WATERLOO, Ont. - Laurier Golden Hawks football quarterback Cal Wither has officially transferred to the University of Maryland after accepting a scholarship offer from the Maryland Terrapins football program.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback from Waterloo, Ontario will join the Big Ten Conference program ahead of the upcoming season and re-enters the NCAA Division I ranks with two years of eligibility remaining.
Wither made an immediate impact in his only season with the Golden Hawks, earning the team's Offensive Player of the Year honours while also being named a first-team all-star in Ontario University Athletics and a national All-Canadian, as Laurier reached its third Yates Cup championship appearance in a row.
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Laurier community, the coaches and players," said Wither. "I have created some of my best memories and experiences playing for my hometown team. I will always bleed purple and gold.
"I would like to thank Coach Galloway, Coach VanMoerkerke, and the rest of the staff for their time and belief in me. I'm excited for this next chapter."
Golden Hawks manager of football operations and head coach Todd Galloway said the program is proud to see Wither earn the opportunity to compete in one of the top conferences in college football.
"I can't be anything but happy and excited for Cal. The Big Ten is an amazing conference and opportunity," said Galloway.
"From our side, we see it as another example of our ability to recruit and develop high-level football players. Being able to now show that we've had the best quarterback in the country two years in a row is something I'm hoping will only help us to continue to recruit and attract the best players."
In his debut campaign with the purple and gold, Wither led the conference in passing touchdowns (26), completion percentage (72.7 per cent), and pass efficiency (190.7). He also ranked second in the league in passing yards per game (309.0) and total passing yards (2,472).
His 26 touchdown passes established a new Laurier single-season program record, surpassing a mark that had stood for 31 years.
Wither transferred to Laurier last offseason from the Ohio Bobcats football program, which competes in the Mid-American Conference, after completing a four-year sport coaching degree with a minor in sport management in just three years.
He now joins the Terrapins as a veteran presence for a program that finished the 2025 season with a 4-8 overall record and a 1-8 mark in Big Ten conference play.
