Washington football among CFB's top progams in returning production

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Jedd Fisch is incredibly optimistic about how the Washington Huskies are shaping up ahead of his third season at the helm.

Despite having to replace five projected NFL draft picks, including two of his biggest contributors in running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston with promising, yet inexperienced young talent, he has remained undeterred, and ESPN's Bill Connelly put together some numbers that proved Fisch's point: Washington is among the nation's top programs with the most returning production ahead of the 2026 season.

According to Connelly, the Huskies rank No. 15 in the nation in returning production, with 69 percent returning on offense (which ranks No. 13 in the nation) and 61 percent of defense (No. 27). Offensively, a big chunk of that number is thanks to the return of quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who accounted for 3,065 passing yards and 25 touchdowns during his sophomore season, while adding 611 yards and 6 scores on the ground.

Defensively, alongside a promising linebacker corps led by Xe'ree Alexander, Jacob Manu, and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, the Huskies are bringing back one of the best safeties in the Big Ten in all-conference honorable mention Alex McLaughlin. In his first year in Seattle, the Northern Arizona transfer compiled 89 tackles, 3 for loss, 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions (one pick-six), and a fumble recovery, which he also returned for a score against UCLA.

However, despite the majority of Washington's production returning, the Huskies still have major questions to answer on both sides of the ball during spring practice.

On offense, will Freshman All-American Dezmen Roebuck step up and become the focal point of the passing game? Or will the Huskies rely on the promising young talent they brought in through the high school ranks and transfer portal to round out the passing attack?

Plus, at running back, after Adam Mohammed departed for the California Golden Bears, will the Huskies go with a running back by committee approach? After adding Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley from the transfer portal, and with promising young options like Jordan Washington, Brian Bonner, and Quaid Carr, there are plenty of talented options to pick from, while defensively, the Huskies are looking to overhaul their pass rush and replace several veterans along the defensive line that led Ryan Walters' unit to the No. 12-ranked run defense in the nation in 2025.

Fisch will get his first opportunity to display what his plan is in 2026 on Tuesday, March 31, when the Huskies hit the field for their first spring practice.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington is among the nation's top programs in returning production

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