Demond Williams Jr. Must Show Growth On and Off Field for Huskies to Reach Potential
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Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. enters the 2026 season with both high expectations and doubters. (Photo courtesy of Washington Athletics) [/caption]
Demond Williams Jr. turned 20 just a few months ago, but he’s no longer young by college football standards.
Entering his second full season as the unchallenged starting quarterback for a Washington Huskies football team with high expectations — for his play and the team’s — Williams must grow up quickly.
The “He’s young” days are over. He’s no longer the raw kid inserted into games as a true freshman before starting the final two games of the 2024 season. He’s not a first-time, full-time teenage starter behind center like he was in 2025.
Williams is a junior with 15 starts under his belt, earning $4-plus million — none of which can be used to buy excuses.
It’s his third year in Jedd Fisch’s offense, and the Huskies head coach needs Williams to earn his money this season for UW to have any shot at taking the jump from nine wins to a College Football Playoff berth.
The millions, coupled with Williams’ announcement that he intended to enter the transfer portal on Jan. 6 — just a few days after signing his deal — shine an even brighter light on the electric passer and runner. His teammates appeared to welcome him back with open arms when he reversed course two days later. They’ve forgiven, and only time will tell if the Huskies have forgotten.
Fans, angry that his portal posting occurred while most of the football team attended UW soccer player Mia Hamant’s celebration of life, will likely support Williams as long as Washington wins football games. The tough questions have mostly disappeared from coaches, teammates and media, though things can change quickly after a bad game or two.
Struggles will bring back the criticism he received in January.
“I’m a regular person. Obviously, I saw all that stuff, and it definitely took a toll on me at the time,” Williams said during an interview with Yogi Roth on the Y Option podcast in June. “But it definitely helped me grow into the man I am right now, and continued to help me mature and understand situations and how to handle certain things.”
If he struggles as he has in most of UW’s big games during his career so far, though, look out. He’ll hear the boos echoing off the cantilever roof at Husky Stadium like an official who just made a questionable call against the Huskies. Though there’s virtually zero chance Fisch pulls Williams in a competitive game, the fans’ leash on this particular Dawg will be short.
On the other hand, if Williams leads the Huskies to a 10-2 regular season that includes a win over Oregon, he’ll be a legend. The middle ground is a narrow strip that must include improved play in big games.
Williams’ career stats are impressive. In 26 games, including 15 starts, he’s completed 71.9% of his passes while throwing for 4,009 yards, 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Despite taking 52 sacks that take away from his rushing yards, he’s compiled 893 yards and eight TD’s on 226 carries.
It’s when the big stats are compiled that leaves some questions as Williams enters his second year as a full-time starter.
He destroyed weaker 2025 opponents while leading Washington to a 9-4 record. Williams compiled 778 passing yards (73.5 completion percentage), 220 yards (6.5 yards per carry) on the ground, eight total touchdowns and no interceptions against Colorado State, UC-Davis and Washington State last year as the Huskies averaged 55.7 points per game. He also became just the 16th player in FBS history to compile at least 400 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in one game. That came against a Rutgers team that placed 14th in the Big Ten with a 2-7 conference record.
It was a different story for Williams in last year’s four losses.
Williams took 17 of his 31 sacks in defeats to Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Oregon while throwing six of his eight picks. He managed just 10 yards per game on the ground in those matchups with an average of less than a yard per carry while the offense mustered 9.3 points per game.
Speaking in general about the 2025 season, Fisch talked about missed opportunities.
“We were 9-4, and there were some opportunities there that we didn't take advantage of,” Fisch said Thursday on the Big Ten Network. “I really do believe we missed some. We missed something that could have led to a really special second year. We can't miss those opportunities this year.”
Senior linebacker Jacob Manu echoed Fisch’s thoughts on big moments during his turn on BTN.
“We can't shoot ourselves in the foot, you know,” Manu said. “When we had those games and we have that lead, we got to keep that lead. Can't make any mental errors.”
All indications out of Montlake are that Williams has done everything possible to win back the favor of his teammates through mending relationships and preparing for a 2026 season Washington is likely to enter as a ranked team when the Huskies face WSU Sept. 6 in the Apple Cup.
Making it to the CFP for the first time in Jedd Fisch’s tenure won’t be easy. UW starts with another soft non-conference schedule as hosts to WSU, Utah State and Eastern Washington. The league slate includes essentially must-win road games at USC and Nebraska, as well as the season finale at Oregon. The home slate includes bowl teams Minnesota, Iowa, Penn State and defending national champion Indiana.
It could all come down to the last two games of the season: Nov. 21 vs. Indiana and Nov. 28 at Oregon. Williams can’t falter in those games, and may need a cape to guide UW into the CFP. Washington would likely get in with a 10-2 record assuming at least a split in the final two.
By that time, he’ll need to have maintained the seemingly regained trust of his teammates and coaches.
“Obviously Demond's a very dangerous playmaker, right? And he makes something out of nothing,” UW fourth-year center Landen Hatchett said on BTN. “But you know, outside of the football aspect, Demond's grown hugely as a leader on and off the field. Just making sure he's connected with the offensive line and the offense as a whole. He continues to develop, and I'm excited to see what this guy does this fall.”
