Washington Huskies Football: 2023 Transfer Portal – Part 2 Quarterbacks
The Washington Huskies have two experienced quarterbacks but not much depth behind them.
Herb Nightengale
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The Washington Huskies have two experienced quarterbacks on their roster but not much depth behind them.
On December 4, 2022, before the Washington Huskies played and won the Alamo Bowl 27-20 over Texas, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. announced he would return to play one last college season instead of entering the 2023 NFL draft. That was certainly great news for the Huskies faithful, but where would it put their two backup quarterbacks, Sam Huard, son of Husky great Damon Huard, and Dylan Morris?
UW had a quarterback commitment for the 2023 class from Lincoln Kienholz out of South Dakota. A week before the early signing day, December 21, 2022, Kienholz announced he flipped his choice to Ohio State.
On January 6, 2023, Huard entered the transfer portal. A former five-star recruit, he has three years of college eligibility remaining.
Huard was looking for a college where he could start immediately. Realdawg.com reported Cal Poly was interested in signing Washington state’s all-time high school passing leader.
Last week he signed with the Mustangs. Having a good 2023 season could lead Huard back to Washington after Penix uses up his eligibility.
Right now, Morris is the Washington Huskies number two quarterback heading into the 2023 season.
Penix had injury issues at Indiana and never finished a full season as the Hoosiers starter like he did at Washington last season. Morris, the Huskies starter in 2020 and 2021, is head coach Kalen DeBoer’s insurance policy if Penix gets injured once again.
On January 4, Seattle Times writer Mike Vorel wrote that Morris, who has two years of eligibility remaining, would like to be a starter again. However, he would also like to go into coaching when his football career is over. Staying at Washington would give him a better chance to do so.
That still leaves the Washington Huskies needing a third-string option for 2023. They were interested in Jaden Rashada, a four star recruit from Pittsburg, California, but he signed with Arizona State.
With the top 59 of 24/7’s incoming freshman quarterback crop already committed, DeBoer may have to go another route. There are still a few QBs left in the portal, which is the likely source of UW’s next quarterback.
Next up: In part 3, we will go to the defensive side to look at the Washington Huskies inside linebackers. Go Dawgs!