Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. will play his final season of college football elsewhere as he tells ESPN he has filed his paperwork to enter the transfer portal.
Edwards finished second in the Big Ten with 2,881 passing yards while adding 20 total touchdowns to nine interceptions in his first full season as the starter. He threw for over 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns over his three seasons, but filled the void left vacant by Taulia Tagovailoa.
“I'm excited about Billy returning in the system for a second starting season, possibly,” head coach Mike Locksley said ahead of the Iowa game. “I'm excited for the unknown people that you referenced to be here. I'm excited to be able to add a bunch of pieces. If you if you really want to know, that's the optimism I have, if you want to write that in your column, that's the optimism I have. Is that, you know what, we've built and designed a structure and strategies that have allowed us to grow this program.”
Edwards was named a potential transfer to watch this offseason last week with hopes that the Terps will be able to lean on stability at the quarterback position in year seven of the Mike Locksley era, but Maryland could now turn to top-100 QB signee Malik Washington with the portal still swirling.
ESPN: “The successor to Big Ten career passing yards leader Taulia Tagovailoa maintained Maryland's production, finishing second in the league behind Oregon's Dillon Gabriel in passing yards (2,881) and completions (273) despite missing time in the final two games with a thumb injury. Edwards had a strong start to the season, displaying accuracy and eclipsing 250 passing yards in Maryland's first seven games. He lit up USC's defense for a career-high 373 passing yards and two touchdowns in the Terrapins' best win of the season. Edwards late-season struggles mirrored the team's, as he completed less than 60% of his passes in losses to Northwestern, Minnesota, Oregon and Rutgers, and had six interceptions and two touchdown passes in those games. The Virginia native and former Wake Forest transfer has good size at 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds and made a good impression on Big Ten opponents. One Big Ten staff felt he was the best QB they faced in league play. If Edwards does decide to enter the portal, several personnel sources believe Michigan would be a school to watch if the Wolverines seek a one-year senior pickup to pair with No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood.”
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