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COLLEGE PARK — Mike Locksley, entering his eighth year as Maryland football coach, has strictly prohibited freshmen from speaking to the media. But Malik Washington has reset expectations everywhere he’s gone.
The first-year quarterback, who graduated from Spalding early to join the Terps this spring, was trotted out by the team after a Tuesday evening practice to a swarm of reporters taking advantage of this first-of-its-kind opportunity. Most college football programs have no such rules about limiting freshmen’s public appearances. Locksley, who adapted the policy from his former superior Nick Saban, was old school in that way in an evolving landscape in which tradition is getting left behind. This is the latest to be discarded.
Washington has a legitimate path to win Maryland’s starting quarterback job this spring and summer. Meanwhile, the Terps haven’t shied away from amplifying the excitement around their prospect. His Tuesday appearance proved he won’t be treated like an average first-year player — because they don’t view him as one.
“He’s shown some maturity that you don’t see,” Locksley said. “He’s different from the typical freshman.”
Why did Locksley change that policy now?
“To give you a glimpse,” he said. “I know our fans want to see it, and this is part of me changing and evolving. It’s an opportunity for me to open a door for you guys to see a small snapshot of what Malik Washington can be.”
The quarterback faces immense pressure, as much as he or his coach might try to downplay it, as the face of both the Terps’ present and future. He doesn’t look or speak like most 19-year-olds, whether that’s calmly leading an offense during practice or handling stiff questions with ease.
The seven quarterbacks listed on the Terps’ spring roster have a combined zero college…
Source link : https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/08/maryland-football-leans-into-malik-washington-hype/
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Publish date : 2025-04-09 01:16:00
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