Michael Locksley Big Ten Football Media Days Press Conference
7/30/2026 1:26:00 PM | Football
Big Ten Football Media Days
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Maryland Terrapins Coach Michael Locksley Press Conference
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: First of all, I want to say good morning to everyone. It's great to be back here in Chicago for Big Ten media days. My first season here as a head coach in 2019 was probably the last time, I think was the last time, the Big Ten football media days were held here in Chicago, which I've come to love.
I want to start by thanking Commissioner Petitti, Tony, his staff, A.J.,(Edds) all the people that work with the Big Ten for the tireless effort they put into putting this thing on.
I also want to recognize some people that are here. My boss, Jim Smith, as well as our senior deputy AD, Diana Sabau, back there, who both have been really tremendous in terms of providing me with the necessary resources to get Maryland back to where we want to go.
As I talk about resources, we also brought three longtime supporters of our program. We've got Barry Gossett, who has been a long, long Terp, former Terp, was part of building the stadium I think he told me he did in the summers.
We have Sunny Bajaj, one of our newest board of regents, as well as and Andre Gudger, who all played a tremendous part in providing the necessary resources to get Maryland football back to where we all would love it to be. These guys are passionate about Maryland athletics. We've been lucky to have them here supporting us.
Excited about the three young men we brought to Chicago this week. Starting with Daniel Wingate, a starting linebacker for us, representing us for the second straight year. He came a year ago as a first-time starter, has become the leader of our defense. Has done a tremendous job of keeping a young group together through some very adverse times a year ago. Dealt with injuries much of last year, but still ended up one of the top tacklers in the Big Ten.
I also want to recognize Michael Hershey, who has been an anchor along our offensive line. He's going to be a three-year starter for us. He's the face of what Maryland football reflects, a guy that wasn't a highly recruited guy out of high school, but came in and developed himself as one of the best centers not just in the Big Ten but in the country. Has done a great job with the young quarterback of keeping him really steady. A smart, tough, reliable player we're expecting big things out of this year.
Last but not least, Malik Washington, started all 12 games as a true freshman, has put in work this offseason to make major strides in his game. He's a kid that I've known since eighth grade. He was recruited to come to Maryland to help us take this program to the next level.
I can tell you after one year, the growth I've seen from year one to year two, I expect him to just do that. Has all the qualities we want in terms of playing the game, the quarterback position, being a leader, being a strong member of our university as well as our community.
As I said before, going into last season, we've had back-to-back 4-8 years. Very humbling. I can also tell you in 2019 I stood up here very grateful for the opportunity to lead the university that I grew up as a kid rooting for. That has not changed for me. Sure, the last two years have been a lot of losses, but what I've learned, when you build the team the way we've had to build our program through the high school player, I learned a lot about myself a year ago in that I have to coach with urgency, but I also had to still have the patience to allow this young group of talented players to grow through their mistakes, some of the things that we went through a year ago.
As I can tell you, being able to keep 71% of that production from a really talented young team has helped us have quite a bit of an expectation going into this year that we'll be able to get this program back to where we all want it to be.
We have a group of guys that know the system, they know how we like to do things. We played a ton of young players last year. I expect many of the things, the lessons that we learned from last season, I expect us to be better because of going through it.
Here's what we really came down to. I've been talking a lot about Proverbs 14:23. I'm not the spiritual preachy guy, but Proverbs is the book of wisdom. Eight years as a head coach in this league, a total of 16 years as an assistant and head coach, I've learned a lot that the only way you win and have success in the Big Ten is in the trenches.
We've had to build our trenches on both sides of the football. We feel really good about the depth we've been able to create. We feel that the tough times are behind us now. This inexperienced group now has gained experience and some really good experience for going through three games where we lost the game in the last drive of the game. Leading in 11 of the 12 games.
When you think of those things with a young team, you think finish. We spent the last six months talking about we can't stand up here and give a bunch of expectations of what we want to be. It's going to take the work. As I said, Proverbs 14:23 talks about the more work you do, the richer you become. The more talk you do, the poorer you become.
With that I'll end the talk and open it up for questions for you guys.
Q. You mentioned returning production, obviously Maryland second nationally. Just to have that, how do you feel that creates a foundation? Were you able to do anything differently with so much familiarity, players coming back?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is when you bring that amount of production, some people would say that's the production of a 4-8 team. I'll tell you if you look at the last two years of 4-8, I said earlier, to be leading in 11 of the 12 games with one of the youngest teams in the country, not find a way to finish, to win, to lose three really tough games at the end -- UCLA, Nebraska, Washington -- games that we led in with a young team, they were losses a year ago.
But for us the last six months they've been lessons. We've done a lot of things with the returning production, starting with again being connected, but also starts with the accountability that comes with when you don't finish, you better take a look at yourself first and foremost as the head coach and as the leader of this group; but also as it trickles down to our players, them understanding being able to make plays in critical situations is something you have to do in this league if you want to win because the margin to win is just so thin.
Q. You mentioned the verse from Proverbs. How has the Lord shown Himself to you in not only your coaching career but you as a man?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: Funny. Again, I'm not the type that sits up here to talk about my spirituality. I'll tell you I'm here for a reason: Leading the program I grew up as a kid rooting for. I'm the Moses of my family in that I've come from tough and humble beginnings. To be able to stand and leave the flagship university of the great state of Maryland, I know I'm blessed because I didn't get here by myself. Strong in my faith but even stronger that I'm here for a reason.
Q. With recruiting, I know you're no stranger with recruiting the same type of players James Franklin used to, but now he's at Virginia Tech, do you think it's going to be more of a battle to get recruits from the DMV?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: It's always been a battleground, whether we're dealing with Penn State, who comes in. I feel like I've played a major role in opening up the pipeline when you look across teams that have won the national championships. They all have players from the DMV. If you look at the way the DMV is broken up every year, I think we're the fourth or fifth per capita area for number of players that are put in the NFL. I can tell you that talent alone doesn't win games. The accountability, the discipline, the experience that comes along in playing with a tough, tough league like the Big Ten, are going to be the things that are really important, which is that verse of Proverbs. We got a lot of work to do with a young, inexperienced team. We've learned a lot of lessons, and I'm excited.
Q. What would you like to see this year from your second-year quarterbacks, some of the progressions?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: I think the biggest thing, we've already started to see it, a year ago we threw Malik into the deep end of the pool. He missed all of training camp, did not get a chance to practice with the receivers, with the offense. We threw him in the deep end of the pool because of what he's shown in the spring prior having to miss the summer.
The biggest area I've seen him improve upon so far has been his leadership. When you come in as a young quarterback, playing with veteran receivers, players, you have to find a role for how you can have an impact.
I saw something the other day for the first time where he wasn't the freshman quarterback talking to a veteran receiver, because a guy dropped the ball and he basically said, Hey, bro, you keep dropping the ball like that, you won't have it coming to you.
You need that from that position. A year ago he probably didn't have the comfort level being a true freshman thrown into the deep end of the pool. Now I think he's comfortable with the leadership he's going to need to have at that position. We've surrounded him with some talented players that I think you'll see all parts of his game as well as we've built the system to fit his skill set.
Q. It's clear that you trust your young guys, was sending him out there in that last game of the season, having him throw the ball 61 times. Was that on purpose to get him to empty the tank?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: I mean, if you think about that last game, that was one of those games where we tried to generate momentum. You look at most of those passes took place in the second half where we made the decision if we were going to win or lose, we were going to win or lose playing to his skill set. I think anytime you play with a quarterback that has talent with his arm as well as his legs, creates problems for the defense. That was one of the games where the throw was there, as they wanted to stop the run, and Malik was able to make some plays. We didn't get the win, so it really doesn't matter.
