In a world of few bright spots offensively, two Washington Huskies freshmen wide receivers played key roles in Saturday’s 16-14 win over Utah State.
Jordan Clay, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound San Antonio, Texas, native, became an early next-man-up target for third-year quarterback Demond Williams Jr. after veteran Christian Moss was unable to suit up after he suffered an injury against Washington State.
The one-time Baylor commit hauled in consecutive 8-yard receptions for his first two catches as a Husky on the final play of the first quarter and the first play of the second quarter. Clay then hauled in a crucial 19-yard contested catch with 10 minutes, which set up UW’s first touchdown to retake the lead at 10-7.
"Jordan Clay has shown us his ability
to win one-on-one battles," Jedd Fisch said on Monday. "The circus route that he caught on the sideline with a (holding call) as well was extremely impressive. It showed his ball skills. I mean, he's got 10-and-a-half (inch) hands. He's got huge hands. So you can see his ability to make those plucks in the air."
It proved to be the last throw Williams Jr. made on the drive as freshman running back Ansu Sanoe and veteran Trey Cooley, along with the third-year passer, finished off the drive with six consecutive runs to cap off he drive.
Fisch said Clay and fellow first-year receiver Trez Davis—who vaulted into a bigger role than expected against the Aggies when fourth-year starter Rashid Williams left the game in the first half due to injury—showed poise in the narrow victory this past weekend.
Jordan Clay go off. Spectacular high-point with contested coverage for his third catch of the day, good for 19 yards.
— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) September 12, 2026
Clay finished the game with four catches for 42 yards while Davis added four catches for 44 yards behind second-year starter Dezmen Roebuck. Much of Davis' production came on the final drive of the first half, a 19-yard reception in front of Roebuck going towards the Huskies' sideline, and then a 7-yard catch to set up a 48-yard field goal by Tyler Robles.
"We were expecting Jordan to play a significant amount this week," Fisch said. "Trez, we were still kind of working into the rotation, and then Rashid went down early. I thought that Trez had incredible poise. The scramble play that he caught on the sideline with (Dezmen Roebuck) almost coming in front of him, to have the temperament to make that catch (was impressive)."
Fisch noted that Davis' second catch just before the end of the first half hadn't been practiced. Davis made it happen in three seconds despite the ensuing field goal attempt going wide right to keep the score at 10-7.
With Moss expected to be out until at least the start of November and Rashid Williams week-to-week, on top of Fisch's insistence to play freshmen and young players early and often, could mean the first-year UW receiver duo are set to join Roebuck and second-year pass catcher Chris Lawson as the main targets for Williams Jr. as the 2026 season moves along.
"They're both good-sized wideouts, and they're both super young," Fisch said. "But they both have a ton of upside."
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Freshman WR Duo Excels Vs. Utah State
