Demond Williams Jr. Breaks Silence, Reaffirms Commitment to Washington Ahead of 2026 Season
There’s no shortage of buzz surrounding the Washington Huskies heading into the 2026 college football season-and a big reason for that is the return of junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
After a breakout 2025 campaign in his first full year as a starter, Williams is back in purple and gold, and expectations are sky-high. He led the Big Ten in total yards last season with 3,676, throwing for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding another 611 yards and six scores on the ground.
Efficient, dynamic, and composed, Williams showed he could be the engine of a high-powered offense. But for a brief, chaotic stretch in January, his future in Seattle was anything but certain.
When the transfer portal opened on January 2, Williams signed a $4 million deal to return to Washington. Just four days later, he stunned the college football world by announcing-via social media-that he intended to enter the portal after all, tagging his entry with a no-contact designation. The timing of the announcement sparked immediate backlash, not just because of the sudden change, but because it coincided with a solemn moment for the Washington athletic community: a celebration of life for UW women’s soccer player Mia Hamant, who passed away in November after battling a rare form of kidney cancer.
The reaction was swift and emotional. Reports emerged that the university was exploring legal options to enforce the terms of Williams’ deal. Fans and teammates were left in the dark, and speculation ran rampant about where the quarterback might be headed next.
But just as quickly as the drama flared up, it settled. On January 8, Williams reversed course and announced he would, in fact, return to Washington for the 2026 season. He apologized for the timing of his initial announcement, stating that it wasn’t intentional and expressing remorse for the distraction it caused during a moment of mourning for the UW community.
Now, for the first time since that whirlwind week, Williams has spoken publicly. Sitting alongside head coach Jedd Fisch and teammates John Mills, Jayden Limar, Derek Colman-Brusa, and Jacob Lane, the 19-year-old quarterback addressed the media and took ownership of the situation.
“Being 19, you get good advice and you get really bad advice at times,” Williams said. “We’re all human, we all make mistakes.
At the end of the day, I’m just super blessed to be here with my brothers, my coaches, and just at the University of Washington. I’m so happy to be here.”
Williams didn’t dive into the details-no confirmation of where he might have transferred, and when asked directly about the rumors linking him to LSU, he offered a simple “no comment.” But what he did make clear is that his focus is locked in on the present.
“My entire focus is just focused on moving forward,” Williams said. “Having my eyes set on our goals as a team.
Continue to be the leader and the quarterback for this team that I can be. Just taking it day-by-day, and that’s what I tell Mills and the O-line a lot of the time.
Just take it day-by-day. Try to figure out how to get better each day.”
It’s the kind of grounded, team-first mentality that Washington fans were hoping to hear-and one that could go a long way toward healing any lingering frustration from the January saga. Williams emphasized repeatedly that he feels grateful to be back and is determined to help this team reach its potential.
And make no mistake: the potential is real. With Williams at the helm, the Huskies have the kind of dual-threat playmaker who can take over games and elevate everyone around him. His chemistry with the offensive line, his ability to extend plays, and his leadership in the locker room will be key as Washington looks to make noise in the Big Ten once again.
There may still be some fans who feel burned by how the situation unfolded. But in college football, as in life, time and success have a way of smoothing things over. If Williams leads the Huskies to wins-and possibly more-the noise will fade, and the focus will shift to what really matters: what happens on the field.
For now, Washington has its quarterback back. And that means the Huskies’ 2026 ambitions are very much intact.