Tag: washington huskies football

Washington’s offensive line is in a good spot moving forward

Jedd Fisch is confident in the future of Washington’s offensive line.

The Washington Huskies came into Jedd Fisch’s first season at the helm with a patchwork offensive line, mainly strung together through the spring transfer portal window, and inexperienced young players. In 2024, that line has looked exactly as expected.

It has shown flashes of potential but has been largely overwhelmed by the Big Ten’s top talent, but has been able to impose its will against weaker competition. The Huskies have allowed 24 sacks in 2024, which ranks No. 14 in the conference, but Fisch is confident that his young building blocks at the position will make big strides going forward.

Against UCLA, the nation’s No. 7 rushing defense, Washington mustered 125 yards on the ground while also limiting the Bruins front to a single sack. During his bye-week press conference, Fisch praised the group’s performance.

“We went against a really good defensive line,” he said. “I think [edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo] and [defensive tackle Jay Toia] are as good as they get, so we had some challenges at times, but I thought we did some really good things at other times. I thought we were able to get out of the pocket cleanly in moments and had chances to make some big plays; sometimes we did, sometimes we didn’t…I thought they had a nice night, but there’s a lot to improve upon.”

Freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. showcased his impressive ability to evade rushers and get out of the pocket when he took over in the third quarter, which could also take some pressure off the front when he assumes full-time starting duties in 2025. But, according to Fisch, he’s also going to have plenty of help from his line.

“Kahlee Tafai is continuing to improve; he’s going to be a really good player for us. Landen Hatchett continued to improve; he’s going to be a really good player for us. Drew Azzopardi continued to improve, so as we continue to see this group grow and get better, I’m looking forward to the future.”

Giles Jackson earns Dawg of the Week honors after UCLA win

The Washington Huskies honored Giles Jackson as their Dawg of the Week.

After each win, coach Jedd Fisch names one player on the Washington Huskies‘ roster “Dawg of the Week.” Following the Huskies’ 31-19 win over UCLA to close out an undefeated season at home, the head coach gave those honors to senior wide receiver Giles Jackson.

“It’s somebody that represents this program on and off the field,” Fisch said when defining the honor early in the season. “Somebody that has done an incredible job at coming in every day and acting like a pro, behaving like a pro, and preparing like a pro. When we talk about it with our guys and when you get that award, it means you’ve done things outside of the game and inside the playing field.”

The efforts of Jackson and the rest of Washington’s senior class boosted the Huskies to bowl eligibility after losing over 40 players from last season’s team that made a run to the national championship, but Jackson was one of the players who stayed and helped Fisch build his program.

He finished the game with a team-high 8 catches for 43 yards in what has been a career year for the sixth-year senior. Jackson’s 68 catches rank No. 2 in the Big Ten, while his 663 receiving yards are good for No. 8 in the conference.

Fisch and wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings have maximized his talents in his final year of eligibility, which could help Jackson make his way onto an NFL roster in the spring.

Washington earns crystal ball for sought-after four-star 2026 OL

Washington looks like the team to beat for one of the top offensive linemen in the West in the 2026 class.

(This story has been updated with new information)

As the Washington Huskies continue to settle into life in the Big Ten, Jedd Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll have made assembling the offensive line their top priority. On Monday afternoon, they got some good news from one of their top targets in the 2026 class.

Four-star offensive lineman Esun Tafa, who included the Huskies in his top five in late October, alongside BYU, Miami, Oregon, and Utah, received a crystal ball projection from 247Sports recruiting analyst Blair Angulo to pick Washington.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 10 interior offensive lineman and No. 182 overall player, the 6-foot-4, 305-pound product of Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, would be a big boost to Fisch’s growing 2026 class.

He’s also tried to model his game after one of Washington’s best offensive linemen in recent years, which should boost the coaching staff’s recruiting pitch.

“The reason why Washington is sticking out so much to me is Coach Carroll,” Tafa told Dawgman.com’s Scott Eklund in June. “He’s just so easy to talk to, and they produce a ton of talented linemen there. I really feel like he’d make me better and get me ready for the next level. Troy Fautanu, he’s a guy I always looked up to, and I feel like I play the game a lot like him. The more I talk to Coach Carroll, the more I feel like Washington is home over here.”

On Tuesday morning, Tafa announced a top three of Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and set his commitment date for Nov. 25.

Speedy three-star RB Quaid Carr joins Washington’s 2025 class

The Washington Huskies added a commitment from three-star running back Quaid Carr on Monday evening.

After taking an official visit to check out Seattle over the weekend to take in the Washington Huskies’ 31-19 victory over UCLA, three-star running back Quaid Carr announced his decommitment from San Diego State on Monday afternoon.

