Jedd Fisch, Steve Belichick, and Brennan Carroll will tout a very different-looking Washington Husky football team inside Husky Stadium on Friday night for the team’s annual Spring game. There are new faces at nearly every position across this roster. The offense is going to feature a pro-style scheme under Carroll’s direction. Defensively, it’s a New England Patriots-influenced defense coached by Belichick. There’s been a lot to digest after a month full of Spring practices. But four players will be worth keeping a close eye on come this Friday night.
Demond Williams Jr.
The football really bounces out of the hands of quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The true freshman would otherwise still be in high school had he not enrolled early at Washington. For the majority of the Spring, Williams has been the number two to the SEC’s second-all-time leading passer in Will Rogers III. But that gap is not what we thought it’d be back in March. Throughout April, Williams has shown his abilities as a passer, a runner, and a decision-maker.
As a passer, Williams has exhibited impressive ball placement to all levels of the field. We’ve seen him deliver touch throws to the corners of the field with the arm strength to deliver the football over 55 air yards. He can also put velocity on the football when needed. Williams has the ability to drive the football to the sidelines on out-breaking routes, and through the defense on over-the-middle throws. The quarterback stands at 5’-11”, but his height is far from a disadvantage. Williams can change arm angle and deliver the football around defenders and through the line of scrimmage in tight windows.
His versatility as a passer is coupled with his ability to feel pressure, mobilize in the pocket, and explode up-field when needed. Williams gets from first gear to fourth gear in an instant, putting the defense on its heels when he’s in the game. But his composure sets him apart as a true freshman. Williams has shown that he’s a pass-first quarterback. His eyes are consistently downfield while his body floats under pressure, and the break-away speed is always in his back pocket. Playing behind the veteran, Williams possesses a unique talent of what will be the future of the quarterbacks room at Washington. His first game action will be on Friday.
WR Denzel Boston
People might be surprised to see that there won’t be much of a step back in the wide receiver room at Washington. Three NFL Draft picks from last year’s receiver room would typically leave holes to fill. But these receivers are very talented. One of the group’s leaders is Denzel Boston. The 6’-4” receiver has made catch after catch this spring in a variety of different ways. Boston’s catch radius is what will separate him this season. We’ve seen him extend over the middle, high-point the football, and make in-route adjustments to the throw consistently. He has very reliable, strong hands that can pull the football down in many locations. Boston also made multiple one-handed catches in the Spring. That includes one in tight coverage on the run, as he fell to the turf for a touchdown.
Boston also has shown his ability to make contested catches in the face of dependable cornerbacks including Ephesians Prysock and Elijah Jackson. His matchup battles with Prysock were fun to watch this Spring. Both players are listed at 6’-4” and Boston said he loves that battle. He said his work against the tall cornerback is, “Something I can add to my game… We battle every day and that’s only getting us both better.”
Boston’s timing on jump balls allows him to get above the defender and pick the football out of the air at its highest point. He finishes those catches by elevating the football with his hands as he returns to the turf, keeping it out of reach of the defender. The technique and consistency we’ve seen in his pass-catching this Spring point to him being ready for a big season in the Fall. Boston was forced to sit behind three great receivers last season. But he said he’s excited to take advantage of his opportunity now. He told us, “Waiting behind those guys was for sure the best thing for me to do, to stay patient.” It’s his time this season, and we’ll get an early look on Friday night at Washington’s Spring game.
DB Jordan Shaw
One of the most impressive players on the defensive side of the football this Spring has been Jordan Shaw. The sophomore played in four games at Indiana last season before he committed to Fisch’s staff. That commitment brought him to Washington. And now he’s trending to be one of the starting defensive backs on Belichick’s defense. Shaw primarily played the “STAR” position on defense. It’s a position similar to what was called the “Husky” in last year’s defense and what many refer to as the nickelback. It has many of the same responsibilities, and Shaw described it as a position that requires the ability to be physical, patient, and know everyone’s assignment on the defense.
Shaw impressed in that regard all Spring. During 11-on-11 sessions at practice, he routinely made plays on the football, breaking up passes and getting in passing lanes. During Washington’s first scrimmage this Spring, Shaw had an interception and a pass breakup against Williams at quarterback. He was also credited with a sack on Rogers. Shaw told us a few weeks ago that his adjustment to Washington had been smooth and that he’d been picking up the defense without any issues. That had certainly been on display in practice. He’ll now get to show it off during the Washington Spring game inside Husky Stadium.
DL Russell Davis II
The line of scrimmage was one of the points of interest all Spring. Fisch is adding players on both sides of the ball via the transfer portal. The depth at offensive line has resulted in limited reps this Spring. But during the two team scrimmages, we’ve seen Russell Davis II be disruptive on the defensive line. Davis was one of the players that transferred up to Washington, following Fisch and staff from Arizona. He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Tucson where he tallied 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks on over 430 snaps. He brings a good bit of experience to this Washington front and has been among the starting group all Spring.
In two combined scrimmages, he was credited for 4.5 “sacks” and a couple of pass breakups. Sacks are largely a judgment call during practice, as the quarterbacks have no-contact jerseys on. But Davis was getting in the backfield consistently and providing pressure in the backfield. After he let up on one of his “sacks” the quarterback threw an interception that Carson Bruener returned for six points. Davis was also involved in a lot of run stops. He consistently forced congestion in the middle of the defensive front to stop short-run plays. His production from Arizona seems to be already translating well to Washington. Davis is going to be a player worth keeping an eye on during the Washington Spring game.
