According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, coach Jedd Fisch and the Washington Huskies plan to give freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. a “significant uptick” in snaps in their regular-season finale against their arch-rivals, the Oregon Ducks.
“That bigger role includes the potential for Williams to get his first career start, sources told ESPN,” Thamel’s report said. “Williams has played in every game for Washington this season in a reserve role behind veteran Will Rogers, as the Huskies staff has been intentional about giving him experience as he looms as the program’s quarterback of the future.”
Williams has played in every game this season and has completed 73.6 percent of his passes for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns, adding 217 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He took over for Rogers in the third quarter of Washington’s 31-19 win over UCLA. After the victory, which earned Washington bowl eligibility, Fisch was noncommittal about who would start against the Ducks.
Demond’s energy and Demond’s confidence showed up,” Fisch said of the freshman after the bye week. “His ability to jump right in and feel really good about leading the group whenever it was his turn, he did a really nice job there as well. I think both guys responded well to the week of practice, and now, it’s important for us that the guy we believe will start the game gets a significant amount of reps in practice week.”
Between Fisch’s comments and Thamel’s report, it appears that Williams should be considered in line to start against the Ducks.