Washington’s quarterback situation is dire. There’s only one scholarship quarterback on the team right now. It’s Demond Williams Jr., an early enrollee in the class of 2024 who recently transferred into the course. There are currently two walk-on quarterbacks on Jedd Fisch’s roster. On Sunday, Williams Jr. and three other transfers from Arizona arrived in Washington. Up to thirty players from the Huskies’ depth chart for the National Championship will need to be replaced. Although they are only one component of the jigsaw, quarterbacks may be the most crucial.
The Quarterbacks of Kalen DeBoer
On Monday, January 8, Michael Penix Jr. participated in the National Championship Game, his final match wearing purple and gold. Washington anticipated it would have competition in the summer at the position because of his bright future in the NFL. On December 11th, backup Dylan Morris put his name in the transfer portal prior to the championship game. On the same day, news broke that Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers would be paying Washington an official visit. Morris left the program because it appeared that his future there would be as a backup once more.
Rogers said on December 15th that he would play for the Huskies. The former Mississippi State quarterback made a significant shift. During his time in Starkville, he threw for over 12,000 yards and 94 touchdowns. In Seattle, Rogers appeared to be a perfect fit for Kalen DeBoer’s scheme.
Although it’s not ideal, situations like these frequently arise when there is a coaching staff change. Williams is a gifted freshman who Fisch signed, but this spring will require more work. On April 15, the transfer portal will reopen for undergraduate admission.
William Haskell, a reserve quarterback for the Huskies and a former San Diego State quarterback, joined Rogers on the transfer portal the same day he entered his name again. Through the transfer portal in 2023, DeBoer’s staff members hired the Arizona native class of 2021.
The Huskies lost one of their projected quarterbacks of the future two days later. On January 14th, Austin Mack made his way into the transfer portal. The Californian quarterback, standing six feet six inches tall, was ranked seventh in the class of 2023. He was brought to Washington by DeBoer and staff, and he seemed like the room’s future. Rather, he used the transfer gateway to trail DeBoer’s employees to Alabama.
Jackson Kollock, a four-star quarterback in the class of 2025, was also decommitted on same day. The current roster was significantly impacted by DeBoer’s departure, and it began to affect high school commitments as well.
Fisch was also appointed the next head coach of the Washington football team on January 14. That Sunday afternoon, Fisch had a team meeting with his former group and then boarded a jet to meet his new program in Seattle. He would need to start working on a lot of roster rebuilding.
Jedd Fisch’s Reconstruction of the Roster
During his official introduction on Tuesday, the 16th, Fisch discussed the significance of rebuilding this Huskies roster. He also discussed the recruits he would bring in to develop another championship contender. His remarks did not, however, completely stop the transfer portal entries. Alex Johnson, a senior reserve quarterback, signed up to the transfer site one day later. The 2023 season was the only one the community college transfer played for Washington. Washington has already lost seven quarterbacks up to this point. From the starter from the previous season to a 2025 recruit, almost everyone was there. There were now just two walk-ons and one scholarship quarterback on the active roster.
In Fisch’s initial round of transfer portal additions, a quarterback was present. Williams Jr., a former Arizona early enrollee, was signed by him. The quarterback for the class of 2024 was the starting quarterback for the Army All-American Game in January and an Elite 11 Finalist. Out of high school, the native of Arizona was a four-star recruit. He had committed himself to Washington on Sunday, January 21st.
The issue, though, is that the only scholarship quarterback the Huskies still have on the field was an early enrollee from the class of 2024. Dermaricus Davis was a four-star recruit who was in the same recruiting cycle as Williams. Williams’ admission to the program implies that the coaching staff believes he will be the team’s quarterback in the future.
The background that Fisch and Williams shared in Arizona serves to bolster the argument. The next day, Davis went onto the transfer portal.
Washington’s QB Issue
Sort of like going back to square one. As of this writing, Washington had three quarterbacks on its roster. The sole person on scholarship is Williams. Step-ons The remaining space is occupied by sophomore Camdyn Stiegeler and junior Teddy Purcell. Out of the Huskies’ quarterbacks, eight have either decommitted, joined the NFL Draft, or used the transfer portal.
Although it’s not ideal, situations like these frequently arise when there is a coaching staff change. Williams is a gifted freshman who Fisch signed, but this spring will require more work. On April 15, the transfer portal will reopen for undergraduate admission.
