COLLEGE PARK — Virginia Tech transfer Josh Jackson will be Maryland’s starting quarterback in Saturday’s opener against Howard.
First-year coach Mike Locksley made the announcement Monday, saying Jackson won the job after “an extremely tight camp battle” with Tyrrell Pigrome.
Jackson earned his undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech before transferring to Maryland in May. The junior started all 13 games for the Hokies in 2017 as a redshirt freshman and started the first three games last year before sustaining a season-ending leg injury.
“We are excited about the talent in the quarterback room and strongly feel that we can win with both guys,” Locksley said in a statement. “We’ll find ways to utilize each of their talents, but are confident with Josh leading the team.”
Two years ago, Jackson led all Power Five freshmen with 2,991 yards passing and ranked second with 20 touchdown passes. He also ran for 324 yards and six scores.
Pigrome played well last season for the Terrapins and may see action as the backup.
Maryland is coming off a 5-7 season — its fourth straight under .500. Over the past few years, the Terrapins have had trouble finding a solution at quarterback. In 2018, the program started Kasim Hill for 10 games before the redshirt freshman went down with a torn ACL against Indiana. Pigrome replaced him for the final two games. Hill transferred to Tennessee after the season.
Maryland has had only one quarterback — C.J. Brown in 2014 — start in all 12 games since 2007.
Last year, the Terrapins averaged just 141.3 passing yards per game, ranking 13th in the Big Ten. Maryland moved on from coach Matt Canada after the season and decided to hire Locksley, the school’s former offensive coordinator who most recently spent three seasons at Alabama.
Before landing on Jackson, Locksley pursued former Crimson Tide starter Jalen Hurts, who was benched in the 2018 National Championship for Tua Tagovailoa. Hurts, however, opted to transfer to Oklahoma in order to play under coach Lincoln Riley.
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