Phil Steele projects Maryland football's starting quarterback in 2025

Ahmed Ghafir
Jun 11
2 min read

Updated: Jun 11

For the second consecutive year, one of the biggest storylines in Maryland football’s offseason is the quarterback competition as head coach Mike Locksley evaluates UCLA transfer Justyn Martin, second-year QB Khristian Martin and freshman early enrollee Malik Washington. Khristian Martin led the way in passing yards among the three during April’s spring game while Justyn Martin has familiarity in College Park with Ted White in College Park after moving on from UCLA’s QB coach in 2024 to Maryland’s offensive analyst in 2025.

While an official announcement isn’t expected once again as the starting quarterback will likely be learned by fans when the offense trots onto the field in the week one opener vs. FAU, Phil Steele projected QB Malik Washington to be Maryland’s starting quarterback in 2025.

“Locksley has started Juice Williams, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa as true frosh so Washington is my pick to win the job. He was IFS [in for spring] and has size and speed, a talented arm and picked up the offense quickly,” Steele wrote this week.

After ascending from a three-star to top-100 prospect in the 2025 class, it didn’t take long for the freshman to draw buzz once he arrived in College Park with the mature freshman to showcase his grasp of Pep Hamilton’s wrinkles in Mike Locksley’s offense, while quickly earning the respect in the locker room. Washington is one of six Archbishop Spalding products on the roster as he looks to become the program’s first starting true freshman QB since Kasim Hill in weeks two and three of the 2017 season.

“I've said it many times, I think the thing that really stands out is the maturity that he shows due to, even though he has a lack of experience in our system, he doesn't have a lack of experience in managing a team, managing offenses, building,” Mike Locksley said after the spring game. “He did a tremendous job as a guy at Archbishop Spalding and elevating that program and I've seen him come in here and have a be really comfortable with being able to come in and pick up the things that we've asked him to do and looking forward to see his progress over the course of the next two to three months.”

A look at Phil Steele’s projected starters in 2025:

QB: Malik Washington

RB: Nolan Ray

WR: Jalil Farooq

WR: Shaleak Knotts

SLOT: Octavian Smith

TE: Dorian Fleming

LT: Rahtrel Perry

LG: Isaiah Wright

C: Michael Hershey

RG: Aliou Bah

RT: Alan Herron

K: Sean O'Haire

DE: Dillan Fontus

NT: Cam Rice

DE: Neeo Avery

JACK: Sidney Stewart

MIKE: Daniel Wingate

WILL: Mike Harris

SAM: Trey Reddick

CB: Dontay Joyner

CB: Jamare Glasker

SS: Lavain Scruggs

FS: Jalen Huskey

P: Bryce McFerson

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