Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. enters transfer portal, possibly kickstarting the Malik Washington era​

Could the Malik Washington era be here sooner than expected? After Billy Edwards' decision to enter the portal, it's a real possibility.​

The Malik Washington era of Maryland football could start sooner than expected. Starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is entering the transfer portal, potentially clearing the way for the prized incoming freshman to win the job next fall.

Edwards' decision, reported earlier by InsideMDSports, comes as no surprise. Sources close to the redshirt junior from Northern Virginia have maintained since the season ended that he could depart depending on the market for his services.

In his first year as a starter, Edwards finished third in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,881), but those yards resulted from more attempts than any quarterback in the conference, because the Terps were often trailing and lacked a running game. Teams in need of a quarterback view him as a valuable commodity, overlooking some of his flaws because he played behind a porous offensive line, taking his share of hits and playing through pain.

"He was the toughest quarterback we played," one Big Ten coach said.

Barring an unlikely return, Edwards' decision means Washington could be the man earlier than expected. The initial expectation was for an open competition in the spring, with Edwards likely starting and Washington serving as an apprentice, getting significant in-game reps behind Edwards and preparing to be the face of the offense in his second season.

"[I'm] super excited. Billy's a really, really smart kid and I'm really excited to learn from him," Washington said last week. "He has a lot of experience under his belt, so I'll be asking questions about how he deals with certain things, not even really just on the field, but off the field stuff too, that he's had to go through with his past season."

Now, the nation's No. 5 quarterback will have a better chance to start immediately, though MJ Morris could return and it seems likely Locksley will pursue another quarterback in the portal.

Edwards arrived at Maryland three years ago after transferring from Wake Forest, backing up Taulia Tagovailoa for two years as Tagovailoa became the Big Ten's all-time passing leader. Viewed as more of a runner than a thrower, as illustrated when Locksley brought him in for three short-yardage touchdowns in one game last season against eventual national champion Michigan, he showed his ability to move the ball through the air this season, when he threw for at least 280 yards in half of Maryland's 12 games. But the Terps had one of their worst seasons in recent years, finishing 4-8 overall and 1-8 in Big Ten play, and Edwards ranked 68th nationally in quarterback rating.

Washington, the No. 50 player in the 247Sports 2025 recruiting rankings, is the highest-rated quarterback Maryland has signed in the modern era. He picked the Terps over offers from programs like Oregon, Texas A&M and Penn State.

"Whenever I talked to coach Locks, it wasn't really a recruiting pitch ... It was a genuine conversation we were having. Some other places, it kind of felt like they were shooting me their spiel and being cautious and not really answering my questions and just going off of whatever they had mapped out," he said after committing to Maryland in June.

"Coach always kept it real with me and what he thought I could do, and how he believed in my ability."

Washington will soon graduate from Archbishop Spalding (Md.), which he led to a 12-0 mark and the No. 11 spot in MaxPreps' national rankings and will enroll at Maryland for the second semester. It's a head start on getting ready for his college career, especially valuable now that Edwards is gone.

Despite baseless speculation otherwise, Washington never considered entertaining any other schools after committing to Maryland.

"He never once wavered, man. And to me, this kid, the sky is the limit for his talent level. He expects to come in the mail room and work his way up. He doesn't want it any other way. He wants to come in and learn and be a sponge," Locksley said last week.

"He's a special kid, man. And I'm really excited to have a chance to coach him."

Maryland Football Scoop: Transfers, Five-Star Coming to Town | QB Shopping | Who Else Could Depart?​

The lid blew off of the transfer portal situation at Maryland on Thursday with the news that Billy Edwards Jr. will transfer. What's next with the Terps' other big names? Which transfers and blue-chip high school recruits are coming to campus? Here's the scoop.​

The lid blew off of the transfer portal situation at Maryland on Thursday with the news that Billy Edwards Jr. will transfer. What's next with the Terps' other big names? Who might be coming, and which big names are on campus today. Here's the latest scoop.


First, on the quarterback situation: Mike Locksley had a list of quarterbacks to pursue going into this, knowing Edwards could leave. It's also apparent Michigan has been eyeing him since well before he entered the portal. But they're keeping a close lid on those options, as they are with much of their portal activity to keep other programs from knowing who they're targeting. Coaches everywhere are also concerned about their current players knowing who's visiting and how much money is on the table. This whole new marketplace is like a spy game.

I expect Locksley to take one quarterback from the portal, likely a veteran capable of starting and upgrading the position in the event Malik Washington isn't able to start as a true freshman, which very few true freshmen are capable of. Dylan Raiola, for example, was the No. 1 recruit in the country and finished with 12 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions this season. Washington will have a chance, but Maryland needs a capable veteran.

I don't believe they'll pursue Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren. The Baltimore native showed some things as a true freshman, but he's only a year ahead of Washington, so there's too much overlap. As reported earlier, they also like the potential of freshman Khristian Martin, a big kid with a big arm, but as we've seen with others like Cam Edge, that potential only provides a possibility he could become the guy.

In terms of the transfer targets we know about, I think NIU transfer Amariyun Knighten is at or near the top of the priority list. He's a popular prospect, but Maryland desperately needs a couple of starter-quality corners and views him as one. He'll visit next weekend. Maryland is also expected to host former Akron tackle Jayvin James (interview here). Another defensive back likely visiting: Arkansas State safety Dontay Joyner, a Florida native who posted 50 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions this season.

Newly committed five-star Zion Elee is on campus today. In speaking with a source close to Elee, it was apparent he gave the Terps this commitment some time ago but was keeping it under wraps. His announcement was unexpected, but I don't think they were in a position to scold the nation's No. 2 player for letting the cat out of the bag abruptly. They did the same with Washington, who was silently committed for a while before he announced.

Elee is focused on fellow five-star Immanuel Iheanacho, the nation's No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 5 player overall in 2026 with him. Iheanacho just released a top 16, which could indicate he's a way from deciding, but you never know these days. As we discussed on IMS Radio, Maryland football having two top five national commitments would be uncharted territory. Iheanacho is expected to visit today, and he's not the only blue-chip underclassmen expected to be on campus. So will Myles McAfee, Washington's former teammate at Spalding. McAfee is the No. 51 player and No. 8 receiver in the 2027 class and the top-ranked sophomore in Maryland.

"Maryland's getting the best quarterback in the nation," McAfee told IMS in the fall. "Maryland is a great place. They seem authentic and they want to keep getting better, That's the biggest thing ... Me and coach Locks are really cool. He's serious, but he likes to joke sometimes too."

I'm keeping close tabs on Roman Hemby and Preston Howard. The roster seems to have enough running back talent to absorb a Hemby departure if he goes, though it's possible they could see the need for one depth guy if he leaves. At tight end, they have two transfers scheduled to visit: Iowa's Grant Leeper on Dec. 17 and Purdue's Tayvion the following day (more here). Blocking was not a strength at that position this year, contributing to the offensive line's struggles, and it's a priority to improve that.

Which position is Maryland not actively shopping? Linebacker. That's viewed as the most talent-laden position, with standouts Caleb Wheatland and Kellan Wyatt returning along with physical specimens Daniel Wingate and Michael Harris, a pair of second-year players who look like future stars. If I had to name one guy in the program who isn't a household name but is most likely to become one, it would be Wingate. He's 6-4, 231 pounds and super-physical and explosive.

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