QB Nathan Bernhard on Maryland pledge: "when I was going to get the official committable offer I was going to take it"

Ahmed Ghafir
3 days ago
3 min read

Ashland (OH) three-star QB Nathan Bernhard arrived at Maryland late on Thursday night already with his commitment status settled after pledging to Appalachian State back in April, but after connecting with assistant Derek Kief and offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton throughout the pursuit, it didn’t take long until it became a matter of when, not if, the Ohio quarterback would change that decision. All he needed was the green light.

“On my visit, I came in Thursday and visited Friday, decided when I was going to get the official committable offer I was going to take it. I met coach Locksley after the game on Saturday night and once he offered, I took it on the spot,” he told IBG.

“I’ve been talking to them since January. Coach Kief came in January to watch me throw. They kept in contact. I came up and took a visit back in March, a spring practice visit. Coach Hamilton came to watch me throw. I felt like things got serious the last couple of weeks and they wanted me to come in.”

Bernhard also took note of Mike Locksley’s status in 2026 with AD Jim Smith’s backing helping the program finalize its class, along with the quarterback room.

“With their athletic director coming out saying they’re going to keep coach Locks, go full into the football program and give him the resources he needs to be successful in the Big Ten. I think just on top of it the school itself, what it offers academically as well as what the area and DMV offers in life and outside of football.”

Spending time with starting center Michael Hershey on the visit reinforced Bernhard’s belief.

“First time I met him. First time I saw him was pregame meetings. Starting center obviously so got to talk to him, hear what he had to say,” Bernhard added. “He’s fired up about it.”

Bernhard now joins a quarterback room alongside Malik Washington in 2026 after Khristian Martin played sparingly as the backup quarterback in 2025 and Justyn Martin among the 16 players honored pregame ahead of the Senior Day loss vs. Michigan. For Bernhard, having Washington anchor a room after his first season as the starter gave the flip commitment a chance to dial into his development plan in College Park.

“I think with what they have with Malik starting as a freshman and the kind of trajectory he’s on, that plays into what I think they can do developmentally for me but obviously go in and compete,” he added. “If Malik’s the guy, then that’s likely and he’s playing well then it’ll be another two years and he’s getting drafted and going to the league. It’ll be my opportunity to compete for and win and have that and just a great opportunity to develop and compete with a really talented quarterback.”

The player tree under both Mike Locksley and Pep Hamilton at the position isn’t lost on Bernhard with Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones and Justin Herbert among the current NFL quarterbacks the two longtime coaches developed back in college.

“I think what they want to do with me from a developmental aspect and the plan they have for me, just the pedigree that the coaches have with developing quarterbacks with coach Locks at Alabama when he did with those guys and coach Pep with Andrew Luck, Justin Herbert, guys that are similar style to me. Just seeing that from a developmental aspect.”

As a senior, Bernhard threw for just shy of 2,900 yards and 31 touchdowns to two interceptions while completing 63% of his passes.

"I think I fit the traits of a typical pro-style quarterback but I offer a lot of running ability, kind of dual-threat ability, the ability to make plays when things break down in the pocket and things don't go right."

Bernhard is now among the early enrollees in January.

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