With Demond Williams Jr. gone, what are Washington's options at quarterback?

Demond Williams Jr.’s shocking departure from the Washington Huskies raised a lot of questions. The questions regarding said move’s legality may not be answered for a while, but one question must be answered immediately: Who will be playing quarterback for the Washington Huskies in 2026? Let's break down the whole situation.

Who are Washington’s existing backups?

There is no clear ‘next man up’ poised to replace Williams Jr. as the leader of Washington’s offense. This year’s QB2, senior Kai Horton, is now out of eligibility, and there’s a steep dropoff in experience level behind him. Rising senior Shea Kuykendall hasn’t attempted a pass since 2023, when he started three games for the University of Northern Colorado. 

Also present in UW’s QB mix are two rising redshirt freshmen, Dash Beierly and Treston McMillan, as well as incoming freshman Derek Zammit. All are former three-star prospects according to 247Sports.

Beierly, who was ranked the No. 30 quarterback in the class of 2025 by 247Sports, is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound dual threat with a strong arm and steady base. He was good enough to start at California power house Mater Dei High School, which has produced a steady stream of professional talent.

McMillan, who attended the same Mililani High School that produced Dillon Gabriel, was ranked the No. 41 quarterback in the class of 2025. At 6 feet even and 210 pounds, he’s a powerful dual threat whose large hands and cannon of an arm make up for what he lacks in height.

Washington’s lone quarterback addition from the class of 2026 was Zammit, a 6-1, 195-pound passer from Wayne, New Jersey’s DePaul Catholic High School. He’s not quite as fleet-footed as Beierly or McMillan, but he wins with his poise, accuracy, and decision-making. 247Sports ranked him the No. 30 quarterback in this year’s class.

There’s potential for one or more of Washington’s young passers to eventually lead the offense, but the Huskies can almost certainly find a more reliable and proven quarterback in the transfer portal. Which brings us to… 

Who’s available in the transfer portal?

Related: The timing of Demond Williams Jr.'s 'farewell' post burned the final bridge

Williams Jr. currently sits second in 247Sports’ rankings of available quarterbacks. Atop the list is Sam Leavitt, a former Arizona State Sun Devil and 247Sports’ only five-star quarterback transfer. He’d likely be Washington’s top choice, but there are a number of schools (LSU, Tennessee, Kentucky) already publicly vying for him.

There are also four four-star prospects available: Florida’s DJ Lagway, Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, Auburn’s Deuce Knight, and Penn State’s Ethan Grunkemeyer, the last of whom has been heavily linked to James Franklin and Virginia Tech.

Of the four-star passers still available, Raiola seems like the most likely candidate to end up a Husky. Lagway, a native of Willis, TX, has already visited Florida State and has scheduled two other visits to Baylor and Virginia. Knight, born and raised in Lucedale, Mississippi, has posted multiple Instagram stories regarding Ole Miss coaches and players.

Raiola, who was born in Hawaii before moving to Texas, Arizona, and Georgia across his high-school career, listed west-coast schools USC and Oregon in his top four before flipping from Georgia to Nebraska in December of 2023. 247Sports’ former No. 2 quarterback in the class of 2024 will be looking to elevate his status after injuries hindered a more promising 2025 season.

There are also several interesting three-star prospects still available. Missouri’s Beau Pribula, UNC’s Bryce Baker, Oregon’s Austin Novosad, and South Carolina’s Air Noland are just a few of the many talented passers still looking for a new home in the 2026 transfer portal.

The Huskies would be wise to make a move given the depth of talent available at the quarterback position. Finding a replacement who can match Williams Jr.’s skill level won’t be easy, but attempting to do so via the transfer portal will give Washington its best shot at winning games in 2026.

What about Williams Jr.’s new contract?

Williams Jr.’s sudden decision to transfer would have been shocking had it happened in traditional fashion. Instead, fans, players, and coaches alike have been left stunned by a departure which came less than a week after the rising junior signed a revenue-share deal to remain with Washington in 2026.

Washington’s front office has reportedly begun organizing a legal response to Williams Jr’s sudden exit. According to On3 and Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, Washington is using a Big Ten-designed template to pursue similar legal action to Wisconsin’s tampering case against Miami. That case, which was filed in June in regards to transfer cornerback Xavier Lucas, remains ongoing.

The lawsuit Washington’s building against Williams Jr.’s suitor school may get the Seattle-based university some money back, but it’s unlikely to see Williams Jr. reinstated as a Husky quarterback. Even if an immediate ruling goes in Washington’s favor, it’s difficult to picture the Williams Jr.-Washington relationship resolving itself via legal action. 

No matter how the story ends between Williams Jr. and the Huskies, it feels like it’s ending. The decision, which was announced over social media while much of the team was attending Mia Hamant’s celebration of life, seems to have scorned fans, players, and staff alike.

The growing scandal between Williams Jr. and Washington will likely continue to develop in the coming days and weeks, especially if (and when) Williams Jr. announces his new destination. However, if the Huskies want to compete in the Big Ten in 2026, they’ll need to focus on finding his replacement. 

Will that replacement come from the transfer portal, or will one of Washington’s current backups rise to the occasion? Husky fans will have a better idea of their offense’s future when the transfer portal closes on Friday, Jan. 16.