Why Fans Should Thank Demond Williams Jr.

Talent and Production

Williams’ first season as a starting QB was a success. He threw for 3,065 yards with 25 TDs and only eight INTs, and proved to be a true dual threat by adding 611 rushing yards and six TDs. He capped off the season with a four-TD performance in Washington’s 38-10 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl, where he was named offensive MVP. He also earned honorable mention All–Big Ten honors and was selected as Washington’s offensive most valuable player by the school. With two years of eligibility remaining, Williams’ best football is still ahead of him and he has legitimate conference player of the year potential.

Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game

Given that Williams initially committed to Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss coming out of high school, LSU likely put a significant amount of money on the table to pull him away from Washington’s $4 million-plus offer. For argument’s sake, let’s assume he was offered at least $6 million to play for LSU. It is disingenuous for fans to pretend they would not walk out the door themselves if another employer offered a 50 percent raise over their current job.

The contract Williams signed is hardly binding, as the Xavier Lucas situation already proved when he left Wisconsin for Miami. The Badgers refused to enter the cornerback into the transfer portal, but he still left and enrolled at Miami in early 2025. Lucas will be on the field for the No. 10 Hurricanes (12-2) in their College Football Playoff semifinal game on Jan. 8 when they face No. 6 Ole Miss (13-1).

Closing Thoughts

Blaming Williams is like yelling at the rain because your roof is leaking. The problem is not the storm, but the people who built the house. Williams did not create the cracks in the system—he simply exposed them for everyone to see. While the timing of his announcement can and should be questioned, given that it came during a memorial service for Huskies women’s soccer player Mia Hamant, the bigger issue is that his disregard for the current transfer-portal framework highlights just how broken the system has become.

If anything, his actions shine a brighter light on the flaws that must be addressed so meaningful change can finally take place in college football. And for that, I say thank you, Demond Williams Jr.