Demond Williams Joins Elite Company During Win Over Utah State
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Washington's offensive performance was anything but pretty Saturday afternoon, as the Huskies survived a late surge from Utah State Aggies to take a 16-14 victory. Jedd Fisch's offense was held without a touchdown in the second half, as Washington had to settle for field goals twice in the fourth quarter.
One of the few silver linings, however, was a landmark in the career of quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
Following a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter, Williams became the third Washington quarterback to eclipse 1,000 career rushing yards, joining Marques Tuiasosopo and Jake Locker as the only other Husky signal callers to accomplish the feat. It took the junior 28 games to hit the landmark, beating Tuiasosopo to the punch by just one appearance, while Locker needed just 14.
Since arriving on Montlake in the spring of 2024, Williams has become one of the most dynamic players in college football. In his first full season as a starter last year, the sophomore threw for over 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns while posting 611 yards and 6 scores on the ground.
The explosive playmaker has been Washington's leading rusher in each of its first two games this season, going for 61 yards in the Apple Cup and 56 yards against Utah State. With the running back room having to rely on its depth due to Quaid Carr, Jayden Limar, and Jordan Washington all sidelined with injuries, Jedd Fisch has had to rely on his second-year starting quarterback to help carry the load.
While having a passer who possesses elite speed is usually a luxury, it's almost become a necessity for the Huskies. In both of their first two wins, Williams has had to come up with big-time plays on the ground to will his team to victory. Late in the fourth quarter against Washington State, the former four-star recruit made three defenders miss on a third-and-9 conversion for a 21-yard gain, extending a drive that resulted in the game-sealing touchdown. On Saturday, Williams' 36-yard rush helped the Huskies come away with a field goal on the drive, and those points were the difference in the two-point victory.
Regardless of what the remainder of Williams and Washington's season looks like, there's no debating the electric playmaking ability of the third-year Husky. As a freshman, the Arizona native showed flashes of brilliance during an uncertain portion of the program's history.
Now, as a junior, Williams is aiming to take Jedd Fisch's program to the next level.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Demond Williams Joins Elite Company During Win Over Utah State
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos