Since he was hired by the Washington Huskies in January 2024, Jedd Fisch has been tasked with rebuilding a roster that had been torn down to the studs following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama after UW’s loss to Michigan in the national championship game.
After pulling in a pair of highly-rated recruiting classes in the 2025 and 2026 cycles, Fisch has brought Washington’s roster back to a place where it can compete with some of the best teams in the Big Ten. As the Huskies look to take another step forward after going 9-4 last year, including a win in the LA Bowl, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg believes the Huskies are in a good place to continue improving.
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In a ranking of how all Power Four programs are set up for the future, Rittenberg ranked the Huskies as the No. 24 team in the nation, thanks to a solid foundation of talent that starts with quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
“The fallout from Demond Williams Jr.’s brief January transfer portal flirtation will be worth watching,” he wrote. “Washington has built the offense around Williams, who passed for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns on 69.5 percent completions in his first full year as the starter. The junior will need to repair some trust, but could lead the offense through 2027.”
Fisch’s coaching staff has also completely retooled the program’s depth on both sides of the trenches, which proved to be the biggest deficiency after initially joining the conference ahead of the 2024 season.
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“Junior Elinneus Davis is the team’s only returning contributor, although junior transfers DeSean Watts (Sacramento State) and Darin Conley (Ball State) should help, as well as possibly freshman Derek Colman-Brusa,” Rittenberg added. “Senior edges Jacob Lane and Isaiah Ward are both back, and Washington will turn to others for depth, including Ohio State transfer Logan George.”
“The offensive line progressed nicely in 2025 and could take another step this fall. Tackle Drew Azzopardi, guards Geirean Hatchett and John Mills, and center Landen Hatchett are all back, with only Mills holding eligibility beyond 2026. The key is filling Carver Willis’ spot at left tackle, where Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich and Kodi Greene, the nation’s No. 46 overall recruit, will compete.”
Washington appears to be in a great spot to continue moving up Rittenberg’s future power rankings, as the Huskies hold the nation’s No. 17 recruiting class in the 2027 cycle according to 247Sports.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies among top 25 programs set for future success
