So, if you’ve been following the Washington Huskies lately, you know the last 72 hours have been absolutely mental. Honestly, trying to keep up with the roster changes at Montlake right now feels like trying to read a map in a hurricane. Between the Big Ten transition growing pains and the relentless churn of the transfer portal, Jedd Fisch is basically playing high-stakes Tetris with a 100-man roster.
The biggest thing everyone is talking about—the Washington Huskies football news that basically broke the local internet—is the Demond Williams Jr. situation. For a minute there, it looked like the future of the program was walking out the door.
The Demond Williams Rollercoaster
Let's just be real: losing Demond would have been a catastrophe. When the news hit that he was considering the portal, the panic in Seattle was palpable. We aren't just talking about a backup quarterback; we're talking about the guy everyone has pegged as the face of the post-Penix era.
He actually flirted with the portal. Hard. There were rumors about LSU, whispers about NIL valuation gaps, and even a brief moment where he reportedly lost his agent in the middle of the mess. But as of this week, he’s back. Jedd Fisch spent a good chunk of his Wednesday presser downplaying the "fallout," basically saying it was just part of the modern game.
It’s kinda wild to think that a player can announce they’re leaving and then just... stay. But in 2026, that’s just a Tuesday in college football. Williams staying put gives the Huskies a stable foundation under center, which is massive considering they just watched 17 other players jump into the portal this cycle.
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Washington Huskies Football News: The Transfer Portal Influx
While the "out" door has been swinging pretty fast, the "in" door is finally starting to see some heavy traffic. Fisch and his staff have been aggressive, specifically targeting the defensive side of the ball where the Huskies were, frankly, a bit thin during the 2025 campaign.
The big local headline? Jayden Limar is coming home. The former Lake Stevens star and Oregon running back is transferring to Washington. It’s a huge get. He’s got one year of eligibility left and averaged nearly 6 yards a carry for the Ducks. Seeing him in purple and gold is going to be a trip for anyone who followed his recruitment out of high school.
The defensive line is also getting a massive facelift. They just picked up Kai McClendon from Mississippi State. He’s the third guy from that school to head to Seattle recently. At 6'2" and over 300 pounds, he’s the kind of interior anchor they desperately need for the physical grind of the Big Ten.
Who’s In and Who’s Out?
The roster math is exhausting. Here is the gist of where things stand right now:
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- Incoming Highlights: Kai McClendon (DL), Jayden Limar (RB), and Emmanuel Karnley (CB).
- The Big Losses: Marcus Harris, the touted wide receiver, is officially gone after a season-long struggle with injuries. Same for Paki Finau and Adam Mohammed, who both decided to look elsewhere.
- The Retention Win: Re-signing 61 players from the 2025 roster. In an era where 40% of a team might leave annually, keeping 60% is actually a sneaky win for Fisch’s culture-building.
The Big Ten Reality Check
Looking back at the 2025 season, Washington finished with a 9-4 record. That’s... okay? I mean, for a program that played for a national title not too long ago, 9-4 feels a bit like a "B-" grade. They finished 9th in the Big Ten standings, which sounds worse than it is when you realize they were stuck in a conference with a 15-0 Indiana team and a 13-win Oregon squad.
The Huskies were 7-2 at home but struggled on the road (3-2). That’s the "Big Ten Tax." Traveling from Seattle to places like New Jersey or Bloomington is a different kind of beast, and you can see it in the stats. They scored 443 points but gave up 243. The defense was actually pretty solid, but they lacked that "knockout" punch in close games against the elite tier.
Recruiting for 2026
Recruiting hasn't slowed down either. The Huskies have already locked in 25 members for the class of 2026. Fisch is leaning heavily into the "local-plus-California" model.
They’ve landed some big-time bodies, including Kolt Dieterich, a 6'6" offensive tackle from Texas. If Washington is going to compete with the likes of Ohio State and Michigan, they have to stop getting bullied in the trenches. Dieterich is a massive step toward fixing that. They also picked up Logan George, an Edge rusher out of Idaho who’s been climbing the rankings lately.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Current State
There’s this narrative that Washington is "falling behind" because they aren't spending $20 million on a single recruiting class. Honestly, that’s just not how Fisch is playing it. He’s focusing on retention and "portal-proofing" the roster.
The Demond Williams saga was a test of that. If they had lost him, the narrative would be "Washington can't keep its stars." By keeping him, the message changes to "Washington can weather the storm."
It’s also worth noting the special teams moves. They’ve added a new kicker, Tyler Robles, and a punter, Hunter Green. It sounds boring, but in the Big Ten, field position and reliable kicking are basically the difference between 9-4 and 11-2.
Actionable Next Steps for Husky Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you actually need to watch over the next few weeks:
- Watch the Spring Game Date: The 2026 spring practice schedule is about to drop. This will be the first time we see the new-look defensive line in a live setting. Pay attention to Kai McClendon's snap count.
- Monitor the 2027 Offers: Fisch is already moving on to the next cycle. Several high-profile local kids from the Seattle Metro area have visited recently.
- Keep an eye on the remaining 17 open portal spots: With 21 players out and only 9 in so far, the Huskies have room for about 10-12 more additions before fall camp. Expect a heavy focus on veteran defensive backs and maybe one more experienced wide receiver to replace Marcus Harris.
The Huskies aren't in a rebuild; they're in a renovation. It's messy, there's dust everywhere, and sometimes the plumbing (NIL) leaks. But the foundation—especially with Williams staying—is a lot stronger than the doomers on Twitter would have you believe.