Mike Locksley speaks on facing former Maryland players during 2025 season

Ahmed Ghafir
Jul 23
2 min read

Maryland football’s 2025 conference slate will feature games against a few players who became impact pieces in College Park over the years. Maryland’s home finale will serve as one of the final home games for Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham, who spent his first two seasons in College Park, while the Nov. 1 homecoming game vs. Indiana also serves as a homecoming for RB Roman Hemby and OLB Kellan Wyatt.

The first matchup will come on Sept. 20 when Maryland heads to Madison in search of their first win in five tries against Wisconsin. Billy Edwards, who served as a backup for two seasons before taking over as the starter in 2024, will look to extend Maryland’s losing streak against the Badgers.

“Billy played a role in our program, he played an integral role in Taulia Tagovailoa’s background because he was Taulia’s backup and we asked a lot of Billy in preparing as if he’s the starter,” Locksley said about Edwards at Big Ten Media Day. “Whether it’s a Billy, whether it’s a Roman Hemby, whether it’s some of these other players or guys who left to go pro early, we all are dealing with it. It’s the new norm. We need to learn from those mistakes.”

After drawing a pair of starts in 15 appearances through his first two seasons, Edwards threw for nearly 2,900 yards and totaled 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions in what proved to be a lackluster year for the program following a 4-8 finish. After not appearing in the season finale vs. Penn State, buzz began to pick up about a potential Edwards departure with Michigan’s behind-the-scenes pursuit fueling the fire. After a back-and-forth decision, Edwards pulled the trigger on closing out his college career elsewhere before taking two visits – Wisconsin and Virginia – and opting to stay within the Big Ten as Michigan’s interest waned once he became available.

Meanwhile, Maryland evaluated the winter portal market before zeroing in on UCLA QB Justyn Martin to restock the room alongside second-year Khristian Martin and true freshman Malik Washington. At Big Ten Media Day, Locksley reiterated he’s “really looking forward to getting into fall camp, having an opportunity to really see these guys and how they perform and who gives us the best chance to score points”. The reunions, though, carry less focus with the season inching closer.

“I’m one of those guys that I deal with abandonment a little different. It’s like you were never here. Once he’s done playing, I’m sure we’ll continue a relationship, but I haven’t concerned myself with any of the guys that have left because I’ve had to use all my energy on the guys that are here now and the guys that are coming in to ensure we create a culture that’s necessary to avoid what happened a year ago. Not a lot of energy has been put into what’s been lost or where they are or facing them.”

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