Legacy is something that comes up around Maryland football a lot.
The past eras of significant wins and championships. The legendary players that have called College Park home. And the roar of a crowd that routinely packed SECU Stadium’s bleachers to the top.
Maryland has had back-to-back, wayward 4-8 seasons, but a youth movement is building behind quarterback Malik Washington and successive highly-touted recruiting classes.
Adding to that movement and hoping to make his own mark is one of the Terrapins’ newest additions, freshman defensive end Jianni Davis.
A legacy Terrapin himself — his father, Vernon, was an All-American tight end at Maryland and played 14 years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl — Jianni played his dad’s position before making his name on the defensive side of the ball as an edge rusher at Bishop McNamara high school in Prince George’s County.
On this edition of District of Sports, George Gerbo talks with Jianni on what went into his commitment, what he can add to the elite defensive front Maryland has put together, and how he’s able to honor and appreciate his father’s career while carving out his own lane for himself.
Maryland opens the 2026 season at home Sept. 5 against Hampton, with additional home games that include matchups with Virginia Tech, UCLA, and Penn State.
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