Jedd Fisch told the media on Monday of the bye week that he does not plan to name a starter ahead of Washington’s trip to Oregon next week. Will Rogers and Demond Williams Jr. have played in all 11 of Washington’s games this season, and there’s no reason to believe that won’t be the case in Eugene. But the question many want the answer to is, “Who gets the start?”
The setting is inside Autzen Stadium against the number one team in the nation. Washington does not have anything to lose in a game like this. The Huskies have already reached bowl eligibility. The result of next Saturday’s rivalry game doesn’t change the result of the 2024 season much more than if it’s an early or late December bowl game. With the pressure off, it’s a perfect scenario to start Williams.
Slow Build
The true freshman has not started a game this year, but he’s played in all 11. Williams’ paced introduction to the field this season is exactly what needed to happen to get him ready for this kind of moment. Early in the season, Williams played limited snaps off of the bench. He had 28 snaps before his first glimpse of the big-time moment, late in the game against Washington State. There, he completed three of four passes and rushed for 22 yards to help get Washington into scoring position late.
Fast forward to Iowa where he took the most snaps of his young career. With the game out of reach, Fisch told his true freshman quarterback, “Just put together a drive.” Down 30 points, Williams played 29 snaps in the game with the pressure off. In doing so, he orchestrated a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive late in the game. The offense averaged just over five yards per play with him in under center.
Williams got similar reps inside the Whiteout at Penn State. Washington was down by 28 at the half. Fisch turned to the true freshman to begin the second half. Williams topped his previous high snaps with 32 inside Beaver Stadium. Again with the pressure off, Williams went to work. He moved the offense down the field on three straight drives of 28, 56, and 67 yards. They resulted in only six total points, but he showed promise in a hostile environment against a top-10 team.
Williams’ Moment
In week 11, Williams was ready for his moment. Late in the third quarter, the Washington offense had just thrown its second interception on as many drives. UCLA was down by just one point, and momentum was shifting to the Bruins. Fisch went to Williams on the ensuing possession, this time in a moment with the pressure on. Williams was ready, and the course of the game completely changed.
The true freshman led three straight scoring drives after entering the game. The Huskies scored 17 unanswered points following that second interception. In 27 plays, Williams had the offense averaging over five yards per play once again. That included seven plays of 10-plus yards.
Throughout nearly an entire season, Fisch’s strategy with Williams proved to be impactful. It was a steady buildup from special packages with limited snaps to putting the game in his hands. From what we’ve seen, it’s worked. Williams was awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors following his performance against UCLA. He was seven of eight with a touchdown pass and 31 rushing yards.
Third Dimension
It’s very easy to see the advantage that Williams gives the Husky offense when he’s on the field. Washington’s offensive line has had its share of struggles this season. It has allowed 24 sacks (14th in the Big Ten) and 112 quarterback pressures. For comparison, Oregon’s offensive line has allowed 12 sacks this year and 60 quarterback pressures. The Husky front is a few steps behind the nation’s elite, and it’s resulted in a lot of quarterback pressure. But when pressured, Williams brings a third dimension to the offense.
Williams has 239 rushing yards this season. He has been forced to scramble 13 times, where he’s carried it 109 yards, averaging just under eight-and-a-half yards per scramble. Williams’ other 130 rushing yards this season have come on designed quarterback runs. In the last two games alone, he’s had four moments on his feet that have changed the outcomes of drives. Whether it is extending the play to deliver a pass or making things happen with his feet, Williams’ added element has been a difference-maker in the last two games.
At Penn State, he avoided a free-blitzing defensive back to deliver the football downfield on fourth down. Instead of a sack and turnover on downs, the throw drew a pass interference penalty and Washington was given new life. Against UCLA, he scrambled on back-to-back plays with an elusiveness that’s difficult to describe. That drive ended with a touchdown pass.
The Challenge at Oregon
Oregon defensive linemen Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch generate quarterback pressure on 15% and 14% of their pass rush snaps, respectively. According to Pro Football Focus, each of their pass rush grades are above the 90 mark. Oregon has 29 sacks as a team this year, the third-most in the Big Ten. Against Washington’s front, the Ducks figure to generate pressure on Saturday. It’s a spot where an athletic quarterback gives you the best chance to extend plays and create opportunities.
On Saturday, Washington will be tasked with one of college football’s toughest environments inside Autzen Stadium. The top-ranked team in the nation hopes to finish its season unbeaten. On top of all that, it’s a rivalry game where the Huskies have had the upper hand for each of the last three meetings. But Williams isn’t unfamiliar with the task. He’s played in the Apple Cup, he’s taken meaningful snaps inside Kinnick Stadium and Beaver Stadium, and last week he turned the momentum in Washington’s favor and led game-separating drives to a victory. Washington has nothing to lose in this spot if it starts Williams. Instead, it has an opportunity to further develop the player Fisch calls “the future of Washington Football”.
