Rashid Williams flashes star potential during Washington spring game

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Rashid Williams has been waiting for an opportunity to show Washington Huskies fans what he's capable of.

A composite four-star recruit in the 2023 class, Williams has only caught 18 passes for 222 yards and 1 touchdown in 17 games across three seasons. There have been good reasons for that lack of production – Williams had five future NFL players in front of him during a redshirt year in 2023, then watched as Denzel Boston took a jump into 2024. Collarbone and hand injuries as a redshirt sophomore in 2025 then limited Williams to only two games when he was expected to be the team's No. 2 receiver behind Boston.

Williams has stayed the course, however, never entering the transfer portal or questioning his future with the Huskies. Even with breakout freshman Dezmen Roebuck returning and high-upside players like Chris Lawson, Jordan Clay, and Trez Davis joining the fray, Williams has been the one who has looked steadiest during spring practice for Washington.

He parlayed that strong spring into a strong spring game on Friday night, leading all receivers with 65 yards and scoring on a 43-yard post route thrown by starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. in the second quarter to tie the game at 10.

The fact that it was a post is notable – that's been a staple route concept and big play generator for head coach Jedd Fisch in his time at Washington and has been one of Williams' best routes as a passer since he arrived on campus.

Williams' chemistry with the returning quarterback has been one of the major storylines of the spring. Demond Williams' bond with Roebuck is to be expected, considering the two have run in the same circles since middle school. But Lawson, Clay, and transfers Christian Moss and Bodpegn Miller all missed time at various points this spring, losing a handful of practices that Washington hoped would build their chemistry with Williams. Instead, the junior signal-caller has primarily looked towards the receiver who shares his last name, with chemistry that has evidently not faded from additional practice time when Williams was healthy in 2024 and 2025.

"Rashid's had a great spring. This is the first spring since he's been here that he's stayed healthy all spring," Fisch told the media after the game Friday night. "To be able to see him take on more of a leadership role and make some big plays tonight was cool to see. Obviously, the big touchdown was great. The toe-tap was cool."

Williams didn't just catch passes from Williams, however. He stayed in the game on Friday for a few drives with third-string quarterback Kini McMillan at the helm, pulling in a 13-yard reception on the sideline and another 7-yard catch on the left side before exiting for the night.

With Boston – who was in attendance on Friday – off to the Cleveland Browns, the Huskies need a player who can step up in that room the same way Boston did in 2024 if they are going to reach the heights their players and coaches continue to tell the media they intend to. Friday showed that Williams may be closer to that jump than some may have thought to end the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Rashid Williams flashes star potential during UW football spring game

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