Thursday, July 30, 2026
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Maryland Terrapins Coach Michael Locksley Press Conference
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: First of all, I want to say good morning to everyone. It's great to be back here in Chicago for Big Ten media days. My first season here as a head coach in 2019 was probably the last time, I think was the last time, the Big Ten football media days were held here in Chicago, which I've come to love.
I want to start by thanking Commissioner Petitti, Tony, his staff, A.J.,(Edds) all the people that work with the Big Ten for the tireless effort they put into putting this thing on.
I also want to recognize some people that are here. My boss, Jim Smith, as well as our senior deputy AD, Diana Sabau, back there, who both have been really tremendous in terms of providing me with the necessary resources to get Maryland back to where we want to go.
As I talk about resources, we also brought three longtime supporters of our program. We've got Barry Gossett, who has been a long, long Terp, former Terp, was part of building the stadium I think he told me he did in the summers.
We have Sunny Bajaj, one of our newest board of regents, as well as and Andre Gudger, who all played a tremendous part in providing the necessary resources to get Maryland football back to where we all would love it to be. These guys are passionate about Maryland athletics. We've been lucky to have them here supporting us.
Excited about the three young men we brought to Chicago this week. Starting with Daniel Wingate, a starting linebacker for us, representing us for the second straight year. He came a year ago as a first-time starter, has become the leader of our defense. Has done a tremendous job of keeping a young group together through some very adverse times a year ago. Dealt with injuries much of last year, but still ended up one of the top tacklers in the Big Ten.
I also want to recognize Michael Hershey, who has been an anchor along our offensive line. He's going to be a three-year starter for us. He's the face of what Maryland football reflects, a guy that wasn't a highly recruited guy out of high school, but came in and developed himself as one of the best centers not just in the Big Ten but in the country. Has done a great job with the young quarterback of keeping him really steady. A smart, tough, reliable player we're expecting big things out of this year.
Last but not least, Malik Washington, started all 12 games as a true freshman, has put in work this offseason to make major strides in his game. He's a kid that I've known since eighth grade. He was recruited to come to Maryland to help us take this program to the next level.
I can tell you after one year, the growth I've seen from year one to year two, I expect him to just do that. Has all the qualities we want in terms of playing the game, the quarterback position, being a leader, being a strong member of our university as well as our community.
As I said before, going into last season, we've had back-to-back 4-8 years. Very humbling. I can also tell you in 2019 I stood up here very grateful for the opportunity to lead the university that I grew up as a kid rooting for. That has not changed for me. Sure, the last two years have been a lot of losses, but what I've learned, when you build the team the way we've had to build our program through the high school player, I learned a lot about myself a year ago in that I have to coach with urgency, but I also had to still have the patience to allow this young group of talented players to grow through their mistakes, some of the things that we went through a year ago.
As I can tell you, being able to keep 71% of that production from a really talented young team has helped us have quite a bit of an expectation going into this year that we'll be able to get this program back to where we all want it to be.
We have a group of guys that know the system, they know how we like to do things. We played a ton of young players last year. I expect many of the things, the lessons that we learned from last season, I expect us to be better because of going through it.
Here's what we really came down to. I've been talking a lot about Proverbs 14:23. I'm not the spiritual preachy guy, but Proverbs is the book of wisdom. Eight years as a head coach in this league, a total of 16 years as an assistant and head coach, I've learned a lot that the only way you win and have success in the Big Ten is in the trenches.
We've had to build our trenches on both sides of the football. We feel really good about the depth we've been able to create. We feel that the tough times are behind us now. This inexperienced group now has gained experience and some really good experience for going through three games where we lost the game in the last drive of the game. Leading in 11 of the 12 games.
When you think of those things with a young team, you think finish. We spent the last six months talking about we can't stand up here and give a bunch of expectations of what we want to be. It's going to take the work. As I said, Proverbs 14:23 talks about the more work you do, the richer you become. The more talk you do, the poorer you become.
