Williams Jr. Named To Davey O’Brien Watch List
August 20, 2026 | Football
SEATTLE – Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. picks up this third preseason honor after being named to the Davey O'Brien Award watch list on Thursday morning.
Williams Jr. was also named to the Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award preseason watch lists.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, March 8, 2027, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Williams Jr. started in every game during the 2025 season and has appeared in every game throughout his two seasons on Montlake. The third-year quarterback earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by the coaches last season after compiling 3,065 yards, 25 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions and was named the Offensive MVP of the L.A. Bowl. In the game versus the Rutgers last season, Williams Jr. became the first Husky, second Big Ten player and 16th quarterback in FBS history to pass for 400 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. He also broke the UW record for single-game total offense with 538, breaking the mark of 529 set by Michael Penix Jr. in 2022.
The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will contain active starting quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients through the season's first eight weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin Nov. 10 following the QB Class announcement.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists one week later (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Dodd Trophy – Jedd Fisch
Allstate Good Works Team – Landen Hatchett
Maxwell Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Rimington Trophy – Landen Hatchett
Lou Groza Award – Tyler Robles
John Mackey Award – Decker DeGraaf
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy – Landen Hatchett
Butkus Award – Xe'ree Alexander
Ray Guy Award – Hunter Green
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Davey O'Brien Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Williams Jr. was also named to the Maxwell Award and Johnny Unitas Gold Arm Award preseason watch lists.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, March 8, 2027, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Williams Jr. started in every game during the 2025 season and has appeared in every game throughout his two seasons on Montlake. The third-year quarterback earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by the coaches last season after compiling 3,065 yards, 25 touchdown passes to just eight interceptions and was named the Offensive MVP of the L.A. Bowl. In the game versus the Rutgers last season, Williams Jr. became the first Husky, second Big Ten player and 16th quarterback in FBS history to pass for 400 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. He also broke the UW record for single-game total offense with 538, breaking the mark of 529 set by Michael Penix Jr. in 2022.
The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will contain active starting quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients through the season's first eight weeks and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin Nov. 10 following the QB Class announcement.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists one week later (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Dodd Trophy – Jedd Fisch
Allstate Good Works Team – Landen Hatchett
Maxwell Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Rimington Trophy – Landen Hatchett
Lou Groza Award – Tyler Robles
John Mackey Award – Decker DeGraaf
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy – Landen Hatchett
Butkus Award – Xe'ree Alexander
Ray Guy Award – Hunter Green
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Davey O'Brien Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Players Mentioned
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