Jedd Fisch Warns Huskies Locker Room for Colorado State Game After 2 Freshmen Decision

When freshmen become starters, the rest of the league takes notice. Ahead of the opener against Colorado State, Jedd Fisch has made it official he’ll have to start two freshmen. Even his QB1 is rather inexperienced, in sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Still, the coach is positive that this Washington Huskies roster can also do big things with some of his keys to success in the opening night. But they do need to improve on one set of position players that were terrible last year.

A precedent that Huskies haven’t leaned on a true freshman receiver since Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan were forced to duty back in the COVID-shortened 2020 season will change now. Word of relief from, Jedd Fisch is that at least 2 spots for the roster are filled with newcomers. He will start a pair of freshmen in offensive guard John Mills and 6’1 WR Raiden Vines-Bright on Saturday night.

Jedd Fisch understands the opponent. CSU may not carry the name-brand recognition of some Pac-12 foes from Washington’s past, but the Rams are no easy walkover. On a video posted on X, the head coach spoke candidly about their upcoming opponent. “Very well-coached team, very good football team. Obviously had a lot of success last year, won six of their last eight games. And you know, they’re a bowl team that we need to be really prepared for because they got a quarterback back and they know how to run that program, run that system, and we got a big task in front of us on Saturday night.” Those are the words of a coach who sees the trap clearly: underestimating an experienced 8–5 squad that has found its rhythm.

As for how Washington avoids stumbling in the opener, Fisch didn’t reach for anything fancy. “We gotta play within ourselves. We can’t let any of the outside noise affect us. We’ve gotta just be able to go out there, be fundamentally sound, play physical, play tough, and do a great job of both stopping the run and establishing the run.” Simple, clear, and as old as the sport itself: run the ball, stop the run. That battle at the line of scrimmage is exactly where young rosters either show promise or crumble under the weight of first-night nerves.

All of this lands squarely on the shoulders of Williams Jr., the undersized but electric 5-foot-11 sophomore who instantly changes UW’s offensive DNA. Huskies haven’t had a true dual-threat signal-caller in years, and Williams’ ability to extend plays with his legs is a cheat code that defenses can’t easily solve. His numbers, though in a small sample, speak loudly. In just 105 pass attempts, he’s completed 78.1 percent for 944 yards, tossing eight touchdowns against a lone interception. Add 282 rushing yards on 83 carries and two scores, and you see why this coaching staff isn’t shying away from the risk. He’s raw, sure, but his ceiling is as high as Husky Stadium’s upper deck.

Around him, the roster churn continues. Penn State senior transfer Omari Evans and freshman Raiden Vines-Bright are locked in at a starting receiver spot, a battle that blends experience with untapped upside. At TE, sophomore Decker DeGraaf and senior Quentin Moore are still dueling, with Moore fighting to reclaim the role he lost last season after a cruel knee injury in the opener. On the defensive edge, senior Zach Durfee and junior Isaiah Ward remain candidates for the same rushing role, a reminder that Washington still hasn’t settled the trenches.

Could Williams Jr. and this new batch of first-years mark the start of another cycle? The gamble is bold, maybe even reckless to some, but Fisch isn’t backing down. He’s staking the opener on kids who haven’t been burned under the Saturday night lights yet, believing their playmaking will outweigh their inexperience.

Jedd Fisch demands proof of progress in year 2

What Jedd Fisch has harped on the most in his run-up to CSU isn’t the flash of his freshmen or the shiny dual-threat QB. It’s the mental wiring of his team. Talking with Tony Castricone, Fisch made it clear what’s stood out: “Their mental preparation, their football intelligence… And they really understand the game of football, what we’re trying to execute, what we’re trying to get done. I mean, they’re taking care of their bodies. Physically, we’re in a great spot. So looking forward to going out there on Saturday night and playing.”

That’s where the rubber meets the road for Washington. Fisch’s debut season came with asterisks, injuries, depth issues, a reset roster. But the honeymoon window is now closed. In Year 2, he doesn’t need to be Kalen DeBoer, but he does have to prove this program is taking a real step forward. Proof isn’t in slogans. It’s in box scores.

That means upgrading an offensive line that flat-out leaked last fall. Allowing 3.0 sacks per game (117th in the country) and producing just 3.96 yards per carry (91st) for a meager 128.8 rushing yards per game (100th) simply won’t cut it. The Huskies can’t lean solely on Williams Jr.’s improvisation. If Fisch is serious about progress, the trenches must set the tone. Because no matter how sharp the football IQ or how much film study the players stack, if the quarterback is running for his life and the run game is stuck in neutral, Saturday nights will feel a lot longer than they should.