Josiah McLaurin was on his way to practice for the NFL, until he received a phone call from someone, informing him that his Father and his cousin were killed in a car accident.
One week later after losing his dad and his cousin, Josiah McLaurin made his collegiate debut in the fourth quarter of it’s 50-7 win over UCON at SECU Stadium. His teammates surrounded him to celebrate, showcasing their support. He looked up and pointed to the sky after he returned to the sideline. McLaurin was thinking about his family members. He honored them in the best way possible by scoring his first touchdown in his rookie year.
After the game, he said: “It meant a lot to me,” while holding back his tears. “I had a pretty hard week, and football is the only place I get where I’m mentally free, and I don’t have to think about anything but what I’m doing on the field. That touchdown meant a lot to me, man. That was for my dad. I know it meant a lot to me and my family. I made my dad proud today. I just wish he was here to see it.”
Maryland rallied around McLaurin and his tragedy while he rallied behind his teammates for support. The tragedy brought him closer to his teammates. Coming from the small town of Clinton, N.C., McLaurin was homesick most of the summer.
However, Locksley says McLaurin didn’t want to leave the team and its facility after the game.
“He wanted to stay here with us, which meant the world to us because that means that he’s adopted us pretty quickly,” Locksley said.
The team’s rallying behind McLaurin and being there for him is part of a larger initiative that Locksley introduced in 2024. Every player is given a teammate to check in with and maintain a relationship with each week. Smith was McLaurin’s assigned teammate. However, the entire team was there for him on Sunday.
“I think one speaks to the type of team we have,” said running back Nolan Ray. “Everybody was there for him, supporting him, loving on him, but then for him to stay here with us and play that game, it’s special.”
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. watched from the sidelines as McLaurin scored the touchdown. He described him as a tough kid who everyone in the program loves.
“Josiah is one of the toughest human beings I’ve been around, and to encounter that and witness it in first person [was special],” Edwards said. “The decision he made to stay here all week was good for him, but I think it was better for all of us just to be around him. … We love Josiah.”
