Where Maryland football QB Malik Washington stacks up ahead of sophomore season

Ahmed Ghafir
4 minutes ago
2 min read

Maryland football is set to officially kick off the 2026 regular season this week, meaning the chance for fans to get a look at the new-look team featuring new players like portal WR Chris Durr Jr. and former five-star Zion Elee for the first time in a game. Yet it also includes quarterback Malik Washington, who becomes the program's first returning starter at the position since 2023.

While how the skill players fare and whether a consistent run game emerges is as important, one of the bigger questions for Maryland is what the year two jump looks like for quarterback Malik Washington. After a true freshman season highlighted some of the traits that made him a can't-miss prospect out of Spalding, Washington is now preparing for a new offensive scheme under OC Clint Trickett with a spread, multi-tempo offense that's also expected to turn him into a threat on the ground.

Yet after a full offseason to build on his first season as the starting quarterback, Washington has drawn consistent praise from the national media, who ranked Maryland's quarterbacks among the Big Ten's best.

Podcaster Josh Pate ranked Washington the eighth-best quarterback in the conference, while NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay ranked Maryland's quarterback as the seventh-best quarterback after pointing to Malik as "every bit the part – big, tall, sturdy, strong, massive arm." It was the latest praise for Washington from McShay after first drawing positive feedback following the Manning Passing Academy, but he wasn't alone either.

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports pointed to Washington as the fourth-best quarterback in the conference where he gives the program "legitimate hope."

"Young quarterbacks with his upside can change a program's trajectory quickly," Crawford said of Washington. "He has the athleticism and confidence to create explosive plays even when everything around him is not perfect. That matters for a Terrapins team needing more consistency across the board."

Athlon Sports ranked Washington as the 27th-best quarterback nationally after pointing to the high expectations the former four-star embraced ahead of his freshman season.

"The Maryland native certainly flashed the potential that made him a four-star prospect coming out of high school. Washington started all 12 games last year, throwing for 2,963 yards and 17 touchdowns to nine picks. He also added 303 yards and four scores on the ground. Washington is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. If Maryland can develop a more consistent rushing attack and find a few playmakers at receiver, he should easily climb this list as a sophomore in ‘26."

While he already enters his sophomore year ranked top 20 in the program in multiple categories, Washington, of course, will also look for his second career 300-yard passing game after ending his season with a career performance after tossing three touchdowns and 459 yards while completing just over 62% of his 61 attempts in the 2025 season finale.

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