Less than two hours later, the product of Servite High School in Southern California announced his intentions to join coach Jedd Fisch’s 2025 class.

“I loved the school, and the community was wonderful,” Carr told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo. “The coaches, the players, and even the staff had so much respect for each other, and all talked so highly about each other. The highlight of the whole week was the game. The win was great, and how loud the stadium and the fans are is amazing. Their campus is huge, and the amazing part is, whatever you major in, it’s located in sections, which is not far from the stadium.”

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Carr possesses impressive track speed, where he runs a 10.74 100-meter dash, which translates very well to the football field. He tallied 1,102 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Trinity League, which is widely regarded as one of the nation’s top high school leagues.

He shouldn’t be expected to make an immediate impact in Fisch’s offense, especially if Jonah Coleman chooses to return for the 2025 season, but he has a very favorable long-term outlook thanks to his promising athleticism.

“I know I will fit into their scheme really well when it comes to the offense,” he continued. “I went through the [win over UCLA] and plays with [running backs] coach Scottie Graham, and he has a lot of great things coming in for me.”

Demond Williams Jr. named Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after replacing Will Rogers against UCLA.

Demond Williams Jr. is the reason the Washington Huskies are bowl-eligible in year one under Jedd Fisch.

The freshman quarterback was 7-for-8 passing for 67 yards and a touchdown and ran six times (including sacks) for 31 yards in place of Will Rogers, who was benched after two consecutive interceptions against UCLA on Friday night.

On Monday, the Big Ten recognized Williams for his efforts, naming him the conference’s Freshman of the Week for his performance. Williams is the second Husky to win the honor, as linebacker Khmori House was Big Ten Freshman of the Week after racking up three tackles and an interception against Northwestern in September.

Williams’ performance has also forced the Huskies to re-evaluate the depth chart under center heading into a heated rivalry game with Oregon, as Fisch told the media after the game Friday that the staff would use the bye week to determine whether Rogers or Williams will start in Autzen Stadium. Rogers has taken the Huskies this far and has largely played well, but he struggled to see the field on Friday and has been a consummate leader even when taken out.

Williams gives the offense clear upside thanks to his rushing ability, but throwing a true freshman in for his first start against a sold-out rival crowd and the no. 1 team in the country may be too big of an ask.

Regardless, it’s clear that Fisch was on to something when he called Williams the future face of Husky football. Monday’s honors should be the first of many accolades that the freshman accrues while on Montlake.

Russell Davis II wins Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after breakout game

Russell Davis II was recognized by the Big Ten after a stellar performance against UCLA.

The Washington Huskies showed coach Jedd Fisch a lot during their 31-19 victory over UCLA on Friday night, including that they have a budding star in edge rusher Russell Davis II.

The junior, who followed Fisch to Montlake from Seattle in January, was expected to be part of Washington’s rotation on the edge but missed the majority of the season due to an injury. He’s played in the team’s last three games and exploded against UCLA, wreaking havoc for quarterback Ethan Garbers and notching 3 of the Huskies’ 6 sacks on the day, a stat line that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

One of those was a strip sack in the second quarter. After the Huskies gave the ball back to the Bruins after failing to convert on fourth down, Davis stepped up on the edge of the red zone and knocked the ball out before recovering it himself.

The offense took the ensuing drive for 69 yards and a touchdown, giving the Huskies a 14-3 lead just before halftime. Davis shared the honor with Oregon edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei, who put together a sack and an interception in the Ducks’ 16-13 win over Wisconsin.

He also became the fourth Husky to take home conference honors this season, as quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and linebacker Khmori House have both been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, and linebacker Carson Bruener took home Defensive Player of the Week after his stellar performance against USC.

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The best photos from Washington’s 31-19 win over UCLA

Washington’s black uniforms provided a picturesque scene as they reached bowl eligibility.

The Washington Huskies achieved bowl eligibility with a 31-19 win over the UCLA Bruins on Friday night. That’s an impressive feat for coach Jedd Fisch, considering he had to replace over 40 players from the 2023 team that went 14-1 and made the national championship game.

The Huskies have struggled mightily at times this season but got a boost from plenty of players that Fisch considers the future of his program, namely quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who replaced fifth-year senior Will Rogers midway through the third quarter. The true freshman gave Washington’s offense a spark thanks to his playmaking ability, completing 7 of his 8 pass attempts for 67 yards and a touchdown, which went to his classmate, tight end Decker DeGraaf.

He also added 31 yards on the ground thanks to his jaw-dropping mobility, which also freed up plenty of room for running back Jonah Coleman, who crossed the 1,000-yard mark with 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win.

Defensively, Steve Belichick got a massive boost from his pass rush, which sacked UCLA quarterback and one-time Husky Ethan Garbers six times. Three of those sacks came from edge rusher Russell Davis II, who has missed most of the season with an injury. One of those was a strip sack that Davis recovered, one of two fumbles the Huskies recovered in the victory.

