There’s no uncertainty about who will lead the Washington Huskies’ offense when they open the 2025 season against Colorado State on Aug. 30 at Husky Stadium.
Demond Williams Jr. is firmly established as UW’s starting quarterback. His rise was evident during the previous season as he rotated series with veteran Will Rogers and solidified his case with a standout showing in the 35-34 Sun Bowl loss to Louisville. But behind Williams, the race for the backup quarterback role is wide open.
“All four guys are in the mix right now,” head coach Jedd Fisch said Tuesday, referring to the competition for the No. 2 job.
This year, the Huskies are in a more comfortable spot than last season, when they entered 2024 with only three scholarship quarterbacks. Junior Shea Kuykendall returns, joined by true freshmen Dash Beierly and Treston “Kini” McMillan, both early enrollees from UW’s 2025 recruiting class who have taken part in spring practice.
Adding to that group is veteran Kai Horton, who transferred to Washington from Tulane on Jan. 28, bringing experience and leadership to an otherwise young QB room.
“There are a lot of new faces — guys who are still getting adjusted,” said quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty on Thursday.
Dougherty emphasized that he’s evaluating backups by the same standards as starters: players who manage the offense efficiently, avoid turnovers, study film diligently, and show steady improvement.
Of the group, Kuykendall has the most familiarity with Fisch’s offensive system. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound quarterback played at Northern Colorado before transferring, making three starts in 2023 as a redshirt freshman. He passed for 454 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions before transferring but did not appear in a game for UW in 2024.
Beierly comes from California powerhouse Mater Dei High School, where he excelled during his senior season. He threw for 2,175 yards and 26 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 447 yards and five scores, helping lead his team to a state title.
McMillan, meanwhile, has an exciting skill set despite injuries limiting his high school career. The 6-0, 200-pound signal-caller had a dynamic junior season at Mililani High in Hawaii, passing for 3,521 yards and 42 touchdowns while rushing for 575 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Both freshmen have been praised by coaches for their early grasp of the offense and have shown strong potential during spring practices.
Then there’s Horton, a 6-4, 220-pound fifth-year senior who played in 13 games over four seasons at Tulane, throwing for 833 yards and six touchdowns. Horton chose Washington over offers from Ole Miss and North Texas, citing the opportunity to develop under Fisch and benefit from his mentorship and coaching style.
“They told me it was going to be a competition,” Horton said of his decision to transfer.
While still adjusting to his new environment in Seattle, Horton is seen as a stabilizing veteran presence in a group full of emerging talent. Even Williams, who started all 13 games as a true freshman in 2024, only just turned 19.
The coaching staff is hopeful Horton can serve a leadership role similar to what Rogers provided last season—guiding Williams while maintaining readiness and professionalism. Rogers was consistently praised for his work ethic and approach, even after being overtaken for the starting job.
Horton credited former Tulane teammate Michael Pratt, the 2023 AAC Offensive Player of the Year, with teaching him about leadership, accountability, and preparation.
“Those little things really matter,” Horton said. “A lot of people don’t understand how crucial they are. If you can’t get the details right, how can a coach trust you in high-pressure moments like a fourth-and-goal situation with the game on the line?”
Washington’s staff brought Horton in following a strong recommendation from Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall, a close friend of Dougherty. Sumrall spoke highly of Horton’s football IQ and competitive fire. Williams himself said Horton has “added a lot” to the quarterback room since his arrival.
Horton expressed appreciation for how welcoming the team has been and said he’s enjoying the learning process.
“Coach Fisch wants us to be able to read the whole field—do progression reads, understand different coverages,” Horton said. “That’s one of the biggest reasons I came here: the way he coaches quarterbacks is really unique.”
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