Questions For Terps Football As The 2025 Season Nears

Heading into what appears to be a pivotal rebuilding year for Maryland football, we can’t help but contemplate several looming questions about this year’s squad. With the season approaching, we’ve highlighted some key storylines, expectations for this year, and what the Terps must do to meet those expectations.

Big Ten Ranking

Regarding preseason Big Ten rankings, Maryland lands near the bottom of most lists. Thanks to massive roster turnover, uncertainty at key positions, and several new coaches on the staff, many believe this season could be tough sledding for the Terps.

In his seventh season at the helm in College Park, head coach Mike Locksley has brought in two new coordinators — Pep Hamilton on the offensive side of the ball, and Ted Monachino to lead the defense. Both bring NFL pedigree and fresh schemes to Maryland, but it makes sense for analysts to temper their expectations until we see how the pieces come together.

A few of the following storylines also help explain the consensus “wait-and-see approach” to Maryland football this year.

Key Storylines & Questions

1. QB Battle

This appears to be coming down to a competition between true freshman Malik Washington and UCLA transfer Justytn Martin. Martin earned MVP honors at the Spring Game, but Washington has been turning heads since his arrival on campus. The blue-chip recruit had a strong spring and is clearly Maryland’s signal caller of the future. The question is whether that future will start Week 1 against Florida Atlantic or if they’ll bring the frosh along gradually. Martin is making a strong case for himself, too. He has limited college experience, but still more than Washington, which could give him a slight edge. Depending on where you read or listen, some outlets favor Martin in this QB battle while others sense Washington will win out.

2. Turnover in the trenches

Maryland was hit hard in the transfer portal this season, and nowhere felt it more than the trenches. Eleven of the total 51 offseason departures were from the offensive line room (nine through the transfer portal). And while the quantity wasn’t as high in terms of departures on the defensive line, the quality that was lost makes for equivalent challenges. Jordan Phillips, Tommy Akingbesote, Quashon Fuller, and Taisze Johnson were all significant contributors last season and are no longer in College Park. It remains to be seen who will fill these voids on the defensive line. Of the two, the offensive line is likely of greater concern because it will be blocking for both an inexperienced quarterback and an inexperienced running back, regardless of how the depth chart shakes out.

3. Fresh talent at WR

Maryland has had a lot of talented pass catchers come through campus in recent years. This year’s crop has plenty of upside, but just as much uncertainty. The Terps have several wide receivers returning from last season, but the name on everyone’s mind is Oklahoma transfer Jalil Farooq. A former four-star recruit, Farooq was a Big 12 honorable mention in 2023 and has what it takes to become this team’s go-to guy. Shaleak Knotts, Kaleb Webb, Zymear Smith, and Octavian Smith have four-star pedigrees, too. This has the potential to be a deep and talented receiving corps.

4. Monachino has his work cut out for him

Besides the offensive line, the defense as a whole — particularly the secondary — suffered the most attrition in the offseason. Maryland’s defensive backs were not very good last year so it could end up being addition by subtraction, but 11 departures (eight through the transfer portal) is still a lot for any team to overcome. Matched with a defensive line with virtually no experience and an inconsistent linebacker unit, Monachino has a tall task on his hands. We’ll find out quickly if more than 15 years of coaching experience in the NFL can mask some of the growing pains this side of the ball is bound to have this season.

5. Locksley on the hot seat?

After a 4-8 season and a roster exodus, Locksley is running out of lifelines in College Park. It’s easy to make excuses for another down year when there is so much change occurring, but it feels like Maryland is closer to where it started when Locksley arrived than it is to the level Locks, the Athletic Department, and fans envisioned. If Locksley can’t get this team to a bowl for a second consecutive year, the conversation about his future in College Park has to be had.

Reasonable expectations

Most outlets project Maryland to have around a 4-8 season. A tough schedule and many question marks make that a fair assessment. However, some believe the Terps can sneak into a 6-6, bowl-eligible record if the talent comes together sooner rather than later. A winning season or an 8-4 record seems a bit too lofty for this bunch. But if Washington is a phenom and clicks right away, who knows what could happen? It would seem that Maryland scoring a ton of points would be its best way to win games this year, as the defense lacks firepower.

How do they get there?

The good news for the Terps is that the season begins with a favorable schedule: FAU, Northern Illinois, and Towson all offer opportunities to build early momentum. Another aspect that favors Maryland is its home Big Ten schedule, which doesn’t include Ohio State, Oregon, or Penn State. While playing those teams on the road won’t be fun, let’s get the more middling teams in College Park and see if the Terps can sneak out a few more wins that way.

If Locksley & Co. can identify their quarterback early, that player meshes well with Hamilton’s offense, and the offensive line progresses quickly, it will all go a long way in this team’s success. If the defense can rally behind the doubt and play fundamentally sound, solid defense that doesn’t shoot itself in the foot with penalties and big plays allowed, Maryland could find itself in more games this year than many anticipate.

And, as always, health is key. If the key transfers and young contributors can all stay healthy for most of the season, you’ll have a team that can surpass expectations.

This is a foundational season for Maryland. It’s about transitioning from the post‑Locksley rebuild into a more competitive team. If the quarterback situation stabilizes, key transfers like Farooq perform, and both OL and D‑line show signs of life, a bowl invite becomes plausible. Anything beyond that sets the stage for bigger expectations in 2026–27.