Maryland football gives freshmen a chance to star: ‘Put them on the field’

COLLEGE PARK Perhaps in a moment of euphoria after recording a sack and safety in Maryland footballs 39-7 romp over Florida Atlantic on Aug.

30, freshman defensive end Sidney Stewart was blissfully honest when asked if he and his classmates felt any pressure to shine in their college debuts.Not at all because were almost so young that we dont even know what to feel, he said with a smile.

We dont even get the chance to be nervous because we dont even know what to expect.

We honestly just go out there and play, and it just ends up being a good thing.If 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese horoscope, it might also be described as the Year of the Freshmen for the Terps (2-0), who welcome Towson (2-0) to SECU Stadium on Saturday for a noon kickoff.True freshmen have made an immediate impact for Maryland.

Starting quarterback Malik Washington, a Glen Burnie native and Spalding graduate, ranks fourth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (256) and is tied for sixth in touchdown passes (five).Stewart, a starting defensive end, is tied for second in the conference in sacks (two) and owns sole possession of second place in tackles for loss (four).

Zahir Mathis, another starting defensive end, is tied for 11th in sacks (1 1/2) and has five tackles.Defensive backs Messiah Delhomme (10 tackles) and Jayden Shipps (one sack and three tackles), linebacker Carlton Smith (nine tackles) and defensive lineman Nahsir Taylor (1/2 sack and three tackles) have also contributed off the bench.

And observing it all like a proud father is coach Michael Locksley, who drove efforts to recruit a freshman class that was ranked No.

21 in the nation by ESPN and No.

25 by 247Sports.You love seeing kids develop, he said Tuesday afternoon during the teams weekly media availability.

Thats why Ive been getting into this business.

Were teachers.

Our jobs as teachers is to make sure that we put them in the best possible situation, to create value for themselves whether its as football players, whether its academically or whether its socially as a person.

And so its rewarding when they have success, but its also rewarding when guys maybe arent as successful and you have the ability to give them the tools to get success.Playing time has never been more crucial than it is now in an era when the transfer portal allows players to hop from school to school at the conclusion of every athletic season.

So its not entirely shocking that coaches are appeasing promising freshmen by finding ways to get them onto the fields, courts and tracks.Washington, The Suns All-Metro Athlete of the Year in 2023-2024, said players have been groomed at an early age to succeed early and often.I think thats just kind of the evolution of sports, he said.

As sports have been going on, people have been getting better at younger ages and being ready and being more mature just because thats the way the game evolved.

Even in high school, we were getting ready and prepared to play on this next level early.

That was all of our dreams.The push to pay dividends quickly is obvious to veteran players.

Senior wide receiver Shaleak Knotts noted freshmen have had to adjust to the speed and nuance of college football quickly or risk being left behind.Terps quarterback Malik Washington looks to pass during the second quarter of Friday's win over Northern Illinois.

Washington won the Terps' starting quarterback job as a freshman.

(Mike Buscher/AP)College football is way faster than high school football.

So I feel like they had to transition real fast, he said.

College football is very young now.

Theres not many veterans left.

So I feel like they switch over very fast, and I feel like they adapted to it because they had no choice.

They got thrown in the fire, and I feel like theyre doing a great job.Recently, more freshmen have opted to graduate from high school as swiftly as they can to enroll early in college and begin the learning process.

Locksley pointed out that both Washington and Stewart benefitted from joining the program in January.

And thats a plus for the coaches, who understand they work in a win-now environment.I think some of the maturation you see is because of some of the guys and how theyre able to get in earlier, Locksley said.

I think our coaches have done a really good job.

We were intentional in hiring guys that can get guys ready to play now instead of us building like weve done as a developmental program where we develop guys over two, three years.

Its win now, and its develop them now, and its lets put them on the field now.

So we have to coach better, we have to prepare faster, and our coaches have done a really good job of that.No matter how highly rated incoming recruits are, they still have to ingratiate themselves with a structure that has long been in place.

That might mean winning over juniors and seniors who labored for the chance to get some playing time for the first time in their careers, which can be a source of friction.But junior linebacker Daniel Wingate, a Laurel resident and Pallotti graduate, said he and the rest of the Terps veterans have embraced their younger teammates.Just being able to know that we could trust those guys so early and to know that we got guys that are able to back them up, having a young team isnt a problem, he said after last months victory over Florida Atlantic.

So no matter what, weve got everybody thats ready to step up and take their chance and do what they got to do.And the freshmen are under no delusions of grandeur.

Mathis said he and his classmates fully understand what is expected of them and welcome that accountability.I would say you understand what you signed up for, he said.

You came here to play, you came here to be great, and in my eyes, every player has a passion and something they want to achieve down the line.

Being honest, you know what you signed up for.

You know the standard of your team, and if you respect and love and cherish your teammates as your brothers keepers, youll continue to be effortless and create responsibilities for your brothers and yourself to win a championship.Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at [email protected], 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun..

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