Demond Williams’ performance in the Sun Bowl last year showed the Huskies would be set at quarterback in 2025. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)
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By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter
Unlike a season ago, Washington coach Jedd Fisch has some continuity to rely upon entering 2025.
The Huskies have known who their starting quarterback will be since the end of the past season. They return proven Big Ten contributors at running back and wide receiver. Their tight end depth has experience.
Questions, of course, still remain. The offensive line, in particular, has to prove it’s taken a step forward after a difficult 2024 season.
Some of these answers will be provided when Washington takes the field for its season-opening game against Colorado State for an 8 p.m. kickoff. So here’s a projected depth chart for the offense:
Quarterback
Demond Williams Jr., so., 5-11, 190 lb.
Kai Horton, sr., 6-4, 220 lb.
Analysis: This was always going to be sophomore Demond Williams Jr.’s team. His heroics during UW’s 35-34 Sun Bowl loss against Louisville simply reinforced belief that Williams can shepherd the Huskies into a new era of success on Montlake. Williams completed 78% of his passes for 944 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception during his freshman season while adding 282 yards rushing and two touchdowns rushing on 83 carries.
Fifth-year senior Kai Horton, who had 833 yards passing and six touchdowns during his four years at Tulane, has been the undisputed second quarterback since arriving before spring practices. Freshmen Treston “Kini” McMillan and Dash Beierly round out the group.
Running back
Jonah Coleman, sr., 5-9, 228 lb.
Adam Mohammed, so., 6-0, 215 lb.
Analysis: No surprises at running back. Senior Jonah Coleman can become the first Husky since Myles Gaskin to rush for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons after returning for his senior season. Sophomore Adam Mohammed, who had 193 yards rushing on 42 carries in 2024, took significant snaps with the top offense because the Huskies were trying to keep Coleman fresh, and solidified his place as the team’s second running back with a strong fall camp.
Expect redshirt freshman Jordan Washington, or perhaps even true freshman Quaid Carr, to see some time as a change-of-pace tailback. Mohammed, Washington and Carr are also options to contribute on special teams as kickoff returners.
Wide receiver
Denzel Boston, jr., 6-4, 209 lb.
Audric Harris, so., 6-0, 190 lb.
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Raiden Vines-Bright, fr., 6-1, 200 lb. OR
Omari Evans, sr., 6-0, 190 lb. OR
Kevin Green Jr., jr., 5-11, 165 lb.
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Rashid Williams, so., 6-1, 190 lb.
Dezmen Roebuck, fr., 5-11, 175 lb.
Analysis: Junior Denzel Boston is the lone returning starter at wide receiver, and returned to practice days before the end of fall camp after recovering from a double sports hernia. Fisch has repeatedly said Boston, who had 834 yards receiving and nine touchdowns on 63 catches in 2024, is the only wide receiver with a secured starting spot.
Across from Boston, sophomore Rashid Williams appeared to separate himself at the end of fall camp. Williams made 11 catches for 138 yards receiving and a touchdown in 2024.
Slot receiver was one of the offense’s closest position battles. Senior Omari Evans, a Penn State transfer with 30 career catches for 564 yards and seven touchdowns, and junior Kevin Green Jr., an Arizona transfer who missed the entire 2024 season with a lower body injury, appeared to be the main contenders. But true freshman Raiden Vines-Bright emerged after moving to the slot late in camp and spent significant time with the top offense during the mock game.
Coinciding with Vines-Bright’s move to the slot, sophomore Audric Harris moved back to Boston’s spot, where Harris was the second-choice receiver in 2024. Freshman Dezmen Roebuck may play slot receiver in the future, but spent a majority of fall camp lined up outside where he was one of the team’s standout performers during fall camp.
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Tight end
Decker DeGraaf, so., 6-3, 245 lb.
Quentin Moore, sr., 6-4, 260 lb. OR
Kade Eldridge, so., 6-4, 250 lb.
Analysis: Sophomore Decker DeGraaf, who had 233 yards receiving and three touchdowns during the 2024 season, entrenched himself as UW’s top tight end during spring practices and fall camp while seventh-year senior Quentin Moore continued his rehabilitation from the season-ending knee injury. Moore returned near the end of fall camp and mainly spent time as an in-line tight end with the top offense or with the second offense while working to get back to game speed.
When Moore wasn’t available, USC transfer and Lynden native Kade Eldridge was the team’s second tight end. Eldridge also spent some time playing fullback during fall camp. Lining up in the backfield is a familiar experience for Eldridge, who played some running back at Lynden Christian High.
Left tackle
Carver Willis, sr., 6-5, 291 lb.
Maximus McCree, sr., 6-6, 295 lb.
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Left guard
John Mills, fr., 6-6, 320 lb.
Paki Finau, rs fr., 6-5, 310 lb.
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Center
Landen Hatchett, jr., 6-2, 315 lb.
Zachary Henning, so., 6-5, 310 lb.
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Right guard
Geirean Hatchett, sr., 6-4, 306 lb.
Champ Taulealea, fr., 6-5, 330 lb.
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Right tackle
Drew Azzopardi, jr., 6-7, 315 lb.
Soane Faasolo, so., 6-8, 325 lb.
Analysis: Perhaps no group has faced as much scrutiny entering the 2025 season as the offensive line. Only junior center Landen Hatchett and junior right tackle Drew Azzopardi remain from the patchwork starting group that struggled last season. Tackles Maximus McCree and Soane Faasolo, who started at various points in 2024, spent the entire fall with the second offensive line.
Two of the projected starters arrived via the transfer portal: left tackle Carver Willis and right guard Geirean Hatchett. Willis, who spent five seasons at Kansas State, was an All-Big 12 honorable mention during the 2023 season but almost exclusively played right tackle for the Wildcats. Geirean Hatchett spent the 2024 campaign at Oklahoma after playing at Washington for the first four seasons of his career, but played just one game for the Sooners before suffering a season-ending biceps injury.
The final position on the offensive line had the most competition. True freshman John Mills and redshirt freshman Paki Finau essentially split repetitions at left guard during the second half of fall camp. Mills gets the edge to start. His snaps continually increased as fall camp continued, and Fisch has a history of playing true freshmen guards. Mills seems likely to be the next in line.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.
