Major college football programs around the country canceled their 2025 spring games due to roster uncertainty, competitive concerns or even construction. But coach Michael Locksley continued with Maryland football’s annual Red-White spring game on Saturday at SECU Stadium.

Locksley called the game a “showcase” — giving him the opportunity to see players perform live, albeit with some altered rules and a far from completed roster.

“I wanted to see us run, block, catch, tackle, throw and kick,” Locksley said. “I was pleased with what we did today.”

With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, Locksley said the main goal for the spring was simply installing the adjusted systems. The coach won’t see his full roster until after June 1, when the rest of the incoming freshmen get on campus and Maryland finishes adding players from the transfer portal.

“We’re a really young team going into June 1,” Locksley said. “As we always say, the portal giveth and it taketh.”
Locksley said rebuilding the team’s culture has been a focus this spring after he lost the locker room last year. He emphasized that players must take ownership of the locker room’s messaging, while his role is to set the vision.

The Terps’ coach is encouraged with how players have bought in so far, but noted that true team building will accelerate after the full roster arrives.

“I think we’ve gotten off to a good start because I think this team understands that what happened last year is a byproduct of the locker room,” Locksley said. “We all have our part to fix it, and we’ve set out to do just that.”

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Saturday’s spring game also offered the first look at quarterback Malik Washington in a Maryland uniform. While the former four-star recruit impressed, it was Khristian Martin who posted the best numbers.

The redshirt freshman earned MVP honors while completing 16 of 23 attempts for 269 yards and four touchdowns, all game highs.

“The guys around me [did] their job, and it allows me as a quarterback to settle in,” Martin said. “The offensive line doing their part, our wide receivers doing their part and being in the right spot catching the ball and that just makes my job easier.”

Martin redshirted last season after entering as a three-star prospect out of Virginia, according to 247Sports. Locksley noted the quarterback is steady and familiar with Maryland’s system with a year under his belt.

On their third play from scrimmage, Martin hit wide receiver Mekhai White for a 44-yard gain, and the two connected again moments later for a 15-yard touchdown — the first of two scores between them. White finished the day with four catches for 111 yards.

Despite the ongoing competition, Martin said the quarterbacks are “like brothers.”

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“I’m blessed to be with this group of guys and the competitive nature,” Martin said. “We’re there for each other. We’re helping each other grow, learning all together.”

While Martin received the majority of the snaps for the White team, Washington and redshirt junior Justyn Martin split time for the Red team.

Washington’s first drive came at the start of the second quarter. After missing his first pass and losing three yards on his next attempt, he rebounded by completing his next three throws and adding a 13-yard run, capping the series with a short touchdown pass to senior receiver Octavian Smith Jr.

The freshman completed 12 of 18 attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns, with his longest score being a 26-yard strike to tight end Leon Haughton Jr. Washington earned the Scott Milanovich Most Improved Freshman Award after the game.

 



“The work that we all put in the off season allowed us to come out here and put the product on the field,” Washington said. “I trusted everybody, because we all been working so hard since we’ve been here.”

Justyn Martin tossed the fewest of the three quarterbacks, completing six of 14 pass attempts. Locksley noted that the redshirt junior is still adjusting to the new system after transferring from UCLA.

But the coach was also impressed with Washington’s ability to manage an offense despite his youth.

“I love the way that all of those guys have progressed this spring,” Locksley said. “It really gives me hope that the room will be good enough to give us chances to win.”