Washington QB Demond Williams Regrets Short-Lived Departure

The 19-year-old says he got "really bad advice" that led to his brief transfer decision.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:07pm

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Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said his short-lived decision to enter the transfer portal last month was a mistake that resulted from "really bad advice." The 19-year-old rising junior announced he was leaving the Huskies, then changed his mind two days later. Williams said he's grateful his teammates and coaches have accepted him back and that he's "super blessed" to be at the University of Washington.

Why it matters

Williams' potential departure raised questions about the validity of his lucrative name, image and likeness (NIL) contract, which reportedly exceeded $4 million. His decision to ultimately stay at Washington avoids a legal battle over the contract and allows him to continue leading the Huskies' offense.

The details

According to reports, Washington was prepared to pursue legal options to enforce Williams' NIL contract if he had followed through on his transfer plans. The quarterback said he both understood and appreciated the question about what considerations went into his initial decision to enter the portal, only to pull his name out two days later.

  • On January 6, 2026, Williams announced via social media that he would leave the Huskies after his sophomore season.
  • Two days later, on January 8, 2026, Williams changed his mind and said he would be back with the Huskies.

The players

Demond Williams Jr.

A 19-year-old rising junior quarterback for the University of Washington Huskies.

Jedd Fisch

The head coach of the University of Washington football team.

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What they’re saying

“Definitely being 19, you get good advice and you get really bad advice at times. We're all human. We all make mistakes. And at the end of the day, I'm super blessed to be here with my brothers and my coaches and just at the University of Washington. I'm just so happy to be here and so blessed.”

— Demond Williams Jr., Washington Quarterback

What’s next

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The takeaway

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