In his one season with the Washington Huskies, Will Rogers was asked to do two things: lead Jedd Fisch’s team during its first season in the Big Ten and bridge the gap to freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
Behind a patchwork offensive line, Rogers did an admirable job leading the Huskies to a 5-5 record before Williams took over in the second half of Washington’s win over UCLA in November. That victory secured a berth in the Sun Bowl for the Huskies, where Williams discussed how much his relationship with Rogers has helped prepare him for the starting job.
“He’s a great guy,” Williams told the media on Saturday. “I love him. He’s my guy. I don’t know what better stuff I can say. I mean, he’s my best friend. It’s good having him in my corner, especially in the same room, going through the same stuff, taking the same reps. I couldn’t ask for a better guy.”
Williams is preparing for the second start of his debut season in the Sun Bowl, but Rogers’ mentorship, along with the reps he’s seen in every game this year, has helped the freshman develop the confidence he’ll need going into 2025.
“I feel like it has been constantly increasing with every week of practice and every rep that we take,” he said of his confidence. “I feel that’s a great sign.”
The former four-star recruit has also developed some confidence with his play and has impressed with both his arm and his legs this year. He’s completed 76.7 percent of his passes for 570 yards and 4 touchdowns and added 234 yards and a score on the ground.
When he faces off with the Louisville Cardinals in the Sun Bowl, he’ll see a defense that is ranked No. 7 in the ACC, allowing an average of 360.1 yards per game, which will be a significant step down from the last three units he’s faced: Penn State, UCLA, and Oregon.
The Cardinals’ pass rush also ranks No. 10 in the conference with 29 sacks, and if the Huskies can find a way to protect the freshman in El Paso, a win could continue to build up the confidence he’s built up in his first year on campus.
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