Josiah Teasley, a freshman wide receiver for the University of Maryland, continues to be part of the football team’s roster following his conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. A team representative confirmed that Teasley will not participate in any games until his legal matters are resolved, which raises questions about the university's policies regarding athlete conduct.
Teasley was convicted in July of second-degree assault after an incident involving his ex-girlfriend, who accused him of physically assaulting her. According to court records from Montgomery County, the assault included punching her in the face, throwing her to the ground, and choking her while repeatedly slamming her head against the ground.
Shortly after the July 31 conviction, the woman returned to court with further allegations against Teasley. In an application for charges filed on August 11, she accused him and another individual of violating a protective order by contacting her and threatening to distribute nude photographs of her on social media.
Despite these serious allegations, Teasley remains on Maryland's roster as the Terps prepare for their season opener against Hampton. While he is allowed to participate in team practices and meetings, the university has not disclosed when they became aware of Teasley’s legal issues or whether any internal investigations or disciplinary actions have been taken.
Teasley’s legal representation, Douglas Gansler, has publicly disputed the allegations, asserting that the evidence, including Ring-camera footage, will prove Teasley’s innocence. Gansler claims the footage shows that Teasley did not commit any of the alleged acts. He argues that the woman made these accusations only after their relationship ended and that the couple remained together for some time after the incident.
The court sentenced Teasley to three years in jail, a sentence that was suspended in its entirety, placing him instead on 18 months of supervised probation. This classification as a domestically related offense has led to additional scrutiny regarding his future with the football program.
In the wake of the initial conviction, the woman alleged that she began receiving threatening messages from Teasley and another individual, which included threats to circulate unauthorized nude photographs of her. These allegations have not yet been resolved in court, and Gansler maintains that Teasley was not involved in sending these messages.
Teasley has filed an appeal regarding his assault conviction, which has been forwarded to the Montgomery County Circuit Court, where a pretrial conference is scheduled. This ongoing legal situation adds to the scrutiny surrounding the Maryland football program, especially considering recent incidents involving other players.
Just days before Teasley’s situation came to light, senior cornerback Dontay Joyner had rejoined the Maryland program after pleading guilty to telephone misuse involving his ex-girlfriend. Joyner’s case drew attention due to the nature of the charges, which included multiple threatening calls to his former partner. Maryland head coach Michael Locksley has expressed a commitment to providing support for players facing personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of addressing interpersonal relationships.
Teasley, a 6-foot-5, 181-pound wide receiver, was a highly regarded recruit, having played at Quince Orchard before transferring to St. James Academy for his senior year. He was ranked as the No. 23 player in Virginia's recruiting class and had received offers from several prominent programs, including Virginia, Vanderbilt, and Penn State.
As the Terps gear up for the upcoming season, Teasley’s situation remains a focal point for discussions about athlete conduct and the responsibilities of sports programs in handling legal and personal issues involving their players.
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