Maryland football enters the 2026 season with one clear constant: Malik Washington is the player everything seems to run through. Testudo Times published its predictions before the opener, and the message was hard to miss — the Terps have talent, but their offense still leans heavily on a quarterback who already proved he can carry a huge load.
That matters because Maryland’s wide receiver group remains unproven at the Big Ten level, while the ground game was one of the conference’s worst last season. In that kind of setup, the pressure naturally falls on the quarterback, the tight end and the few proven skill players around them.
Washington is the offensive reference point
Washington’s freshman season set the tone for everything that follows. He shattered Maryland’s previous freshman completion and passing yards marks in 2025, and his importance only grew from there. By the season finale at Michigan State, he had accounted for more than 89% of Maryland’s total offense.
That is not just a strong season; it is a warning sign and a compliment at the same time. Maryland can build around him because he has already shown he can extend plays and keep drives alive. But when one player is responsible for that much of the attack, the margin for error elsewhere becomes very small.
Fleming and Williams need to take pressure off
Dorian Fleming and DeJuan Williams are the two other names that stand out in Maryland’s offensive picture. Fleming finished 2025 with 40 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams produced 927 total yards, including 426 receiving yards and 45 receptions.
Those numbers show why both matter. Fleming gives Maryland a proven target, and the expectation is that offensive coordinator Clint Trickett will scheme him farther away from the line of scrimmage. Williams, meanwhile, brings the kind of production that can help a passing game breathe a little easier.
The problem is that Maryland still needs those numbers to translate into more consistent Big Ten production. Until the Terps show they can threaten defenses beyond Washington, the offense will continue to be defined by how much he can do on his own.
The bigger question for Maryland Football
Testudo Times’ preseason predictions arrive at a useful moment because they frame the season exactly where the Terps are most vulnerable. The offense has a star quarterback, but it does not yet have a fully proven supporting cast.
That is why Maryland football begins the year with so much attention on Washington, Fleming and Williams. If those three can carry the load together, the Terps have a chance to be far more dangerous than last season. If not, the same old issues at receiver and in the run game could quickly define the season again.
