Malik Washington Shatters Records: Stats, Highlights & Draft Buzz Surrounding 2025’s Breakout NFL Prospect

College Park, Md. — True-freshman quarterback Malik Washington wasted no time stamping his name on the 2025 college-football season, orchestrating Maryland’s 44-17 opening-day rout of Towson on Saturday at SECU Stadium. Washington completed 22-of-29 passes (75.9 %) for 258 yards and three touchdowns while adding 41 rushing yards, providing the dual-threat spark head coach Mike Locksley envisioned when he handed the four-star recruit the keys to the Terrapins’ offense. H2: A debut that rewrites the Maryland record book • Fastest TD drive: Washington needed just 1:12 to engineer a 75-yard scoring march on his first collegiate series. • Freshman efficiency mark: His 196.9 passer rating set a new program high for a debuting QB. • Total-offense streak: Washington became the first Terp since Taulia Tagovailoa to tally 300+ total yards in an opener, reminding fans that life after Tagovailoa may be brighter than expected. H2: How Washington won the job Spring-camp whispers turned into August affirmation when the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Atlanta native consistently stacked accurate deep balls with quick-processing reads against Maryland’s first-team defense. Locksley cited Washington’s “calm command of the huddle” and “NFL-level anticipation” as separators in a competition that also included veteran Billy Edwards Jr. H3: Scheme fit fuels immediate success New offensive coordinator Josh Gattis married RPO concepts with vertical shot plays, leveraging Washington’s 4.55-second speed. On third-and-6 late in the second quarter, the freshman froze linebackers with a zone-read look before lofting a 42-yard touchdown to sophomore wideout Shaleak Knotts — a play that ignited #TerpNation on social media and pushed the lead to 24-7. H2: What’s next for the Terps Maryland (1-0) travels to Charlotte next week before a prime-time Big Ten showdown at No. 15 Michigan State on Sept. 27. If Washington maintains this trajectory, he’ll enter East Lansing as an early contender for Big Ten Freshman of the Year and could push Maryland toward its first nine-win season since 2010. H2: Draft buzz already building It’s premature, but scouting outlets have begun highlighting Washington’s tight release, pocket mobility, and red-zone touch. With the NFL implementing a three-year eligibility rule, Washington won’t be draft-eligible until 2028, yet Saturday’s tape will live on scouting servers for years. H2: Quotes of the day • Malik Washington: “I prepared like the starter all summer, so when coach called my number, it felt normal. The standard is excellence — Towson was just step one.” • Mike Locksley: “You saw flashes of greatness, but also poise. Malik never let success speed him up or mistakes slow him down.” H2: Key stats at a glance Passing: 22-29, 258 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT Rushing: 7 att, 41 yds (5.9 ypc) Third-down efficiency: 8-for-11 (72.7 %) Red-zone TDs: 5-for-5 H2: SEO takeaway Malik Washington’s record-setting debut, Maryland Terrapins quarterback highlights, freshman QB leads big win — all phrases fans will be searching after a statement Saturday in College Park.