In full pads for Saturday’s practice, Washington spent a lot of the afternoon in 11-on-11 scrimmage sessions. It was a great opportunity to see the team moving at full speed compared to Thursday’s practice in shells. Several young players made plays as the competition took a step up inside Dempsey Indoor on Saturday. For the offense, three wide receivers stood out with touchdown grabs and quality fundamentals during the team periods. The tight end room is also breaking in several young players with the leadership of a rising junior at the position.
Husky Receivers on Day Six
WR Justice Williams
Redshirt sophomore Justice Williams had two touchdown receptions on Saturday. The first was a goal-line slant route in one-on-one coverage with the cornerback. Williams won the battle off the line, creating inside leverage on the defender and turning inside to make the grab. Elijah Brown placed the football accurately for the score.
Later on, Williams found the end zone in a similar goal-line set. But this time it was an end zone corner route that led him to the corner pylon. Williams created separation from the cornerback, whose outstretched arms could not reach the football. The receiver grabbed the pass for his second touchdown of the afternoon. Again, it was a quality pass by the Stanford transfer Brown at quarterback.
Freshmen Receiver Standouts
It wasn’t just Williams who found the end zone on Saturday. Freshmen Jordan Clay and Trez Davis each had a reception touchdown during the 11-on-11 portions of practice. Clay has been running primarily with the first-team offense, lined up alongside Rashid Williams and Dezmen Roebuck at receiver. His early repetitions with the starters have earned him several opportunities to showcase his receiving skillset against the starting defense, and he did just that on Saturday.
Clay was targeted on an end zone fade route with Dylan Robinson in coverage. Demond Williams placed the football in his direction, allowing the freshman receiver a chance at a contested catch. Clay elevated above Robinson and snatched the football before the cornerback could get a hand up. For a true freshman at receiver, it was a veteran play against a cornerback with starting experience in the Big Ten. The offense swarmed Clay along the sideline in celebration.
Davis, taking reps primarily with the second team, also had a nice route for a touchdown. And it wasn’t the catch that was the most impressive on this play. This time, it was his release at the line of scrimmage. In press coverage, Davis fought through the physicality of the cornerback getting to his outside release. Then it was his speed that took over, separating from the defender and coming wide open down the sideline for an easy catch and score on a pass thrown by Kini McMillan.
Tight End Development
Decker DeGraaf also had a touchdown reception on Saturday. On a short route near the goal line, DeGraff made the reception and fought through contact to reach the end zone. Entering his third season, the true junior is now the leader of the tight end room.
“I think the biggest challenge to Decker is ownership of the offense and not just from an individual standpoint, I think more conceptual,” tight ends coach Jordan Paopao said after practice. “And I think he’s done a great job of mentoring the young guys. I think that’s really kind of changed in his mind, is how much can I help just the younger dudes and bring them along,” he continued. “I’ve always said this, teaching is one of the most important things just in terms of mastery of knowledge. And I think he’s done a really nice job.”
DeGraff was Washington’s third-leading receiver a year ago with 32 catches for 360 yards and two touchdowns. With Quentin Moore moving on, one of DeGraaf’s goals this season is to prove he can be a quality run blocker in addition to his receiving skills. “[I] just want to show that I’m a dominant run blocker and I can pass pro with everyone,” DeGraaf said after Saturday’s practice. “Then still being a dominant pass catcher. Just being well-rounded.” It’s a young room outside of DeGraaf, but the rising junior is up 10 pounds from where he played a season ago. He’s listed at 6’-4” and 250 pounds, ready to show his versatility at the position in 2026.
Main Image: Nick Lemkau
