Trust has been a recurring theme around Washington this offseason, and Demond Williams Jr. is still working to earn it after his brief trip into the Transfer Portal. One of the ways he tried to do that was by surprising his teammates with a post-practice gift, handing out JLab headphones to the entire roster. The bigger question, of course, is how that translates once the ball is kicked off Sunday.
That Sunday meeting is the Apple Cup, and the injury picture is starting to come into focus. Jedd Fisch said Monday that Landen Hatchett is the only player, other than Jordan Washington and CJ Christian, who has been ruled out. Fisch also spent time walking through the recently released depth chart, the overall state of the roster, and how UW is preparing for the rivalry game.
Across the state line, Washington State coach Kirby Moore held his own Apple Cup availability and said only two Cougars will be unavailable: tight ends Trey Leckner and Hudson Cedarland. Moore also pointed out that he knows this matchup well. He was a graduate assistant at UW in 2015 and 2016, attended the 2012 Apple Cup as a fan when WSU won, and was on the Boise State team that beat UW in the Las Vegas Bowl that same year.
UW’s own coaches and players also spoke yesterday, with defensive coordinator Ryan Walters and wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings joining Demond Williams, Drew Azzopardi, Jacob Manu, Xe’ree Alexander, and Elinneus Davis at the podium. One of the names that came up again was defensive lineman transfer Kai McClendon, who landed on the 2-deeps despite barely practicing until the end of fall camp. His rehab and early work with the Huskies were also the subject of a separate story.
The outside chatter around UW has been lively, too. Josh Pate labeled the Huskies a potential chaos team, one that could either make the CFP or knock another team out of the picture.
CBS Sports included Rashid Williams among the 25 biggest boom-or-bust players in college football this season, saying he has plenty of upside but needs to show he can produce consistently. Athlon Sports also put Demond Williams Jr. against Dante Moore on its list of the five best quarterback battles in the Big Ten this year.
There’s a little more pageantry built into this Apple Cup as well, with UW’s 2016 team set to be honored. Lars Hanson noted that there are several similarities between that group and the current Huskies.
On the volleyball side, Washington picked up a pair of Big Ten honors after a strong opening weekend. Kylie Kleckner was named Freshman of the Week after earning MVP honors in her first college tournament, while Maija Howse was selected as the B1G Defensive Player of the Week. The Huskies went 3-0 to win their opening tournament, and now head to Norman, Oklahoma for matches against Ole Miss on Thursday and Oklahoma on Friday.
In Other News...
Washington Recruiting Momentum Just Put Danny Sprinkle In A Huge Spot
Washingtons mens basketball recruiting push is starting to look like a real early test for Danny Sprinkles staff, with the Huskies working hard on top talent from the Classes of 2027 and 2028. One of the biggest names on that board is five-star shooting guard Jordan Mize, a nationally ranked prospect with a growing list of major offers, and his presence on the Huskies radar says plenty about how aggressively Washington is trying to build forward momentum.
Mize is set to make an official visit to campus in September, and that trip figures to be a key moment in the process as Washington tries to turn interest into something more concrete. If the Huskies can keep making progress there, it would be another signal that Sprinkle is not just chasing talent, but beginning to stack up real momentum with the kind of player who can change the direction of a recruiting class. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Gets An Early Chance To Shake Up The Rivalry
The 2026 season will open with a familiar edge for the Huskies, who are set to face Washington State right away in a rivalry game that already carries extra weight. Washington comes in ranked No. 17 and favored to handle the Cougars, but the backdrop matters too: the Huskies have had their share of growing pains since moving into the Big Ten after thriving in the Pac-12, and early September will offer a quick read on where they stand.
A big reason for optimism is Demond Williams Jr., who is back as the starting quarterback after a strong previous season and gives Washington a steady hand as it tries to settle into its new conference life. The rivalry matchup gives the Cougars an early chance to make things uncomfortable, and for the Huskies it is the kind of game that can either reinforce expectations or expose how much work still remains. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Faces A Huge Apple Cup Test With Elite Recruit Watching
The Apple Cup already carries plenty of weight in Washington State rivalry week, but this one has an added recruiting wrinkle with four-star tight end Tytan McNeal set to be in the building. McNeal is working through official visits and will take in the matchup between the Huskies and Cougars, giving Washington a chance to show off the program in front of one of the top offensive prospects in the country.
For the Huskies, the timing matters as much as the opponent. A strong showing in a game like this can leave an impression on elite recruits, especially one weighing multiple schools and looking closely at how a program handles pressure atmospheres. Washington has plenty to sell, but the result on the field could shape how much momentum it carries with McNeal once the visits keep rolling. [Read more 🡒]