Lane Kiffin could potentially finally land his starting quarterback in Demond Williams Jr. Kiffin and LSU recently suffered their first setback of the transfer portal after losing out on Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby to Texas Tech.
Williams Jr, who initially announced he was staying in Washington before the shock transfer portal announcement released late on Jan. 6, has a previous relationship with the LSU coaching staff.
Demond Williams Jr. Enters the Transfer Portal as Potential LSU Target
After losing out on both Sorsby and rumored target Trinidad Chambliss, the Tigers have been linked to the Washington quarterback. Williams Jr. recently entered the transfer portal with a ‘do-not contact tag.’
Washington QB Demond Williams is entering the transfer portal, per a source. He’ll have a do-not-contact tag on his entry.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2026
“Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. is entering the transfer portal, per a source. He’ll have a do-not-contact tag on his entry,” revealed ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The quarterback had previously announced his intent to return to Washington just a few days ago. ESPN reports that “Washington sources say they are prepared to pursue all legal avenues to enforce Demond Williams’ signed contract.”
Following his decision to enter the transfer portal, the quarterback has been linked with LSU due to a connection to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who was his primary recruiter for Ole Miss in 2024.
After being linked to a job in the NFL with the New York Giants, a recent report revealed that Weis Jr. has no interest in leaving college football. During this statement, the offensive coordinator denied any interest in joining the Giants.
“I want to thank everyone in the Washington program for what they have done for me. I have to do what is best for me and my future. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to enter the transfer portal.” Williams Jr. stated in his farewell message.
Here’s Demond Williams’ Instagram message. https://t.co/zIDEh7IxFo pic.twitter.com/lmIqxZjbkt
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 7, 2026
After coming out of high school in 2024 as a four-star recruit, the Huskies’ quarterback visited Ole Miss. According to a report from On3 Sports, during that time, Williams Jr. felt a strong connection with the Rebels’ coaching staff, including Lane Kiffin and Weis Jr.
“However, Williams Jr. felt a strong connection to Ole Miss. He built relationships with head coach Lane Kiffin, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis Jr., and analyst Seth Doege, among others,” revealed the report.
Following his successful visit, Williams initially made the decision to commit to Ole Miss, revealing that he felt like a priority to the staff. However, before graduating from high school, the quarterback made the decision to decommit from the Rebels.
“First, I would like to thank Lane Kiffin, Coach (Charlie) Weis, and all of the Ole Miss staff who have believed in my abilities and been there for me since Day 1,” The quarterback stated following his decision.
He eventually decided to commit to Arizona.
After joining the Washington Huskies via the transfer portal, Wiliams played every game as a true freshman. In 2025, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, ranking 13th nationally according to PFSN QB impact rankings.
