It took Malik Washington some time to get going in Maryland football’s season opener against Florida Atlantic. But once the freshman quarterback got into a rhythm, he looked every bit the player those inside Jones-Hill House have hyped him up to be.
Washington, who was officially declared the starter just hours before kickoff, was 24-of-34 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns in the second and third quarters after starting the game 3-of-9. His performance, paired with a strong 60 minutes by their defense, catapulted the Terps past the Owls, 39-7, Saturday at SECU Stadium.
It’s hard to understate how comfortable Washington looked in his first collegiate action. The former four-star Archbishop Spalding product was the first freshman to start at quarterback for Maryland in a season opener since 2012 and commanded the pocket, displayed incredible processing speed and rarely made a bad decision with the football.
It took him some time to find his footing. Washington rushed some throws early on, leading to uncatchable balls and punts on each of the Terps’ first three drives. A handful of drops didn’t help, either.
It wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that Maryland’s offense found the end zone. Shaleak Knotts snuck past the Owls’ defense down the right sideline and Washington hit him in stride for an easy 29-yard score.
The very next drive, Washington lobbed up another deep ball — this time to Tennessee transfer Kaleb Webb. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver boxed out his defender, jumped up and made an impressive snag for Washington’s second touchdown pass in as many drives.
The freshman’s third score came less than three minutes later, on a nine-yard scamper by Dorian Fleming out of the flat. That brought the score to 33-7, a lead Maryland brought into halftime.
Nine of those first-half points came courtesy of the defense, though. Defensive coordinator Ted Monachino deployed freshmen Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis as his starting defensive ends — both made their presences known early.
Mathis’ impact was felt first, both literally and physically. The Philadelphia native got into the backfield on first down and laid a big hit on quarterback Caden Veltkamp, whose pass floated harmlessly into the air. It landed right in the lap of linebacker Daniel Wingate, who took the interception back for the game’s first score with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Then, after a FAU touchdown pass and Maryland field goal made the score 10-7, Stewart blew past Owls right tackle Daughtry Richardson and brought down Veltkamp in the endzone for the Terps’ first forced safety since 2019.
Maryland’s defense, which features few returning contributors from 2024, showed out in Monachino’s first game leading the unit. FAU head coach Zach Kittley’s air-raid scheme failed to stretch the Terps’ secondary as it’s designed to do — Veltkamp averaged just 4.7 yards per attempt and threw four interceptions.
Wingate, Arkansas State transfer Dontay Joyner, Lavain Scruggs and La’khi Roland were the benefactors of those turnovers. Braydon Lee and Ricardo Cooper also brought in picks thrown by backup Zach Gibson in garbage time. Scruggs, Joyner and Wake Forest transfer Jamare Glasker each finished the game with two pass breakups.
Backup quarterbacks Khristian Martin and Justyn Martin split the Terps’ snaps under center in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand.
1. Maryland’s receiver room is deep. Washington spread the ball around willingly, and for good reason. Knotts, Webb, Jalil Farooq, Octavian Smith Jr. and tight end Dorian Fleming all showed the ability to make plays in the receiving game. All five had multiple catches, with Fleming leading the way with six.
Running backs Nolan Ray and DeJuan Williams combined for five receptions out of the backfield. Ryan Manning, Josiah McLaurin and tight end Leon Haughton Jr. also caught passes.
2. Sean O’Haire is as advertised. The Kildare, Ireland native was a perfect 12-of-12 on field goal attempts last season at Richmond; his first season playing American football at any level. He stayed perfect in his first game as a Terp, drilling all three of his field goals — the longest coming from 49 yards out — and all four extra points.
3. Fourth-quarter injuries. Freshman offensive lineman Jaylen Gilchrist, a four-star recruit, suffered a right leg injury in the fourth quarter after he came in for starting left guard Isaiah Wright in garbage time. He was carted off the field with his right leg in a cast.
Gilchrist is a key depth piece for a Maryland offensive line that doesn’t have much. He’s also a key piece of Maryland’s plans for the future. His injury status is one to pay close attention to.
Justyn Martin was banged up just one play after Gilchrist left the game. He walked off the field with trainers and did not return.
