Latest news with #WashingtonHuskies'
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Washington Football's top 2026 WR target to return to campus for an unofficial visit
Washington Football's top 2026 WR target to return to campus for an unofficial visit Four-star wide receiver Mason James is the top wide receiver on the Washington Huskies' board in the 2026 class. On Thursday afternoon, the product of Norman North High School in Oklahoma, who is ranked as the No. 25 wide receiver and No. 174 overall player in the class, announced he'd be returning to Seattle over the weekend for an unofficial visit to take in one of Jedd Fisch's spring practices. For James, who told On3's Chad Simmons his decision could come "sooner rather than later," his second trip to Seattle in as many months is a good sign for where wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings and the Huskies sit in his recruitment. James was on campus for Washington's Junior Day weekend in early March, and is set to return on an official visit on June 6. Thanks to a strong push, led by Cummings and Fisch, the Huskies appear to be among the leaders to secure his services. Although his hometown Oklahoma Sooners seem to be at the head of the pack, where he's set to take an official visit on June 20, and the Texas Longhorns, who he'll visit on June 13, have made up a lot of ground, the Huskies have found a way to make an impression on the 5-foot-11, 170-pound speedster. "Oh man, it was a great visit," James told Scott Eklund of his trip in March. "I think the biggest thing for me was how the entire staff was involved with being with me and my family and showing me how much they valued me and prioritized me." Since his arrival, the Huskies have been looking to expand their recruiting footprint with a blue-chip pass catcher from outside the West Coast. After striking out on Donovan Olugbode and Andrew Marsh in the 2025 cycle, James would be a strong win for the coaching staff if Cummings can secure his commitment.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Washington and Washington State set dates for 2026 and 2027 Apple Cup
College football fans in Washington better get used to warmer installments of the Apple Cup. After agreeing to a five-year extension of the rivalry following the Washington Huskies' move to the Big Ten, athletic director Pat Chun and his former school, the Washington State Cougars, have set dates for the 2026 and 2027 games. As it stands, the 2026 Apple Cup could be the season opener for both teams, as it's set for September 5, 2026 at Husky Stadium. In 2027, the two teams will meet in Pullman on September 18, which should be the final nonconference game for both schools. After losing Jedd Fisch's first appearance in the rivalry 24-19 at Lumen Field in Seattle, the Huskies hold a 77-33-6 lead in the series and will attempt to keep that going in 2025 when they head to Martin Stadium on September 20. The two schools haven't set a date for the 2028 game, and beyond that, the future of the rivalry is uncertain. During his time at Washington State, Chun agreed to the five-year extension of the rivalry with his predecessor Troy Dannen, but could look to change the deal moving forward to assure the Huskies can play seven home games per season.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jedd Fisch has high hopes for Washington's future
Jedd Fisch used his first season as the Washington Huskies' head coach to build a solid foundation around the player he's repeatedly called the future face of the program, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The freshman started the last two games of the season and dazzled in Washington's 35-34 loss to Louisville in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl with 374 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air, with an additional 48 yards and a score on the ground, which proved that the Huskies have a strong building block at the game's most important position. In an interview with KOMO News' Niko Tamurian, Fisch had a lot to say about the core he expects to lead the way for his team in 2025. 'I felt great about the fact that in Demond's second start ever, he had 5 touchdowns, four in the air and one on the ground,' he said of the Sun Bowl. 'Jonah Coleman, Adam Mohammed, and Jordan Washington all playing and coming back next year. Denzel Boston not being able to play the fourth quarter of the game, but the amount of production we've gotten from Denzel, having him as a key part for next year.' 'Decker DeGraaf continues to make plays, we have Quentin Moore coming back, and [USC transfer] Kade Eldridge coming in. You start looking at the offensive line, Maximus McCree [played his first game in almost two months], and all the youth out there, Landen Hatchett played his first game at center.' Washington has also made an effort to improve in the trenches through the transfer portal, bringing in two experienced transfers, Kansas State tackle Carver Willis, and Hatchett's older brother Geirean, who returned after a year at Oklahoma. Fisch also has some high hopes for his defense under new coordinator Ryan Walters. 'What we plan on getting done with [Isaiah] Ward, [Zach] Durfee, and [Russell] Davis, then bringing in guys with [Ephesians] Prysock and Tacario Davis on the perimeter, Makell [Esteen] coming back and Vince Holmes, I just feel like we have a really, really good team right now that wants to be good, we've added a lot of parts, we've added a lot of people. We also have a ton of freshmen and we're excited, we've got a 20-game win streak [at home], we've got to continue to sell out, and then we've got to go on the road and start getting some wins.'
