SEATTLE - Dezmen Roebuck kept making plays all day at Washington’s fall camp practice on Tuesday, and he finished with the kind of grab that makes everyone stop and look.
On the fifth day of training camp at Husky Stadium, the second-year wide receiver tracked a pass from third-year quarterback Demond Williams Jr. over his back shoulder and hauled it in for a touchdown while third-year defensive back Rahshawn Clark stayed locked on him step for step. It was the final highlight of a practice that already had Roebuck piling up wins in team periods, including another touchdown catch and multiple first-down receptions.
That kind of outing has become familiar this offseason. Roebuck has not just flashed; he has steadily looked like Williams’ most reliable target, first in spring and now again in camp, where his consistency has stood out on a day-to-day basis.
The production backs up the buzz. As a true freshman last season, Roebuck finished second on the Huskies in receiving yards with 42 catches for 560 yards and seven touchdowns. He enters this year with the most receiving yards of any returning pass-catcher, especially after Washington’s leading receiver from last season, Denzel Boston, was selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Roebuck has also changed spots, moving from the outside into the slot this season.
Head coach Jedd Fisch sees a player whose ceiling is already drawing comparisons to a familiar type of weapon from his Arizona days.
"Dez is special," Fisch said after practice Tuesday. "He plays the same role Jacob Cowing did for us (with the Arizona Wildcats).
That was 90 catches two years in a row in 2022-23. It was, I think, 11 or 15 touchdowns one of those years and got him a fourth-round pick (in the NFL Draft).
Dez plays that same role for us and I'm expecting great things from Dez. I think Dez has an enormous ceiling and he's also a wonderful kid. ...
So excited to watch what he's going to do."
In Other News...
Washington's Transfer Class Could Decide How Far The Huskies Go
Washington spent the offseason reshaping its roster through the portal, bringing in 14 transfer players as it looks to build on last season and keep pace in a competitive Big Ten race. A handful of newcomers stand out right away because of both their experience and the positions they fill, including cornerback Emmanuel Karnley, defensive lineman Darin Conley, kicker Tyler Robles and running back Jayden Limar.
Karnley and Conley figure to help a defense that needs more reliable play on the back end and up front, while Robles gives the Huskies a specialist with a chance to stabilize a key spot. Limar, meanwhile, adds another layer to the offense as Washington tries to sort out its rotation and find answers that can hold up over a full season. The talent is there, but how quickly those transfers settle in may end up saying a lot about just how far the Huskies can go. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Camp Battle Is Starting To Reveal A Defensive Climber
Washingtons training camp brought the Huskies back inside Husky Stadium for a practice that mixed offense-versus-defense drills with a few notable absences, and the defense came away looking like the sharper side for much of the day. The offense still had its moments, with Christian Moss and Justice Williams both flashing in spots, but the overall tone of the workout leaned toward a unit that was winning more of the key battles.
Among the players drawing attention was freshman safety Gavin Day, who kept showing up around the football and continuing a camp trend that has made him hard to ignore. With several Huskies sidelined for the session, the door was open for younger players to make an impression, and Day appears to be climbing fast enough to force the staff to keep a closer eye on how much more he can carve out before the season turns from competition to consequence. [Read more 🡒]
Washingtons Backup QB Battle Is Starting To Get Real
Jedd Fischs latest look at Washington camp had a little bit of everything, from the defensive front to the quarterback room, but the most interesting subplot might be the one behind Demond Williams Jr. Stanford transfer Elijah Brown is in the mix to become the Huskies No. 2 quarterback, with Dash Beierly and Tristan Kini McMillan also trying to make that job their own as fall work continues. Its the kind of competition that can shape a season quietly at first, especially for a team that wants every snap in August to sort itself out before the games start counting.
Fisch also pointed to the defensive line, where Ramzak Frueans explosiveness has stood out and Taitai Uiagaleleis return adds another layer of depth for Washington. For a roster trying to build stability on both sides of the ball, those developments matter just as much as the headline battle under center. The Huskies have already seen one offseason story line settle into place at quarterback, but the backup race is still one of the cleaner ways to measure how much trust this team really has behind its starter. [Read more 🡒]