Former Washington QB Sam Huard commits to Utah

Former Washington quarterback Sam Huard transferred from Cal Poly to Utah on Tuesday, ending speculation about a potential return to Montlake.

When quarterback Sam Huard re-entered the transfer portal after a season at FCS Cal Poly, many thought a reunion with the Washington Huskies may be in the cards. Coach Jedd Fisch’s team has just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster following the departure of Dermaricus Davis for UCLA, and Huard seemed like one of the better depth options available in the portal.

Instead, Huard is joining a former Pac-12 opponent.

On Tuesday, the five-star recruit from the 2021 class announced his commitment to Utah for his remaining two seasons of college eligibility. The Utes return seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising in 2024 but lost both primary backups when 2023 starters Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson transferred this winter.

In Salt Lake City, Huard should have an unimpeded path to the backup job and may see substantial time, given Rising’s injury history, for a team with College Football Playoff aspirations. Utah joins the Big 12 this season and is widely believed to be one of the favorites to win the conference.

Huard, whose father Damon and uncle Brock both started for the Huskies in the 1990s, would also have a chance to start for Utah in 2025 when Rising’s eligibility is exhausted. That opportunity seems much harder to grasp at Washington, where freshman Demond Williams has begun to establish himself as the future of the program after a strong showing in spring practice.

Washington should still be expected to add a third quarterback in the spring transfer window.