With that I'll end the talk and open it up for questions for you guys.
Q. You mentioned returning production, obviously Maryland second nationally. Just to have that, how do you feel that creates a foundation? Were you able to do anything differently with so much familiarity, players coming back?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is when you bring that amount of production, some people would say that's the production of a 4-8 team. I'll tell you if you look at the last two years of 4-8, I said earlier, to be leading in 11 of the 12 games with one of the youngest teams in the country, not find a way to finish, to win, to lose three really tough games at the end -- UCLA, Nebraska, Washington -- games that we led in with a young team, they were losses a year ago.
But for us the last six months they've been lessons. We've done a lot of things with the returning production, starting with again being connected, but also starts with the accountability that comes with when you don't finish, you better take a look at yourself first and foremost as the head coach and as the leader of this group; but also as it trickles down to our players, them understanding being able to make plays in critical situations is something you have to do in this league if you want to win because the margin to win is just so thin.
Q. You mentioned the verse from Proverbs. How has the Lord shown Himself to you in not only your coaching career but you as a man?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: Funny. Again, I'm not the type that sits up here to talk about my spirituality. I'll tell you I'm here for a reason: Leading the program I grew up as a kid rooting for. I'm the Moses of my family in that I've come from tough and humble beginnings. To be able to stand and leave the flagship university of the great state of Maryland, I know I'm blessed because I didn't get here by myself. Strong in my faith but even stronger that I'm here for a reason.
Q. With recruiting, I know you're no stranger with recruiting the same type of players James Franklin used to, but now he's at Virginia Tech, do you think it's going to be more of a battle to get recruits from the DMV?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: It's always been a battleground, whether we're dealing with Penn State, who comes in. I feel like I've played a major role in opening up the pipeline when you look across teams that have won the national championships. They all have players from the DMV. If you look at the way the DMV is broken up every year, I think we're the fourth or fifth per capita area for number of players that are put in the NFL. I can tell you that talent alone doesn't win games. The accountability, the discipline, the experience that comes along in playing with a tough, tough league like the Big Ten, are going to be the things that are really important, which is that verse of Proverbs. We got a lot of work to do with a young, inexperienced team. We've learned a lot of lessons, and I'm excited.
Q. What would you like to see this year from your second-year quarterbacks, some of the progressions?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: I think the biggest thing, we've already started to see it, a year ago we threw Malik into the deep end of the pool. He missed all of training camp, did not get a chance to practice with the receivers, with the offense. We threw him in the deep end of the pool because of what he's shown in the spring prior having to miss the summer.
The biggest area I've seen him improve upon so far has been his leadership. When you come in as a young quarterback, playing with veteran receivers, players, you have to find a role for how you can have an impact.
I saw something the other day for the first time where he wasn't the freshman quarterback talking to a veteran receiver, because a guy dropped the ball and he basically said, Hey, bro, you keep dropping the ball like that, you won't have it coming to you.
You need that from that position. A year ago he probably didn't have the comfort level being a true freshman thrown into the deep end of the pool. Now I think he's comfortable with the leadership he's going to need to have at that position. We've surrounded him with some talented players that I think you'll see all parts of his game as well as we've built the system to fit his skill set.
Q. It's clear that you trust your young guys, was sending him out there in that last game of the season, having him throw the ball 61 times. Was that on purpose to get him to empty the tank?
MICHAEL LOCKSLEY: I mean, if you think about that last game, that was one of those games where we tried to generate momentum. You look at most of those passes took place in the second half where we made the decision if we were going to win or lose, we were going to win or lose playing to his skill set. I think anytime you play with a quarterback that has talent with his arm as well as his legs, creates problems for the defense. That was one of the games where the throw was there, as they wanted to stop the run, and Malik was able to make some plays. We didn't get the win, so it really doesn't matter.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, July 28
Tuesday, July 28
Friday, July 24
Friday, July 17
