The Washington Huskies will have to adjust their plans for the 2026 season after linebacker , a four-star recruit and redshirt freshman, entered the transfer portal, becoming the 18th player to leave the program.
Jonathan Epperson Jr., a 6-foot, 225-pound standout from Auburn Riverside High School, struggled for playing time during the 2025 season, appearing in only one game and recording no tackles during Washington’s 38–10 LA Bowl win over Boise State. Despite limited action, he was recognized as the team’s scout team MVP, reflecting his contributions in practice.
Before joining UW in June 2024, Epperson had scholarship offers from Oregon, USC, Washington State, Oregon State, and Arizona, originally planning to follow Jedd Fisch at Arizona before Fisch became Washington’s head coach.
The Huskies still have returning starters Xe’ree Alexander and Jacob Manu, who ranked second and 11th on the team in tackles last season, along with reserves Zaydrius Rainey-Sale and Taariq Al-Uqdah, helping to mitigate the loss at linebacker.
Defensive Line Shaken by Parker Twins’ Exit
Adding to the roster shake-up, defensive tackles Jayvon and Armon Parker also entered the transfer portal. Jayvon Parker, a 6-foot-3, 330-pound Detroit native, played in 26 games over his career, tallying 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His career was hampered by a torn Achilles in September 2024, limiting his impact in recent seasons.
The departure of the Parker twins further depletes the Huskies’ defensive line, which has already seen graduations and transfers take key contributors like Simote Pepa, Logan Sagapolu, Anterio Thompson, Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, and Bryce Butler out of the rotation.
To counteract the losses, Washington has added DeSean Watts, Darin Conley, and Kai McClendon via the transfer portal in an effort to rebuild depth along the defensive front.
The exits of Epperson and the Parker twins mark a significant shake-up for Washington football, creating immediate roster challenges as the program looks toward the 2026 season.
