Six months ago, Dante Trader Jr. sat in front of reporters after Maryland football’s 21-point loss to Oregon and said he was surprised by the Terps’ spotty record given their talent. 

Trader was right — Maryland had plenty of high-level players last season but still went just 1-8 in Big Ten play.

Six Terps were selected in the NFL draft last weekend, the most the program has had since 1986. 

Since coach Michael Locksley arrived in 2019, 22 Terps have been drafted — including 13 in the past three years.

While the weekend showcased the talent Locksley has gathered at Maryland, it also served as another indictment of last season’s failures. Despite having six draft picks, including four defenders, the Terps finished 4-8 overall.

There’s been an average of a little more than one draftee from each of the Big Ten’s bottom three teams since 2021. No team exceeded five selections. 

Only 10 schools finished with more draft picks than the Terps, and just three Big Ten teams.  The NFL talent on Maryland last season was not representative of its conference record. 

Trader, Tai Felton, Ruben Hyppolite, Jordan Phillips, Kaden Prather and Tommy Akingbesote were all drafted. 

[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Maryland women’s lacrosse collapses in Big Ten championship]

“[Felton set the] all-time receptions record at Maryland, where they’ve had a few guys, they’ve been pretty darn good at Maryland,” Vikings senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson said.

Locksley’s produced NFL talent since he became coach. During former coach Ralph Friedgen’s 10 seasons at Maryland, 27 players were selected — only five more than Locksley in four more seasons. 

“[Locksley] does a great job there finding players. And Maryland kids end up playing in this league and are good football players. He finds those guys that love ball. They’re tough, competitive,” Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said after the draft.

Even players like Glendon Miller, Josh Kaltenberger, Donnell Brown and Quashon Fuller weren’t selected but either signed undrafted free agent deals or are expected to be invited to a rookie minicamp. 

With that much skill, it remains surprising that the Terps’ defense finished second-to-last in the Big Ten in points allowed. But there are other elements to winning — Locksley said last season was the first time in his coaching career he “lost [the] locker room”.  

[Malik Washington, a surprise QB steal the show at Maryland football’s spring game]

Now, the Terps enter the 2025 season without a projected draft pick on the roster. But while the NFL draft was ongoing, a freshman quarterback provided glimpses of a potentially strong future.

Analyzing Malik Washington’s spring game showing

A different quarterback, Khristian Martin, won the spring game most valuable player, but it was Washington’s performance that garnered the most attention.

The freshman completed more than 66 percent of his passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns and earned the Scott Milanovich Most Improved Freshman Award after the game.

Washington’s strong arm talent was noticeable. Nearly every pass he threw had significant velocity, and he threw multiple fastballs down the seam for completions. He also showed nice touch on a 44-yard completion to Mekhai White down the left sideline.

But he also made almost exclusively one read throws, often throwing to his first option in the passing progression. Washington is a freshman quarterback, with limited collegiate practice experience, so it makes sense for Maryland to gradually increase its offensive complexity.

One of his best throws was a simple in-breaking route over the middle of the field to Ryan Manning. Washington looked off his first read, reset his feet in the pocket and fired a strike to the wide receiver over the middle.

It was the type of throw he’ll need to make to thrive in the Big Ten. If the spring game is an indicator, that could come earlier than expected.