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Maryland football is facing a make-or-break season under head coach Mike Locksley and now, has this setback on their hands.
Maryland football is facing immense pressure under head coach Mike Locksley. He’s recruited at a high level for the Terrapins but still receives minimal wins during his tenure. Now Locksley and the Terps must operate without one of his top freshman finds Zahir Mathis.
The edge rusher sustained a fall camp leg injury per Inside MD Sports reporter Jeff Ermann Wednesday. Now Mathis will miss the entire season.
Mathis’ setback rises as the first devastating blow for a head coach on the hot seat. The 2025 four-star signing out of Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia produced 8.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He handed the Terps a towering and relentless presence off the edge.
Once again, Locksley is facing a make-or-break season out in College Park. He enters his eighth season but hasn’t won more than eight games in a single campaign. Maryland fell to consecutive 4-8 seasons following its 2023 Music City Bowl appearance.
The past Nick Saban assistant from the Alabama Crimson Tide still knows how to reel in talent via the College Football Recruiting trail. Now he’s got five-star 2026 signing Zion Elee to turn too in this situation.
Elee arrives as the state’s top prospect but also the No. 1 edge rusher for the 2026 class per 247Sports composite. His role looks bound to increase amid the Mathis injury.
Maryland opens the upcoming 2026 season against Hampton University from the Football Championship Subdivision realm on Sept. 5 at home. Expectations stay low for the Terps, though. Especially in a loaded Big Ten that’s produced the last three national title winners.
Maryland football is facing immense pressure under head coach Mike Locksley. He’s recruited at a high level for the Terrapins but still receives minimal wins during his tenure. Now Locksley and the Terps must operate without one of his top freshman finds Zahir Mathis. The edge rusher sustained a fall camp leg injury per Inside MD Sports reporter Jeff Ermann Wednesday.
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