Maryland football recruits Malik Washington, Zion Elee make statements on and off field at UA All-America game
Malik Washington offered a glimpse of Maryland football's future on Thursday in Deland, Fla., at the Under Armour Next All-America Game. And he wasn't the only recruit of note for Maryland.
Malik Washington played his final game as a high schooler on Thursday in Deland, Fla. Washington in the Under Armour Next All-America Game. The prized quarterback signee completed 9 of 19 passes for 143 yards, one touchdown and an interception in his final high school game before enrolling at Maryland this month.
Washington, the No. 5 quarterback prospect in the country, started for Team Unstoppable, which lost to Team Icon, 31-19 in the showcase event.
His first drive was uneventful, ending in a sack. On the second possession, he snapped a quick slant to IMG Academy (Fla.) blue-chipper Donovan Olugbode for a big gain. Moments later, he decided to pull the ball on an RPO, backtracked with a pass rusher in his face and lobbed a 28-yard touchdown pass to 2026 Jacksonville receiver Naeem Burroughs.
"If you're a Maryland fan, after spending this week with him, I'll tell you what: you've got a lot of reason to be excited. Not only with the physical ability. Very good with his feet as well," Craig Haubert said during the game's broadcast on ESPN2. "But maybe most impressively and something that gets lost in the evaluation process just watching film, how well do you process information? And the coaches on the Unstoppables' staff said everything they threw at him, he quickly was able to process and relay on the field.
"Really, if you want to be a young player trying to get on the field, that may be the most important facet."
He wasn't Maryland's only commit playing in the game. It also featured Baltimore star Zion Elee, the No. 2 player in the 2026 class nationally. The Terps' recent five-star addition showed off his athleticism by blurring past his blocker a second-quarter pass rush that led to a sack.
"If you're a Maryland fan you got to be excited because this drive starts with the play on defense from a Maryland commit. Now Malik Washington out there, running the offense ... Local players staying home," Haubert said. "Big DMV win there for the Terps. You need to keep players like him."
"Zion Elee, the 2026 committed to Maryland -- that first step off the edge. Man," Tom Lugenbill said.
Late in the game, Washington overthrew a deep ball into triple-coverage for an interception.
The Archbishop Spalding (Md.) senior was there to do more than play. The game included a bunch of uncommitted juniors, including five-star Georgetown Prep (Md.) offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho, who recently visited Maryland. So Washington was recruiting all week.
"I am going to be on it this weekend. I am going to try and get everybody I can, to come play," he told 247Sports' Brian Dohn this week. "You hear about all these programs that are great, that have been great for so many years. Why not be a part of the program that makes it great?
Maryland's other big-name commit at the event, five-star 2026 defensive end Elee, also made encouraging comments for Maryland when asked about his recruitment.
"It's been crazier than it was before with a bunch of (schools) trying to get in contact with me, but I am not responding," he said. "I am at where I am at. I haven't responded to any of the coaches."
