Maryland had an uncharacteristically poor campaign in 2024, and its outlook for 2025 doesn’t look much better. Here’s an early look at what the Terrapins have been up to this offseason and what to expect when Michigan’s Week 13 matchup arrives:
After being the Big Ten’s perennial pesky program for the last couple seasons, Maryland had an uncharacteristically poor 2024 season by going 4-8. It was a big departure for the Terrapins, who never seem to be among the Big Ten’s elite teams but always boast a talented roster that’s good enough to make games difficult for premier opponents.
Entering 2025, the outlook doesn’t improve much and the seat for head coach Mike Locksley might be as warm as its ever been. Here’s a look at where things stand for the Terrapins right now and what fans could expect when Michigan’s Week 13 matchup rolls around.
The Basics
Game information: Saturday, Nov. 22 (Time TBD), SECU Stadium
2024 Record: 4-8
Projected 2025 win total: 4.5 (via FanDuel)
Last meeting: 2023, Michigan won 31-24
Roster moves
Notable draft losses: WR Tai Felton, WR Kaden Prather, DT Tommy Akingbesote, LB Reuben Hyppolite, S Dante Trader
Notable portal losses: QB Billy Edwards, QB M.J. Morris, QB Cameron Edge, RB Roman Hemby, TE Preston Howard, TE Dylan Wade, OT Terez Davis, Edge Kellan Wyatt, LB Caleb Wheatland, CB Perry Fisher, CB Kevis Thomas
Notable portal additions: QB Justyn Martin, WR Jalil Farooq, WR Jordan Scott, WR Kaleb Webb, OT Rahtrel Perry, TE Dorian Fleming, DT Cam Rice, DT Eyan Thomas, Edge D.D. Holmes, CB Dontay Joyner, CB Jamare Glasker
State of the Program
For the past several years, Maryland has been a part of Michigan’s schedule as a regular opponent in the Big Ten’s East. The Terrapins had been a consistently pesky opponent that — while maybe not as talented as some of the best teams in the conference — was always going to put up a fight. Fans might remember the 2023 matchup in College Park, where Michigan’s perfect season was nearly spoiled, or even the 2022 matchup in Ann Arbor where the Terrapins hung around for much of the game.
Furthermore, Maryland has always seemed to be a reservoir for some NFL talent, with guys like Chigoziem Okonkwo, Deonte Banks, D.J. Moore and others recently heading to the league.
Michigan didn’t see Maryland last year, but it wasn’t missing out on much as the Terrapins fell off considerably from where they’d been in previous years.
Heading into the year, Maryland looks much different than it has in past years. Mike Locksley is still the man in charge, but the last of a solid core of players from recent seasons. Guys like Tai Felton, Reuben Hyppolite, Dante Trader and Roman Hemby are now gone; the Terrapins have faced a pretty sizable talent drain over the last two seasons, so it may be an uphill battle in 2025.
Despite the losses, Maryland does have some exciting new pieces that fans should be on the lookout for. The headliner for Maryland — much like in Michigan’s case — is a highly-touted true freshman that will likely start at quarterback. We’re talking about Malik Washington, a dual-threat that was ranked as the No. 54 overall player in the country .
As for the rest of the offense, Washington (or incoming transfer quarterback Justyn Martin) will have a couple veteran options to throw the ball to. At receiver, the Terrapins brought in Jalil Farooq and Kaleb Webb, as well as tight end Dorian Fleming. Nolan Ray will likely step in as the starting running back after generating 374 yards in 2024.
On defense, Maryland will be relying on younger and more inexperienced players at all three levels, but it did bring in Cam Rice and Eyan Thomas to supplement the defensive line. Furthermore, Maryland made some talented additions to the secondary by bringing in Dontay Joyner and Jamare Glasker to start at both boundary corner spots.
Even after making some additions on both sides of the ball and bringing in a talented young quarterback, Maryland’s chances to be a factor in the Big Ten this year seem slim. Given the program’s downward trend since the end of 2023, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Locksley could be running the show. He’ll be working his hardest to keep the program from cratering.