball

“On defense, our middle linebacker, Daniel Wingate, local kid, he had a pretty big role last year and then just seeing him mature and grow, not just as a player on the field, but a guy off the field. Treating his body like a pro does, taking care of his body, things like that, extra stretching and warming up before practice, just to make sure he's really prepared. Offensively, I can't pick one. It is everybody really. I know you want one but we have a lot of new faces. We graduated no three of our starting receivers last year had graduated, a lot of new faces and a lot of guys going out here ready to make some plays.”

On Zion Elee

“Really bought into the work. He's putting his head down. He's working. He's not doing too much talking, which, you know, as a guy who was kind of his shoes last year, or guy coming in with a lot of expectations and a lot of hype, just understanding that the team and the coaches want to see you be able to put your head down and go to work, and that's what he's done.”

On adding talent like Elee to the roster

“Really, it just shows that the amount of talent that we have home. If we're able to keep it home, we can, we can change our program and how things go.”

On Spring Showcase

“Oh yeah, there's going to be a whole lot of fun. The community is going to come out, it's going to be a great time. We have some - a lot of interactive stuff, on the field with the fans, some games, some contests. And of course, after being able to meet the team in the indoor facility is something I know always, like the kids enjoy, being able to meet people that you kind of look up to.”

Locksley’s message to the team

“Less talking, more working. Really, it's a proverb that he had. I can't remember the number right now, but it was a proverb that coach had, and they've talked about just not talking as much and just putting in the work.”

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