Photographs courtesy University of Maryland Athletics
Coming off an 4-8 record and having its streak of three straight bowl games snapped, University of Maryland Football’s Coach Mike Locksley wanted stability at quarterback. Locksley gambled and handed the starting position to freshman Malik Washington instead of going with a veteran.
The 19-year-old Washington, an Archbishop Spalding graduate and Glen Burnie resident, is not just any rookie. ESPN named him the top freshman in the country in late-September. Washington has delivered, leading Maryland to tie last year’s win total in the first month of the season. He gives Locksley a player to build around and is now the face of the program.
“There is a calmness that you see about him,” Locksley says. “The demeanor that you see. He is a little bit older than his years. We are seeing what a very good quarterback could be here.”
In addition to Locksley, Washington raves about working with first-year offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who coached in the NFL for 15 seasons. “He has shown me a lot on how to be a pro,” Washington explains.
Washington possesses the skills coaches covet: He’s accurate, a great leader, has a cannon for an arm, can scramble for big chunks of yards, and shows outstanding poise under pressure. He earned a national ranking of the No. 5 quarterback in his class while at Spalding, and the 50th best prospect overall, according to 247 Sports. He led the Cavaliers to three consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships after throwing for more than 5,000 yards and a combined 46 touchdowns passing and running.
“Malik is on a trajectory to be one of the most impactful football players in county history,” Spalding Football Coach Kyle Schmitt says.
We recently talked to Washington about his strengths, Coach Locksley, why he picked Maryland, and much more.
Photographs courtesy University of Maryland Athletics
What does it mean for you to play so close to home? It means everything. Part of the reason I came here is to be close to home, have my friends and family come out and support me, and show me the love they have my whole life. It just gives me confidence and stability knowing that whatever happens on the field, my family will always be there to support me. Coach Locksley and I have had a great relationship for so long. That mattered. He understands and relates to me. Coach Locksley is a great mentor and male role model. I can talk to him about a lot of things, and not just football.
Do you mind being the face of Maryland football? From the outside looking in, people notice the quarterback because it is the most highlighted position on most teams. I just don’t think it’s me as the face of the team. I think it’s the team and what we are doing this year and what we are trying to accomplish. I think people are just starting to notice what we are doing.
Does being ranked among the best freshman quarterbacks in the country bring some added pressure? No. I think it’s been a slow buildup since really my sophomore year of high school with more media coming around each year wanting to talk. Being able to manage it and understand it, I can say no. I don’t have to do every interview, and whatever my time permits I will do.
How would you describe your game? I really like to push the ball down the field. We have so many great playmakers of offense. I try to distribute the ball as best as possible, but I can make plays with my legs. I think I have to use my running ability more when things aren’t available down the field. I just want to pick up some extra yards for the team.
What have you learned from offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, who coached in the NFL for 15 years? He has shown me how to attack the work that we must get done. That’s from long hours in the meeting room to extra time on the field. Those are the things that he has seen with the pro guys that he is able to pass onto me and what it is going to take to get there.
What are the differences between college and high school football? There are so many great players on both sides of the ball in college that you must out scheme opponents. In high school, there were games where you were better than your opponents and your team had better athletes. So, the scheme didn’t have to be as complex. But now, everybody is a good player.
You started immediately at Maryland. Why did you feel you were ready to do that? I think it’s the evolution of sports. Players have been getting better at younger ages. Being ready and more mature are part of the ways the game has evolved. In high school, we were preparing to play at the next level early. I think it’s all about who you have in your circle. You are preparing to go to college and play. In college, you are just not preparing for college opponents. You are preparing to go to that next level.
Can you talk about getting the marketing deal with Pepsi and Ledo Pizza. How instrumental has Maryland been playing a role in that? It’s been an amazing experience. They have done a great job helping me out and facilitating things. They have introduced me to some local brands. As long as I can remember, my mom and I used to eat Ledo all the time. And my great grandmother loves Pepsi. She drinks it all the time. They are brands that have had an impact in my life that I have been able to work with.
Your high school basketball coach, Josh Pratt, said he felt you had the talent to play the sport at Maryland. When did you decide to go with only football? Really [laughing]? I got more attention from colleges after my sophomore season. I thought I could take football pretty far. Basketball has always been a lot of fun for me, but I didn’t have the same love for it as football. I let it be known early that I was going to play football in college. I never really pursued college basketball [offers].
