Maryland Football Building Off Recruiting Class, Returning QB, Coach

With Maryland quarterback Malik Washington saying, “This is home,” and pledging his return to College Park next season just days after the Terps signed their 2026 recruiting class, Head Coach Mike Locksley and his staff have a good idea of the direction their team is heading and how next year’s roster is shaping up.

Athletic Director Jim Smith pledged a commitment to Locksley in early December, cementing the head coach’s place in College Park for at least one more season. Locksley rewarded the University by being arguably one of the early signing period’s biggest winners after he flipped five commitments during the early signing period (six flips total in the class), as well as sealed the deal with local five-star EDGE Zion Elee.

The Flips

Locksley’s sprint to the signing day finish line was not only impressive because of the caliber of players he hauled in, but also because of where some of these players were previously committed.

Safety Darrell Carey was formerly a Penn State pledge, but was part of the mass exodus from State College after the departure of Head Coach James Franklin. College Park provides him with a nice landing spot close to home. But he wasn’t the only recruit committed to a fellow Big Ten team that Locksley poached. IMG Academy (FL) three-star Defensive Lineman Cam Brickle announced his flip from Ohio State to Maryland shortly after visiting campus for the Terps’ home finale against Michigan. Three-star quarterback Nathan Bernhard announced that he would be flipping from Appalachian State to Maryland the next day. So far, Bernhard is the lone QB in this year’s class, adding some needed depth to the position.

The Michigan game proved to be crucial for Locksley’s recruiting efforts, as local (Spalding) Defensive Back Sean Johnson also used it as a catalyst to reconnect with the Terps coaching staff and solidify his decision. Previously committed to Florida State, Johnson decided to stay closer to home and flip to Maryland — first verbally on Nov. 24 and then officially on Signing Day.

Getting the signing day flips started early that morning was Wide Receiver Josiah Teasley, who changed his pledge from Virginia to Maryland. He will join fellow wide receiver and St. James (VA) teammate Jayden Kitchens in the Terps’ 2026 recruiting class. Teasley also mentioned to various sources that his official visit during the Michigan game solidified his intention to flip.

Signing Day’s fifth and final flip was Trotwood-Madison (OH) Defensive Lineman Jamarcus Whyce, who happens to be the older brother of 2028 five-star recruit Jameer Whyce. However, unlike the aforementioned flips, Whyce was not present at the Michigan game. He took his official visit to College Park in June and maintained a close relationship with the Maryland coaching staff throughout his recruitment while being verbally committed to Purdue.

The Rest of the Class

With a total of 16 high school players signed to Maryland on early national signing day, the class can be considered small but mighty. Ranked 42nd nationally, mostly because of the smaller class size, Maryland’s recruiting class still brought in a strong crop of talent.

The clear gem is Elee, who supplanted Stefon Diggs as the highest-rated player to ever sign with the Terps. But four-stars Kaden Carter, Day’jon Moore and Whyce add some flair to the class, while Johnson, Bernhard, Carey, tight ends Javonte Williams and Damon Hall Jr., as well as defensive backs Hakim Satterwhite and Zahir Cobb all rank in the top 60 nationally at their positions.

The small class also opens up the possibility for more transfer portal additions. The Terps can conceivably add 10-15 more players to the class via the portal, which officially opens on January 2, 2026.

Who’s Next?

While the early signing period provided Maryland with a decent start, there are still glaring needs at certain positions.

Offensive line, defensive back, and wide receiver are still priorities for the Terps. Locksley and his staff will surely scour conferences such as the AAC, CUSA, MAC, and the Mountain West for talented players looking to take a step up in competition/national spotlight. Locksley also has a knack for maintaining relationships with top DMV recruits who went elsewhere. Don’t be surprised if a few who fit that mold make their way back to their old stomping grounds and find a home in College Park. And then there’s always the Blue Blood backups searching for more playing time. Who’s unhappy at schools like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, especially with turmoil occurring at the latter two schools?

Here are some names to keep an eye on:

DeAndre Moore Jr. – WR
One of the highest-rated wideouts in the transfer portal, Moore could go from being productive in the SEC (500+ receiving yards and 7 TDs) to thriving in a WR corps that needs experience and playmaking ability.

Elijah Moore – WR
A Good Counsel (Olney, MD) grad and former Florida State Seminole is in the portal and could bring his 6-foot-4, 204-pound frame back home to immediately be an alpha dog in the Maryland WR corps.

Tank Hawkins – WR
Previously committed to Florida after taking a close look at Penn State, Hawkins may want to revert back to the Big Ten and join a few IMG teammates in College Park. At 5-9, 178-pounds, he could address Maryland’s need in the slot.

Christian Richter – OL
A Baltimore native, Richter will be leaving Marshall to find a new home. His 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame would be a welcomed addition to Maryland’s stock of offensive tackles.

Anwar O’Neal – OL
Hailing from Middletown, DE, O’Neal enrolled in the University of Delaware after high school. This could mean he prefers to stay relatively close to home, and College Park could check that box. Massive frame at 6-foot-5, 309 pounds.

Ja’Son Prevard – CB
At great size for a CB (6-2, 199 pounds), Prevard is originally from New Jersey but initially enrolled at Morgan State before transferring to Virginia. He clearly favors the Mid-Atlantic. Perhaps he’ll favor the Big Ten now as an upgrade over the his stop in the ACC.

Elliott Washington II – CB
A Penn State transfer from Venice, FL, Washington decommitted from Alabama to join the Nittany Lions 2023 recruiting class. He has pro potential if he can land in a place that will get him on the field consistently.

Bo Mascoe & Renick Dorilas – CB
Both Mascoe and Dorilas are transferring from Rutgers and if either or both would like to stay in the Big Ten and/or relatively close to the Northeast, Maryland might be on their radar. Mascoe is originally from Florida so he might opt to return to the South, but Dorilas hails from New Jersey and could be looking to stay in the conference but not too far from since he decided to stay close to home in the first place