The UW Huskies want a brand new quarterback with Michael Penix Jr. graduating and a number of scholarship quarterbacks hitting the switch portal. Washington can be out there for receiver assist as Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk are all getting into the NFL Draft and Germie Bernard is within the switch portal.
How Jedd Fisch’s Yr 1 problem compares to his UW Huskies predecessors
The Dawgs gained’t be getting that assist from two of latest head coach Jedd Fisch’s high gamers final yr.
247Sports reported Saturday that quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan won’t be following Fisch to Washington and can as a substitute keep at Arizona. The Wildcats confirmed that was the case on social media.
“They made the ultimate resolution on it final evening,” Les Fifita, father of Noah, stated. “It was robust however finish of the day, they need to run it again and aren’t happy simply successful the Alamo Bowl, they need to win all of it.”
Based on Fifita’s father, each Fifita and McMillan have been additionally recruited closely by former UW head coach Kalen DeBoer, who left Washington for Alabama final week.
Fifita was Pac-12 freshman of the yr in 2023 after finishing over 72% of his passes for two,869 yards and 25 touchdowns to simply six interceptions in 12 video games (9 begins). His first profession begin at Arizona got here towards the UW Huskies when the Wildcats fell 31-24 at residence.
McMillan was Fifita’s high goal in 2023, catching 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns in his true-sophomore season in Tucson.
That information definitely impacts issues for Washington and Fisch, who doubtless hoped these two could be hitting the switch portal.
At quarterback, the Huskies now should work out what life after Penix appears to be like like.
Will Rogers, UW’s anticipated starter in 2024 after transferring from Mississippi State, entered the switch portal as soon as DeBoer left, however he might at all times determine to return to Washington and play below Fisch, a longtime quarterbacks coach and offensive play-caller. Rogers was photographed (second image in gray shirt with hand on aspect) at Fisch’s introductory staff assembly on Sunday.
Austin Mack, a real freshman final yr after being a highly-recruited quarterback, additionally entered the portal and adopted DeBoer to Alabama. Will Haskell, who transferred to UW from San Diego State final offseason, additionally entered the portal. Former UW starter Dyaln Morris, Penix’s backup the final two seasons, transferred to James Madison this offseason.
At receiver, with Odunze, McMillan and Polk all NFL-bound and Bernard transferring once more, the Huskies’ high returning receivers are Giles Jackson and Denzel Boston in addition to receiver/operating again Will Nixon.
Bruce Feldman: What Fisch brings to UW, greatest challenges he faces
