Maryland vs. Washington: players to know ahead of Big Ten home opener

Joseph Luber
Sep 29, 2025
3 min read

Maryland football is set to host a very strong Washington Huskies team this weekend who's roster is littered with great playmakers. Maryland opens as a 5.5-point underdog at home to the Huskies, but remember, Maryland also opened up as a 7.5-point underdog to Wisconsin, so being the underdog isn't new to Mike Locksley's group this year. Washington has great playmakers on both sides of the football, so let's take a closer look at some of those guys.

QB Demond Williams Jr. - Williams is an electrifying dual-threat quarterback for the Huskies who can make plays with both his arm and his legs. Williams is a first-year starter for Washington who was a four-star recruit in the class of 2024. He’s found success to open the year as he currently ranks seventh in the country in pass efficiency (186.32) as he’s accumulated 951 yards through the air this year with six touchdowns and zero interceptions. Williams also marks the first true dual-threat QB the defense has faced after notching 192 rushing yards this season, along with two touchdowns on the ground. Like Mike Locksley, Jedd Fisch has a strong reputation for developing QBs and his experiment with Demond Williams Jr. has paid off so far this year. Slowing Demond down will be a tall task for Maryland's defense as LB Daniel Wingate in a spy role could loom large.

RB Jonah Coleman - Coleman is built like a tank at 5'9'', 228 pounds. The Stockton, California native has racked up 417 rushing yards this season along with 9 touchdowns. Many national media members would argue that Jonah Coleman is the best running back in the nation as he enters week five leading the country in scoring (15 points per game), rushing touchdowns (9) and total touchdowns (10). One of the reasons Washington has such a great passing game is that defenses are always worried about the threat of Jonah Coleman, who also ranks fourth nationally in all-purpose yards (154.75). Last week, against a tough Ohio State defense, which is arguably the best in the country, Coleman still racked up 70 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Maryland’s run defense faced a tough test in week two against a run-heavy NIU team, but Coleman’s big play ability gives the front seven the matchup they’ve prepared for under DC Ted Monachino.

WR Denzel Boston - Boston is Demond Williams' favorite target out wide, posing a threat to any team's secondary. Denzel Boston is a lengthy receiver who measures at 6-foot-4, 209 pounds, and he has a lot of success when having to make contested catches. Boston has tallied for 275 yards this season and three touchdowns. The upgraded secondary has been well documented with Maryland still leading all Power Four teams with eight interceptions through five weeks, while Jamare Glasker is expected to return after a two-game absence and bye week. How the other starting cornerback, Dontay Joyner, fares against the big-bodied receiver will be a clear measuring stick for assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim’s unit.

DB Tacario Davis - Davis is one of the two corners for Washington who stand at 6-foot-4. Davis, who nearly reunited with Fisch in 2024, was with Jedd Fisch at the University of Arizona before transferring to Washington this past offseason. Davis has only appeared in two games this season due to an injury but he has recorded an interception. Davis was doubtful to play last week against Ohio State and ultimately ended up not playing. His status for this Saturday is unknown, but his availability is one to watch as Maryland’s WRs look to erase questions about drops and build on a productive start, anchored by senior Shaleak Knotts.

DB Ephesians Prysock - Prysock, similar to Davis, also provides length to the Huskies’ secondary standing also at 6-foot-4. A former All-Pac 12 selection in 2023 at Arizona, Ephesians Prysock followed Fisch to Washington and enrolled in the spring of 2024 and has started in every game in 2025. Prysock can be very effective in man coverage, and that could cause problems for the Terps. Perhaps that could lead to Malik getting some good scrambles throughout the game. Prysock's biggest advantage is his size and his lengthy arms. Between him and Tacario Davis (if he plays), it will be fun to see how Malik does against them. A big help for Malik would be if the receivers could limit the number of drops.

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