Ever since Quincy Wilson won Olympic gold, every top college has been vying for his commitment. Despite visiting almost all the major programs, from Texas A&M to USC, UCLA, and beyond, everyone was still wondering where he would ultimately go. Finally, he made his decision, leaving the track and field community completely stunned.

On November 24, Quincy Wilson, the Bullis High School sprinting sensation, made a choice: he committed to his home-state university, the University of Maryland. For Quincy, this choice carries more than just athletic opportunity. His parents, Monique and Roy Wilson, had uprooted the family from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Gaithersburg, Maryland, just so that he could attend the Bullis High School. These sacrifices shaped Quincy to become the athlete he is today.

Growing up in Gaithersburg, Quincy learned the value of hard work and community support. Now, he has the chance to chase his next big dream, just a short drive from home, in the vicinity of his loved ones and his community. But at the same time, Quincy Wilson’s decision to pick Maryland wasn’t rushed.

He first visited the campus officially in July and returned for an unofficial visit in October. While other top programs in the country were eager to recruit him, the pull of home and the chance to work with Head Coach Andrew Valmon, a former two-time Olympic 4x400m gold medalist, proved irresistible. Maryland has a rich tradition in track and field with a few Olympians like Thea Lafond and United States Track and Field coaches, but Wilson is doing something never done before: he is the first Olympic athlete to commit to the Terps.

“Quincy is a generational athlete,” Valmon said. “His support system here at Maryland, in his home state, is unmatched. I am excited to get to work on this next phase of his journey.”

With Olympic gold and a record-breaking high school career in his bag, Quincy Wilson is now ready to sweep the Maryland track, and the NCAA will not miss even a single step. However, the fans already see the bigger picture; they realize that his presence is not only about the wins on the track but about the long-term upsurge that he will provide to the entire Maryland athletics.

Fans go gaga as Quincy Wilson joins Maryland

One fan put it best: “NIL era is going to turn Maryland into a powerhouse athletic program. If Maryland can keep half the talent the leaves the state they’ll be on top of every sport.”

And they’re not wrong. The NIL era has already positioned Maryland to become a serious contender for all sports. Since launching the One Maryland Collective in 2023, the university now supports over 550 student-athletes across all 20 varsity programs.

The numbers speak for themselves. Since NIL rules came into effect in 2021, Maryland athletes have signed 1,522 NIL deals, and it’s not just football or basketball; athletes across every program are getting meaningful exposure. The university also made a massive business move by renewing its partnership with Under Armour for 12 more years in a deal worth $98 million, including a NIL Brand Ambassador program. With resources like these, it’s no wonder top talent is starting to take notice.

Speaking of top talent, Quincy Wilson’s commitment gives Maryland track and field instant national credibility. He’s exactly the kind of athlete who can shift a program from “mid-tier” to serious contender status. Outside the track, his presence is a potential to draw new sponsorships, increase chances of local talents, and nudge more NIL deals.

One more fan said, “That’s an interesting choice, but I can only imagine that it was worth it.” And looking at Quincy Wilson’s story, it really makes sense.

In 2024, at just 16 (now 17) years old, Quincy Wilson became the youngest male to make Team USA’s Olympic Track and Field team. He finished sixth in the 400m at the Olympic Trials and made the relay pool. He then helped Team USA win gold in the 4x400m relay. That came after one of the best sophomore seasons in high school history. In 2025, at the Ed Murphey Classic, he ran 44.10 in the 400m, breaking the U18 World Record.

Quincy also holds the four fastest outdoor 400m times in high school history and the US high school indoor 400m record at 45.66. He is No. 3 all-time in the indoor 500m and No. 2 all-time in the indoor 600m. Maryland didn’t score at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, but Quincy’s arrival will change that.

And the fans are loving it. One more said, “From prodigy to Terp powerhouse,” another wrote, “Maryland didn’t just get a commitment, they staged a full-blown coronation. Putting the youngest Olympian on a literal throne with “OVER THE TOP” in the background sets a certain tone.” One more added, “Gonna be a hometown hero.”

At the same time, Quincy Wilson is joining a growing group of stars who have chosen Maryland. Just last week, Baba Oladotun from Silver Spring signed with the men’s basketball team, following in the footsteps of Baltimore’s own Derik Queen, who now plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Moreover, there is a list of Olympians of the Maryland track and field program. Mark Coogan, Renaldo Nehemiah, Chioma Onyekwere, Micha Powell, and Thea LaFond, who took Dominica to gold in the triple jump in the 2024 Paris Games, are also members. And three-time Olympian Rudy Winkler. And now that Quincy Wilson has been added to that list, the Terps are not only getting a speedy sprinter, but they are getting a hometown star that can mentor the new generation.