Connection between UW Huskies’ Decker DeGraaf, Demond Williams Jr. ‘starting to show’

Washington Decker DeGraaf spots the fumble by Ohio State kick returner Brandon Inniss in the first quarter, Sept. 27, 2025 in Seattle. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)

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By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter

Decker DeGraaf began to gain some momentum with 6:06 remaining during the third quarter of Washington’s 24-6 loss against No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 27. 

Trailing by 11 points and facing first down from Ohio State’s 30-yard line, sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. found DeGraaf along the left seam 15 yards downfield at Husky Stadium.

The sophomore tight end caught the ball in stride before lowering his shoulder into Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain. Three more Buckeyes defenders — four in total — were required to finally drag DeGraaf down at the 7-yard line for a 23-yard gain.  

It was DeGraaf’s longest catch of the season, outgaining his total yards receiving from UW’s two previous games against UC Davis and the Apple Cup vs. Washington State. 

“Me and Demond have worked all offseason to build that connection,” DeGraaf said Tuesday, “and it’s starting to show.”

DeGraaf’s season-best receiving gain against Ohio State was a precursor for his performance Saturday against Maryland. The San Dimas, Calif., native had six catches for 61 yards against the Terrapins, both career highs. It was an encouraging sign for the Huskies, who had struggled to get their tight ends, and particularly DeGraaf, involved in the passing game this season. 

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“I was really happy to see the effect and the impact that he had on the game,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jimmie Dougherty said Tuesday. “We’ve always known it could happen, and he has that ability.”

DeGraaf enjoyed a breakout freshman campaign in 2024. He caught 15 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns while playing as the primary pass-catching tight end behind senior Keleki Latu after Quentin Moore’s season-ending knee injury. The first catch of DeGraaf’s career was a 33-yard touchdown. His second was a 41-yard TD strike.

He was expected to be a major part of UW’s passing game entering his sophomore campaign. DeGraaf got a heavy dose of first-team snaps during spring and fall camp with Moore continuing his recovery and Latu’s eligibility exhausted.  

But the Huskies (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) struggled to get DeGraaf the ball. He had four catches for 20 yards in the season-opening win against Colorado State. He added one catch for six yards against UC Davis, though he was also credited for his lone drop this season. DeGraaf wasn’t targeted against WSU.  

Dougherty explained DeGraaf’s lack of involvement in the passing game. The defenses UW faced early in the season simply didn’t allow the sophomore tight end to get the ball. 

“It’s really more what the defense is presenting,” Dougherty said, “the timing of the play call, who’s open and making good decisions at the quarterback spot.”

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DeGraaf didn’t record many receiving yards during his first four games, but Dougherty said the he found other ways to contribute. 

He arrived at UW with a reputation as a pass-catcher. DeGraaf had 993 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns during his senior season at Glendora High in Southern California. Since arriving at UW the 6-foot-4 DeGraaf has consistently acknowledged a need to improve his blocking. 

He previously referenced a blown block against Northwestern in 2024 as his “welcome to the Big Ten” moment, and he gained five pounds during the offseason in an effort to be more physical at the line of scrimmage. DeGraaf said he’s felt confident in his play this season because of the offseason work. 

Through five games, DeGraaf has surrendered only one pressure — a quarterback hit against Ohio State — despite playing more pass-blocking snaps this season than during the 2024 campaign according to Pro Football Focus. DeGraaf earned two PFF run-blocking grades higher than 70.0 this season (against Colorado State and Ohio State), something he didn’t achieve as a freshman. 

He also recovered a fumble against Ohio State.

“He has a great attitude,” Dougherty said. “Practices every single day. Has a great attitude about going out and doing his work no matter what circumstances are going on around him, which is what we look for with all our guys, to come, show up to work and understand you can impact the game in a number of different ways. 

“It’s not just when you have the ball in your hands.”

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So DeGraaf waited. His 23-yard catch against Ohio State assured coach Jedd Fisch that DeGraaf was still confident in his pass-catching abilities despite his limited opportunities. He finally got his chance against Maryland. 

“The ball, as we say, finds energy,” Dougherty said. “If you do good things, you play well and you are in good positions and block well and do all the other things without the ball, then it usually works out in football that the ball ends up finding you at some point.”

The Terps, Fisch said, were devoted to scheming junior wide receiver Denzel Boston out of the game, often bracketing him with a safety over the top while presenting like they were going to be in man-to-man coverage. But the attention on Boston meant other players, and particularly DeGraaf, were open underneath. 

DeGraaf made four catches during the first half — two during each quarter — for 32 yards, including two first downs. He added two catches during the third quarter, including a big reception over the middle with 34 seconds remaining for a 21-yard gain. 

“What was nice about that is that Decker was very confident out there,” Fisch said Monday. “The ball was stuck on him, but there was no shying away from the catch either. He used his hands. He didn’t use his body. He was able to turn upfield.” 

Yet DeGraaf’s most important play, perhaps, came with 3:21 remaining in the game and UW on Maryland’s 1-yard line. 

Williams handed the ball to senior running back Jonah Coleman, and it was DeGraaf sliding across the line of scrimmage to stonewall 6-5, 230-pound linebacker Daniel Wingate, which ensured that Coleman made it to the goal line untouched. It was a far cry from his blown block against Northwestern more than a year ago and a sign of his progress.

“I think I would’ve made it last year,” DeGraaf said, “but just all the work I’ve put in this offseason and the strength that I’ve put on makes the block a lot easier.”

Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes .com. Andy Yamashita is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times, primarily covering Washington Huskies football.