Washington football star QB named to 2026 Maxwell Award watch list

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Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was featured on the Maxwell Award watch list when it was released on Monday, as the junior is looking to further establish himself as one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

As a sophomore, Williams didn't take long to assert himself as one of the Big Ten's best signal callers, completing 69.5 percent of his passes for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns to go with 8 interceptions, while adding 611 yards and 6 scores with his legs.

Now, ahead of his second full season as the Huskies' starter, especially now that running back Jonah Coleman and wide receiver Denzel Boston have both departed for the NFL, Williams will have a lot more on his shoulders, and coach Jedd Fisch hasn't been shy about urging his quarterback to be at his best in big games.

After he struggled against some of the Big Ten's best defenses as a sophomore, Williams is relying on his growth both on the field and as a leader to help take his game to the next level.

"I think it's through bad moments, having resiliency in those games," Williams said on the Locked On Huskies podcast. "Not waiting until the next game to turn it back on necessarily or needing a bad game to kind of flip the switch."

"I think it's through those games, understanding how to have a fast-track mindset, how to flip the script, and I've been working with our mental health guides, just to continue to talk to them every single day, and it's helping me be in a better scenario for those moments."

If Williams were to win the Maxwell Award, he'd become the second Husky to do so after quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took home the trophy after the 2023 season.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington football star QB named to 2026 Maxwell Award watch list

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