Maryland Football 2026 Offseason Breakdown: Who Left, Who Stayed, and the New Faces Looking to Turn Around the Terps
Maryland Football 2026 Offseason Breakdown: Who Left, Who Stayed, and the New Faces Looking to Turn Around the Terps
Maryland Football Faces Major Roster Turnover Entering 2026
The Maryland Terrapins enter the 2026 season with one of the most transformed rosters in the Big Ten.
After a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2025, head coach Mike Locksley attacked the offseason through the transfer portal while working to retain several cornerstone players. The result is a roster that features new faces at nearly every position group and a renewed sense of urgency heading into the fall.
While Maryland lost a significant number of players to graduation, the NFL Draft process, and the transfer portal, the Terps also landed one of their largest transfer classes in recent years. The overhaul reflects the reality of modern college football, where roster retention and portal recruiting have become just as important as traditional recruiting.
Key Players Returning for Maryland
The biggest victory of the offseason may have been keeping quarterback Malik Washington in College Park.
Washington emerged as the face of the offense in 2025 and provides stability at the most important position on the field. Maryland’s hopes of returning to bowl eligibility largely rest on his continued development and ability to elevate a revamped supporting cast.
Another major returnee is defensive end Zahir Mathis.
Mathis became one of the breakout young defenders in the Big Ten last season and earned Freshman All-American recognition. His return gives Maryland a potential star pass rusher around whom the defense can build.
Linebacker Daniel Wingate also returns after earning preseason First-Team All-Big Ten recognition. Wingate provides leadership and production in the middle of the defense and will be counted on heavily as Maryland integrates several newcomers into the front seven.
Defensive back Sidney Steward remains another important piece of the secondary and gives Maryland experience in a unit that saw significant turnover during the offseason.
Notable Transfer Portal Departures
Like many Power Four programs, Maryland experienced heavy transfer portal losses.
Among the most notable departures:
- Running back Nolan Ray
- Wide receiver Josiah McLaurin
- Wide receiver Jahmari Powell-Wonson
- Tight end Leon Haughton Jr.
- Offensive lineman Aliou Bah
- Defensive lineman Sedrick Smith
- Defensive lineman Dimitry Nicolas
- Defensive lineman Dillan Fontus
- Linebacker Neeo Avery
- Defensive back Kevyn Humes
- Linebacker Michael Harris
Several of these players were projected contributors entering the season, creating holes across both sides of the ball. The offensive line and defensive front were particularly impacted by portal movement.
More recently, quarterback Devin Kargman and linebacker Keyshawn Flowers also departed the program as Locksley continued reshaping the roster through late portal additions.
NFL Draft and Graduation Losses
Maryland also saw several veteran contributors exhaust their eligibility and move on from the program.
While the Terps did not have the star-studded draft class of some recent seasons, the graduation of veteran leaders leaves Maryland relying on younger players and transfer additions to fill important leadership roles.
Replacing experience will be one of the biggest challenges facing Locksley this fall.
Biggest Portal Additions
Preston Howard Returns Home
The most popular addition among Maryland fans may be the return of tight end Preston Howard.
Howard originally began his career at Maryland before transferring to Auburn. After one season in the SEC, the Maryland native decided to return home and immediately becomes one of the offense’s most important weapons.
Howard brings experience, athleticism and familiarity with the program. His return gives Washington a reliable target in the passing game and helps stabilize the tight end room.
Cardell Williams Adds Quarterback Depth
Maryland added Sacramento State transfer Cardell Williams to strengthen quarterback depth.
While Washington remains the expected starter, Williams provides valuable experience and competition in the quarterback room. The addition was significant enough that it contributed to other quarterbacks leaving the roster.
Jayvon Parker Reinforces the Defensive Line
The Terps landed former Washington defensive lineman Jayvon Parker to address one of the roster’s biggest needs.
At 330 pounds, Parker brings size, experience and physicality to the interior defensive line. Maryland desperately needed reinforcements after losing multiple defensive linemen to the portal, and Parker should compete for immediate playing time.
Armon Parker Brings More Defensive Front Help
Another important addition is former Washington defensive lineman Armon Parker.
The Terps targeted defensive line help aggressively during the portal cycle, and Parker adds additional depth and experience to a position group that underwent major changes.
Chris Durr Jr. Adds Speed at Receiver
Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. arrives looking to replace some of the production lost through portal departures.
Maryland needed additional playmakers on the perimeter, and Durr gives the offense another weapon capable of stretching defenses vertically.
Terrez Worthy Bolsters the Backfield
Former Parkside High School standout Terrez Worthy returns to Maryland and could become one of the more impactful offensive additions.
The Salisbury native brings explosiveness and versatility to a running back room looking for new contributors after several departures.
Did Maryland Get Better?
That is the million-dollar question.
On paper, Maryland lost a substantial amount of depth. More than two dozen scholarship players either transferred or exhausted their eligibility. Replacing that experience will not be easy.
However, the Terps also addressed several glaring weaknesses through the portal.
Locksley added help on both lines of scrimmage, upgraded depth at quarterback, brought back a proven tight end in Preston Howard, and retained several foundational players led by Malik Washington and Zahir Mathis.
The ceiling of the 2026 season will depend on whether the newcomers can quickly develop chemistry and whether Maryland’s returning stars can take another step forward.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Maryland football roster will look dramatically different when the Terps take the field this fall.
Gone are many of the players who defined the past several seasons. In their place is a transfer-heavy roster built around returning leaders such as Malik Washington, Daniel Wingate and Zahir Mathis.
If the portal additions perform as expected, Maryland has enough talent to return to bowl contention. If the new pieces struggle to mesh, another difficult season could be ahead.
Either way, this may be the most important roster overhaul of the Mike Locksley era.
