Williams Jr. Tabbed To Maxwell Award Watch List
August 03, 2026 | Football
SEATTLE – Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has been named to The Maxwell Award Watch List, The Maxwell Football Club announced today.
The Big Ten Conference leads the way with 17 representatives on the list.
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. He was also second on the team in rushing with 611 yards with six touchdowns. The 611 rushing yards were the third-most by a UW quarterback in program history. Williams Jr. finished the season 246-for-354 in completions which ranks second in Husky history.
Williams Jr. was twice named Big Ten Player of the Week last season and earned the Maxwell Player of the Week award once following his historic performance against Rutgers. In the game versus the Scarlet Knights, 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.
In the LA Bowl against Boise State, Williams Jr. won the offensive MVP as the Huskies cruised to a 38-10 win. He passed for four touchdowns and 215 yards on 15-of-24 passing.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Dodd Trophy – Jedd Fisch
Allstate Good Works Team – Landen Hatchett
Maxwell Award – Demond Williams Jr.
The Big Ten Conference leads the way with 17 representatives on the list.
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. He was also second on the team in rushing with 611 yards with six touchdowns. The 611 rushing yards were the third-most by a UW quarterback in program history. Williams Jr. finished the season 246-for-354 in completions which ranks second in Husky history.
Williams Jr. was twice named Big Ten Player of the Week last season and earned the Maxwell Player of the Week award once following his historic performance against Rutgers. In the game versus the Scarlet Knights, 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.
In the LA Bowl against Boise State, Williams Jr. won the offensive MVP as the Huskies cruised to a 38-10 win. He passed for four touchdowns and 215 yards on 15-of-24 passing.
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Washington Preseason Watch Lists
Dodd Trophy – Jedd Fisch
Allstate Good Works Team – Landen Hatchett
Maxwell Award – Demond Williams Jr.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballSaturday, July 25
Friday, July 17
Wednesday, July 08
Wednesday, July 08
