The inaugural game of one of Maryland football's most pivotal seasons in the last decade showed fans an unfamiliar brand of football.
The Terps came into this season needing desperate help in the run game, and after a 94-yard touchdown run by DeJuan Williams – the second-longest in program history – on his very first snap of the game, they appear to have found their answer.
Williams' breakaway speed and elusive nature were a highlight of Maryland's 62-0 shutout win over Hampton, and the numbers speak for themselves. The redshirt sophomore accounted for 23% of the Terps' scrimmage yards and contributed two touchdowns, ultimately logging 16% of his total yards from scrimmage from last season in a single game.
"He's definitely one of those triple threats because he can make plays in the run game, he makes plays in the pass game, and he does a very good job in protection," head coach Mike Locksley said.
Despite a new offensive coordinator in Clint Trickett, the Terps had an all-too familiar start: a three-and-out on their opening drive. A pair of wide receiver screen attempts appeared eerily familiar to former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's 2025 playbook.
The abundance of screens and option plays largely took the heat off quarterback Malik Washington, who took more than 29 minutes to complete his first pass of 10 or more air yards. Chris Durr Jr. could have hauled in an easy deep-ball touchdown just minutes prior, but he failed to spot the ball on a wide-open fade.
However, Washington found his groove with seconds left in the second quarter, connecting with Durr on a wild scrambling play before high-pointing a ball to Na'eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding in the back of the end zone to set the score at 34-0 heading into the locker room.
While appearing awkward on many short passes, the sophomore excelled when under pressure. Washington again scrambled to his right in the third minute of the second half, connecting with Gladding once more for a 20-yard pickup. The electric play was followed by an eight-yard run from Iverson Howard to mark his second touchdown of the game and of his career.
While Maryland's offense exploded, the defense overcame some initial hiccups to utterly silence the Pirates' offense.
Glasker appeared lost on multiple early coverage scenarios Saturday night. With 12:40 left in the first quarter, he allowed Hampton quarterback Jalen Woods to toss a dart down the right sideline to a wide-open TK Paisant for a 30-yard gain.
Maryland's defensive line began the season well, racking up five sacks thanks to a deep and creative platoon system from defensive coordinator Ted Monachino. DD Holmes contributed two sacks on the same drive in the first quarter, one from the left edge and another lined up at tackle three plays later.
The defensive interior was more than satisfactory in the season opener, holding the Pirates to an astonishing 10 rushing yards. The Terps stifled Hampton all game long, suffocating an offense that averaged 163 rushing yards per game in 2025.
The secondary was not to be completely outdone, however, roping in three interceptions while taking advantage of a multitude of misguided passing attempts. Jayden Shipps logged his first career pick late in the first quarter and Messiah Delhomme grabbed a pair himself, doubling his season total from 2025.
Complete dominance in all phases saw Locksley pull his offensive starters just five minutes into the second half, allowing Sacramento State transfer Cardell Williams to take the reins on offense.
Williams proceeded to go on a tear in the final 25 minutes, passing for 60 yards and a score while adding another 49 yards on the ground. The redshirt senior's banner play came on a 16-yard back-corner touchdown pass to a toe-tapping Jordan Scott with 6:09 left in the third quarter. His play gave the coaching staff plenty to think about.
"Cardell really has done a great job to the point where he's a weapon for us," Locksley said. "I think, as we get into the meat of it, I wouldn't be surprised if you see some two quarterbacks on the field utilizing him with the skill set he brings to help add to the run game."
1. Revolving door at running back.Despite Williams' dominance, five other running backs contributed greatly to Maryland's offensive output. Howard's pair of touchdowns along with scores from Harry Dalton III and converted edge-rusher Jianni Davis accounted for 39% of the Terps' points. When it was all said and done, Maryland's six rushing touchdowns marked its highest single-game total since an October 2001 matchup against Duke.
"Almost the whole running back room scored touchdowns. So I'm glad to see my guys, the younger guys, score and do that thing out there," DeJuan Williams said.
2. Zion Elee kept a non-factor.Fans looking to see Maryland's biggest recruiting victory in program history make an impact will have to wait another week. Elee was limited to second-team reps Saturday night, notching his first and only statistic of the night with a tackle early in the fourth quarter.
3. New receivers show flashes.While the ground game was the star of the show against Hampton, the Terps' new-look wide receiver room contributed heavily to their offensive success. Gladding, Durr and freshman Jayden Kitchens combined for 136 receiving yards to give the running backs a breather and aid in running up the score.
"They look really good. Their first time in the show playing a real game. I'm just super proud of them and all the stuff that they did," Washington said. "Whether they showed up on the stat sheet or not, they made some big plays that impacted the game, and I'm really proud of all of them.