Check out the best photos from Washington’s senior night, where they donned their alternate all-black uniforms.

Oregon remains on top of US LBM Coaches Poll ahead of Washington matchup

The Washington Huskies will have to face the US LBM Coaches Poll’s consensus top team to close out the regular season.

It’s official, the Washington Huskies will have to face off with the No. 1 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll when they head to Autzen Stadium to face off with the Oregon Ducks.

Coach Dan Lanning’s team escaped a massive upset at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall on Saturday, 16-13, and now coach Jedd Fisch and the Huskies will have two weeks to prepare for their arch-rivals, but the question is: who will start for Washington?

In their Friday night victory over UCLA, Fisch made a switch in the second half, replacing fifth-year senior quarterback Will Rogers with freshman Demond Williams Jr., and was noncommittal about who will lead the Huskies after the bye week.

“I’m going to use the bye week for that,” he said on Friday. “And certainly announce that at the right time, or not, and let them defend two quarterbacks, I guess, for those 13 days.”

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 11-0 1,375 (55)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 9-1 1,316
3 Texas Longhorns 9-1 1,263
4 Penn State Nittany Lions 9-1 1,158
5 Indiana Hoosiers 10-0 1,109
6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-1 1096
7 Alabama Crimson Tide 8-2 996
8 Georgia Bulldogs 8-2 993
9 Ole Miss Rebels 8-2 984
10 Miami Hurricanes 9-1 847
11 Tennessee Volunteers 8-2 823
12 SMU Mustangs 9-1 744
13 Boise State Broncos 9-1 714
14 Texas A&M Aggies 8-2 646
15 BYU Cougars 9-1 633
16 Clemson Tigers 8-2 569
17 Army Black Knights 9-0 509
18 Colorado Buffaloes 8-2 464
19 South Carolina Gamecocks 7-3 379
20 Tulane Green Wave 9-2 280
21 Iowa State Cyclones 8-2 268
22 Arizona State Sun Devils 8-2 251
23 UNLV Rebels 8-2 93
24 Memphis Tigers 9-2 77
25 Kansas State Wildcats 7-3 67

Jedd Fisch noncommittal at quarterback after UCLA win

Demond Williams Jr. may start Washington’s final regular season game at Oregon.

After the Washington Huskies suffered a 35-6 loss to Penn State, coach Jedd Fisch didn’t wait to back fifth-year senior Will Rogers, stating that the Mississippi State transfer would start Friday night against UCLA.

Rogers struggled against the Bruins, completing 13 of his 21 passes for 115 yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions that came on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter. Then, Rogers was replaced by true freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who showed exactly why Fisch dubbed him the future of the Washington program.

Williams led the Huskies on two scoring drives in the second half, completing 7 of 8 attempts for 67 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Decker DeGraaf, adding six rushing attempts for 31 yards in Washington’s 31-19 win.

The freshman’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs seemed to unlock Washington’s offense and gave it a pace and energy that it hadn’t shown all season. Which raises the question, when the Huskies travel to Autzen Stadium for a matchup with No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 30, who will start under center?

“I’m going to use the bye week for that,” Fisch said after the game, “And certainly announce that at the right time, or not, and let them defend two quarterbacks, I guess, for those 13 days.”

Thanks to the win, no matter who starts against the Ducks, Fisch will also get the opportunity to utilize both players in a bowl game.

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UCLA football exposed by Washington Huskies in Big Ten loss

The Bruins lost an important Big Ten game to the Huskies.

The UCLA Bruins winning streak has come to an end. Losing to the Washington Huskies 31-19, UCLA drops to 3-5 in the Big Ten.

After three straight games of complementary football, the Bruins lost on the margins against Washington and reverted to early-season form.

From the jump, the Bruins were out of sync, punting on their first three drives and putting Eric Bieniemy’s offense behind the eight ball.

Unable to chew the clock and control the pace of play, the Bruins fell behind 7-0 early and faced an uphill battle against a talented Husky secondary. At the end of the first half, however, the Bruins looked to have life.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers orchestrated a ten-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, capped off with a one-yard touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer to bring the score to 10-14 entering the third quarter.

But in the second half, the Bruins broke down. UCLA’s stout defense allowed 17 points in the second half, and the offense stalled, save for a late touchdown pass to Moliki Matavo in the fourth quarter. Garbers finished with 267 yards on 27-44 passing with a pair of touchdowns and a fumble but could not boost the Bruins to a victory.

Now 4-6 on the season, UCLA’s chances of earning a bowl-berth look slim.

With USC and Fresno State on the slate to close out the season, the Bruins hope to win out and regroup for 2025.