Report: UW True Freshman QB Expected to see 'Increased Snaps' Against No. 1 Oregon

According to a report from ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Washington true freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is in line to receive "increased reps" on Saturday against the undefeated Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium in the regular season finale.  

Thamel, citing sources, also reported that the Chandler, Arizona, native could start for the Huskies (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) in Eugene, which has been known for the last two weeks as first-year coach Jedd Fisch has acknowledged Williams could make his first career start this weekend. 

"Yeah, I have total confidence in Demond," Fisch said on November 18 when asked directly if he felt the former four-star recruit could handle the job against the undefeated Ducks.

"We'll see what practice looks like these next three days, but I would say we're going to continue to let these guys play and see how both guys respond to the game. There's different ways they could respond, and the key to that is how does Demond respond from taking over a 14-13 game and scoring 17 points, and how does he come out at practice today and tomorrow and the next day?"

Williams, an early enrollie freshman who participated in all 15 practices in the spring and showed well enough in fall camp to earn the right to play in all 11 games for UW entering Saturday. 

The 5-foot-11, 187-pound quarterback has completed 39-of-53 pass attempts this season (73.6 percent) for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception this season. 

He's also added 217 yards and 1 TD on the ground this season averaging 5.2 yards per carry, good for second on the team in rushing yards behind only junior starting running back Jonah Coleman. 

Williams' dual-threat ability as both a runner and passer allows Fisch more free rein when it comes to play-calling, compared to fifth-year Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers, who has started all 11 games for the Huskies this season. 

Entering Saturday's regular season finale Williams' previous career high in snaps came against then-No. 6 Penn State, when he finished with 32 snaps after coming in to replace Rogers in the second half in the 36-6 loss on the road in State College. 

He also played 27 snaps against UCLA, a 31-19 victory for UW at Husky Stadium two weeks ago, and 29 snaps in a 40-16 loss at Iowa in October.