Retooled WR room aims to help Maryland, QB Malik Washington: ‘Get 1% better’

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COLLEGE PARK — Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding is new to Maryland football. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Old Dominion transfer has high hopes for a program that slogged through back-to-back 4-8 campaigns.

“We haven’t played any games yet, but at the same time, I do feel like we have definitely been turning the right way on offense, especially through camp, even in the spring, summer workouts,” he said after last Wednesday’s practice on the Stephen M. Schanwald fields. “We’ve been taking steps every day to get 1% better.”

Gladding, a junior, joins a wide receivers group tasked with helping the Terps improve, especially in the win-loss column. They are seeking their first above-.500 record since 2023 and their first .500 mark in the Big Ten since 2014 — the school’s debut in the league.

Graduation took a toll on the wide receiver room, sapping the team of Jalil Farooq, Shaleak Knotts and Octavian Smith Jr. That trio totaled 145 receptions for 1,791 yards and 10 touchdowns and helped quarterback Malik Washington a year ago pass for 2,963 yards, the most among all NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision freshmen.

Redshirt senior Kaleb Webb returns as the team’s leading wide receiver with 22 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns, with redshirt junior Ryan Manning (St. Frances) and redshirt freshman Zymear Smith combined for five receptions for 19 yards. Washington also leaned on redshirt sophomore running back DeJuan Williams, who set a single-season record for receiving yards by a tailback with 426 on 45 catches and added one score, and redshirt junior tight end Dorian Fleming, who hauled in 40 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns.

The 6-foot-5, 201-pound Webb said frequent discussions with wide receivers coach Latrell Scott in the offseason have impressed upon him that expectations are high.

“He kind of wanted to drill into my head that he’s putting a lot of faith in me, and he’s expecting me to take a big jump from Year 1 and Year 2 here,” he said. “And I’m excited, honestly. Last year, I wanted to just take advantage of the opportunities I did have. So I want to carry that same mindset this year, and I feel like everything will just kind of take care of itself from there.”

To help rectify the situation, Maryland landed three transfers, all of whom are juniors. The 6-0, 190-pound Gladding led Old Dominion in receptions (51) and touchdown catches (six) en route to being named an All-Sun Belt honorable mention, the 5-11, 173-pound Chris Durr Jr. paced Wyoming in receptions (45), yards (469) and touchdowns (four), and the 6-0, 190-pound Ejani Shakir headed Independence Community College (Kan.) in catches (43), yards (724) and touchdowns (six) while being recognized as an All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference first-team choice.

Washington, a Glen Burnie native and Spalding graduate, said he trusts in his receivers.

“We’ve got some pretty good players in the receiver corps,” he said. “Those boys are doing their thing. I’m really proud of them and all the stuff they’ve undertaken.”

Coach Michael Locksley admitted that he thought last year’s corps was talented enough to be more productive. He also likes what he has seen from this year’s receivers.

“I’ve been pleased with the connection that they’ve had with the quarterback,” he said. “But with this receiving corps, it’s not just one guy. … We have a bunch of guys that have made some plays throughout camp.”

Offensive coordinator Clint Trickett said he is happy with the receivers, but is curious to see who emerges as starters.

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“And then we have some guys that have been waiting in the wings that have done a phenomenal job,” he said on media day on Aug. 5. “Wanting to see them take that next step, and they definitely have. So whether it be [senior] Jordan Scott, [freshman] Josiah Teasley, Zymear, there’s a bunch of them, Ryan Manning. I’m excited to see them all go out there and put their best foot forward.”

Both Trickett and Locksley have expressed a desire to see Washington use his mobility to gain yards on the ground. He can also buy time in the pocket with his legs, but Gladding said the onus is on him and his teammates to get open.

“It’s our job as receivers to make his life easier and his job as a quarterback to make our lives easier,” he said. “When everything’s going, the chemistry is there. Everything is definitely going on the right path.”

Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun. 

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