Even amid the whirlwind of the Demond Williams Jr. transfer saga, Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch is finding reasons to celebrate. Over the past two days, the program has secured three major transfers—two defensive tackles and a kicker—strengthening the roster and giving Fisch confidence that the team is gaining more than it is losing.
DeSean Watts, a 6-foot-2, 318-pound defensive tackle from Sacramento State, officially committed on Tuesday. The Fresno native, who redshirted at Fresno City Community College in 2023 and earned first-team All-Valley League honors in 2024, brings immediate size and talent to a Husky defensive line depleted by graduation and transfers. In 2025 at Sacramento State, Watts started 11 of 12 games, recording 36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. With two years of eligibility remaining, he’s expected to compete right away for significant playing time.
Joining him in the interior line is Darin Conley, a 6-foot-3, 277-pound defensive tackle from Ball State. Conley appeared in 12 games in 2024 and 11 in 2025, accumulating 44 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a pass defended, earning a three-star transfer rating from 247Sports. His commitment on Wednesday adds depth and experience to a line that saw both Bryce Butler and Caleb Smith enter the transfer portal.
On special teams, the Huskies added kicker Tyler Robles, a former USC and Texas State player who went 21-for-23 on field goals (91.3%) and 53-of-54 on extra points (98.1%) last season. Robles will compete with senior Ethan Moczulski for the starting role, bringing reliability and a proven leg to the program after longtime kicker Grady Gross exhausted his eligibility.
Despite losing a star quarterback, Fisch believes Washington is well-positioned to emerge stronger, saying these transfers demonstrate that the Huskies are gaining more than they are losing. With talented newcomers ready to contribute immediately, the program is building a roster capable of competing at a high level for the 2026 season and beyond.
