QB Malik Washington confirms his return to Maryland football in 2026

Ahmed Ghafir
17 minutes ago
2 min read

An expected decision became official on Saturday night after quarterback Malik Washington confirmed he will return to Maryland in 2026, announcing his decision during a first half timeout of the men's basketball game vs. Michigan with Olympian Quincy Wilson and five-star basketball signee Baba Oladotun eventually joining him on the floor.

IBG reported Washington was expected to return following the season finale.

"Representing this team, this area, means so much to me and my family," said Washington via release. "This is home and we're going to continue keeping the best athletes from this area here with the Terps. I believe in everyone in our facility and I know we're building something that our fans will be excited about for years to come."

"Malik is a Terp through and through and I'm thrilled he's coming back to lead this football team," head coach Michael Locksley added. "He means so much to this area and this area means so much to him. What we saw from Malik this past season is only the tip of the iceberg. He has such a bright future and he's already started putting the work in towards the 2026 season."

While Maryland entered the 2025 season with a public quarterback battle, the buzz ever since Washington arrived on campus that it was a matter of when, not if, the three-time MIAA champion would eventually become the full-time starter in College Park. That materialized in week one despite missing the bulk of fall camp due to injury, leading what proved to be a young core for Maryland into 2025.

Washington ended the season by setting a program record for most completions and passing yards in a season by a freshman, while also became one of two freshmen since 1996 to throw for 2,500 yards and run for 300 yards. Washington also threw for at least 200 yards in all but one game in 2025, ending the season with 459 yards for the second-most single game passing yards in program history.

"I started the season by saying the one thing that impresses me most about Malik Washington is the maturity that he's shown as a young, inexperienced quarterback and being thrust into a tough situation as a freshman," head coach Mike Locksley said about Washington's freshman season. "Coming off of not having a training camp, I think that he's performed well. There's still obviously room and growth for him as a player, that there's no doubt I think he's shown us enough that there's the elite potential there, and it's a matter of him continuing to build that toolbox that we talked about.”

Washington is one of several expected to return to Maryland in 2026 alongside defensive lineman Zahir Mathis, safety Messiah Delhomme, linebacker CJ Smith and offensive tackle Jaylen Gilchrist among others

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