Why Trequan Jones spurned other interest to transfer to Maryland + scouting the fit

Ahmed Ghafir
1 day ago
4 min read

Maryland’s rushing attack has been a sore spot over the last three seasons after consistently finishing inside the bottom three of the Big Ten in yards per game, averaging under 111 y in each of the three seasons while lacking explosive runs over the last two years.

It was an expected departure with running back Nolan Ray electing to hit the transfer portal, but with three expected to return and one already departing as Nolan Ray draws Power Four interest, the question was whether an experienced piece could complement the 2026 room with a need to upgrade the weapons around second-year quarterback Malik Washington. And what Maryland hoped to get from Ray is what Maryland gained in their first portal commitment - a shifty runner with big-play ability.

Old Dominion running back Trequan Jones became the first commitment for Maryland of the portal window after altering his visit schedule to make the Terps his first - and last - stop of his pursuit. Initially slated to visit Michigan State starting Sunday with scheduled trips to Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh to follow, Maryland altered that schedule by sneaking the Florida native onto campus for a visit on Saturday to give him his first glimpse into the program.

Maryland was able to move quickly to phase out the rest of the competition with Jones arriving in College Park on Friday and visiting through Saturday before delivering his commitment by the end of the day.

“I felt very comfortable down there. They made me feel like I’ve been there. They made me feel very welcomed and comfortable and I just felt like I belonged there,” Jones told IBG. “We built a good relationship, coach Locks.”

With his decision now finalized, visits elsewhere have been canceled.

“I just knew I was going to end up coming back to Maryland and I really just didn’t want to waste my time with these visits. I was only thinking about Maryland the whole time. I knew where I felt best at, where I felt most comfortable at, where I was most wanted at so I just went ahead and locked it in.”

Through his first three seasons, Jones proved exactly what Maryland has lacked in the run game for much of the last three seasons: explosive runs. His ability to cut and switch gears led Jones to become a focal point in the Monarchs’ rotation in 2025 where he added eight runs over 20 yards - compared to 11 as a team for the Terps this fall. Despite measuring in at 5-foot-9, Jones also flashes a strong center of balance and the strength to add yards after contact. While his big play speed on paper makes him a candidate in the return game, Maryland has several options there with both Zymear Smith and Iverson Howard candidates in 2026.

“Really just my explosiveness and my speed. Just basically come in there and keep building on the offensive. Me being explosive like I am, playing hard, playing fast, playing physical,” Jones added.

Jones may not be as much of a factor in the passing game with 22 catches through his first three seasons, but that’s where DeJuan Williams and potentially redshirt freshman Bud Coombs can step in. In 2025, Williams finished second on the team in catches and fourth on the team in receiving yards as his 45 catches marks the third-most ever by a Maryland RB and 435 receiving yards marking a single season program-record by a running back.

Getting the former juco-turned-Old Dominion running back in space could give the running back room a presence it has lacked since Dan Enos was Maryland’s offensive coordinator.

“Just really how they operate. They like to get backs in space, let them work. They like to get the backs the ball in their hand and let them get to work,” Jones said about his fit in College Park.

At Georgia Military, Jones proved himself as a game-changing running back after averaging over seven yards per carry and matching his 2023 total with seven rushing touchdowns on 81 carries, enough to eclipse the century mark during his two seasons with the program. The Florida native also eclipsed 90 yards in three consecutive games and four total in addition to a 100-yard, one touchdown performance against Tyler Junior College in 2024.

Jones joins the program with three career 100-yard rushing games with two of them at ODU, including 101 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries in a week three win vs. Virginia Tech. He ranked as Old Dominion’s highest-graded player in 2025, per PFF, while logging 20 or more snaps in six games and drew ten or more carries in four games in his lone season with the Monarchs.

Jones grades as a three-star and 89 overall by On3, ranked as the 15th-best running back in the transfer portal and 102nd-best overall among prospects who have already entered. He joins the program with one year of eligibility remaining.

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