Demond Williams Jr. will remain at Washington rather than transfer
Sometimes a backhand is the perfect play. That appears to be the call made by quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who, after huddling with family and advisers, announced Thursday evening on Instagram that he would remain in Washington in 2026.
His decision to honor an estimated $4.5 million name, image and likeness contract he signed a week ago marks a turnaround from the shocking announcement he made Tuesday that he would enter the transfer portal.
“After careful consideration with my family, I am excited to announce that I will continue my football journey at the University of Washington,” he wrote. “I am fully engaged and focused on contributing to what we are building.”
His decision to transfer was met with widespread derision from Huskies fans and officials, who made it known that the university would enforce Williams’ contract even if it meant suing him. The Big Ten supported Washington’s position.
Williams’ agent, Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman Football, dropped him as a client Thursday, citing “philosophical differences.” Williams hired attorney Darren Heitner, who apparently determined that his client needed to return to Washington.
“The past 48 hours have underscored how complex and challenging the current college sports environment has become,” Washington athletic director Pat Chun said in a statement. “What happened was difficult for all parties involved and is emblematic of many current issues in college sports.
“It is critical in this post-House revenue sharing environment that student-athlete contracts are not only enforced but respected by everyone within the college sports ecosystem.”
Washington, which refused to place Williams in the transfer portal, was prepared to demand that the quarterback pay a significant buyout of his NIL contract if he had been transferred.
But now it seems everything is okay. Washington coach Jedd Fisch said in a statement that he and Williams “will work together to begin the process of repairing relationships and regaining the trust of the Husky community.”
“Demond and I have engaged in very honest and heartfelt conversations about his present and future. We both agree that the University of Washington is the best place for him to continue his academic, athletic and social development.”
Washington officials suspected another school contacted Williams after he signed his contract with the Huskies and submitted evidence of tampering to the Big Ten. Conference commissioner Tony Petitti was in Seattle on Tuesday for a ceremony to celebrate the life of Washington goalie Mia Hamant, who died Nov. 6 of a rare form of kidney cancer.
Many Huskies football players and coaches were also in attendance when Williams posted his official announcement about entering the transfer portal on Instagram. In his Instagram post Thursday evening, Williams apologized for the poor timing of his initial announcement.
“It was never my intention to distract from such an important moment,” he wrote.
Williams, who will be a junior, is expected to be one of the top college quarterbacks next season. In his first season as a full-time starter, he threw for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
