Jedd Fisch eyeing another major portal splash as Washington trends with veteran WR

Washington’s 2026 wide receiver corps will look very different than it did a season ago. Denzel Boston is headed to the NFL, Omari Evans is out of eligibility, and three young wideouts have left via the transfer portal.

With the exception of rising sophomore Dezmen Roebuck, Washington’s remaining receivers lack proven production. However, the addition of four-star transfer receiver Darrell Gill Jr., who’s been linked to the Huskies in the transfer portal, would give Demond Williams Jr. a tantalizing downfield target in 2026. Washington is reportedly one of two schools to watch as the rising senior makes his decision:

Huskies are a top contender to land Darrell Gill Jr. in transfer portal

According to 247Sports’ Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz, Washington and Ole Miss remain the two schools to monitor in Gill Jr.’s transfer recruitment. Ole Miss, who made a splash today by signing four-star transfer quarterback Deuce Knight, has yet to bring in any transfer receivers.

Gill Jr., who entered the transfer portal last week after three seasons with the Syracuse Orange, is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 6 receiver and No. 24 overall player in this year’s transfer class. After more than a week of signings, he currently ranks as the No. 3 available receiver and No. 12 overall available transfer.

Gill Jr.  saw limited action as a true freshman in 2023, but amassed 30+ receptions and 500+ yards in each of his last two seasons with the Orange. Gill Jr. possesses a 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and a background in multiple track and field events, which has made him a potent deep-ball threat despite his role in Syracuse’s injury-stricken passing game.

In 2025, Gill Jr. tallied 32 yards for 506 yards and five touchdowns. The Atascocita, Tx. native’s season-long, an eye-popping 43-yard touchdown against Colgate, left broadcasters Doug Sherman and Forrest Conoly laughing in disbelief:

That deep-ball ability could make Gill Jr. a prime target for Demond Williams Jr., who’s shown no reservations about pushing the ball downfield. However, Gill Jr. has also shown the ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Check out his first career reception, which also came against Colgate in 2023:

On Jan. 4, Gill Jr. named 28 teams that had been in contact with him since he entered the portal, and announced he’d already taken visits to Ole Miss and Houston. Washington wasn’t among the 28 teams listed, which indicates that the Huskies have made a more recent push for the rising senior.

Will Washington’s late push prove successful in landing Gill Jr.? We’ll find out soon. There’s less than a week remaining until Friday, Jan. 16, when the transfer portal will close. The elimination of the spring portal period means teams only have a few days left to make changes to next season’s roster.