The Jedd Fisch era of Washington Huskies football has seen a very encouraging start. Fisch and Co. faced a steep uphill climb in 2024, the first season following the Huskies’ magical run to the National Championship that elevated former head coach Kalen DeBoer to the same position at the prestigious Alabama Crimson Tide. Nevertheless, the Huskies scrapped their way to a bowl game that they were just inches away from winning in a thriller.
This past season, the Huskies took another step behind the ascension of quarterback Demond Williams in a 9-win campaign that featured victories over the ranked Illinois Fighting Illini and a 38-10 thumping of the Boise State Broncos, the Mountain West Conference champions. Williams completed nearly 70% of his passes while totaling more than 3,600 total yards and 31 total touchdowns.
Why Jedd Fisch Believes in Demond Williams’ Potential
Just a few months ago, this article didn’t even seem possible. And the genesis of such implausibility is a direct reflection of how strange times have gotten in college football.
“I think he has a chance to do everything and anything you could ever possibly want.”
Jedd Fisch on preparing @UW_Football QB Demond Williams Jr. for the fall 👇#B1GToday pic.twitter.com/sjm5AZWsRx
— Washington on BTN (@WashingtonOnBTN) April 30, 2026
As the 2025 calendar year came to a close, Williams signed a written agreement to return to Washington for the ensuing season, reportedly to the tune of $4 million. Thus, any type of entrance into the transfer portal would be deemed prohibitive.
That didn’t stop the sophomore quarterback from entering the transfer portal to explore a potential market that featured rumors regarding a connection to the LSU Tigers and head coach Lane Kiffin. It also featured legal action from the university and a separation from his representation.
Making matters murkier was the shared representation by talent management group Wasserman between Fisch and Williams. The quarterback eventually sought out Darren Heitner, an acclaimed attorney in the NIL space, to find a resolution. No such resolution would be found, as Williams withdrew from the transfer portal.
It appears as though the past is the past, and it has to be for Washington to progress in its efforts to climb the Big Ten ladder. As Fisch mentions above, they will certainly rely upon Williams this season “to be his very best in the biggest games this year” as an “elite player” with the “chance to do everything and anything you could ever possibly want.”
Williams’ strong 2025 campaign netted him a PFSN CFB QB Impact Score of 87.8, good for 13th overall among FBS quarterbacks. To Fisch’s point, Williams completed 63.1% of his passes for 511 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions against AP Top 25 teams last season across a 3-game slate. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder also showcased his dual-threat capabilities with 611 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground last season.
