Pair of underclassmen named players to watch for Maryland football in 2025

Ahmed Ghafir
Jul 4
2 min read

Previewing the Big Ten less than 60 days away from the 2025 season opener, Maryland football had a pair of underclassmen highlighted as players to watch this fall.

For analyst David Pollack, his answer was easy: freshman QB Malik Washington.

“He’s got this ability, he’s going to be next level. So when you watch Maryland this year, I’m not saying it’s going to always be good because you’re a freshman QB, man. Like you’re going to take lumps, but a guy that has a lot of talent and if they can bottle it up, they can find a way to get some dumbs, Maryland, they can stay in games and score points some times but he’s the guy for me. He could be on a lot of rosters. He could be on just about anybody’s roster in the country but he’s on Maryland’s.”

While all eyes turn to whether Washington will become the first freshman QB to start in the Mike Locksley era, the freshman quarterback is one week removed from hosting his third annual free camp at Archbishop Spalding for kids in third through eighth grade.

“It’s something that I know I would have valued growing up, being able to come to something like this,” Washington told The Diamondback. “It being free just helps make sure everybody, no matter where they come from, is able to get out here.”

Analyst Brent Rollins picked running back Nolan Ray as his player to watch as the Michigan native is now expected to anchor the running back room after generating buzz over the last two offseasons.”

“80.1 rush grade a season ago. More opportunities now. He’s already [the] one in the backfield helping the young quarterback,” Rollins added.

Ray’s freshman season was cut short due to a season-ending injury suffering in the opener vs. Towson, amassing just seven yards on three attempts. But despite now Indiana RB Roman Hemby leading the unit in 2024, Ray drew buzz as a potential playmaker at the position with his blend of vision, balance and speed adding a different dynamic to the running back room. Ray is coming off a 2024 season averaging five yards per carry and registering a pair of touchdowns, including a 48-yard touchdown in the opener vs. UConn.

Now under assistant Louis Swaba, Ray will get a chance to lead the unit alongside DeJuan Williams, Iverson Howard and Josiah McLaurin.

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