With starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. not expected to play against Purdue on Friday after suffering a rib injury in the first half of Washington's loss to Iowa, the Huskies will turn to backup Elijah Brown for his first start as a Husky. Despite being in Jedd Fisch's system for just a few months, the Stanford transfer looked comfortable in the second half of last week's loss, throwing for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns without a turnover.
After spending two years in Palo Alto, the junior opted for a change of scenery, taking his talents to Montlake to serve in a backup role for Williams. The third-year signal caller has limited playing experience throughout his college tenure, making just nine appearances and three starts on The Farm. With
Brown presenting a much more traditional, pocket-passer skill set, Jedd Fisch commented on what he expects from his new starter.
"I rewatched this weekend all of his throws from when he was at Stanford," the head coach said. "He doesn't have the same skills as Demond. He's not the type of runner that Demond is in any way, shape, or form. He is a fast processor in terms of getting the ball out of his hands. He has good control and demeanor. He is able to run our offense, take out some zone-read plays, but other than that, under center play-action. I mean, he was recruited by Stanford, which in a lot of ways runs a similar offense to what we've done."
Demond Williams Jr. is day-to-day with a rib injury, but Jedd Fisch seemed pretty pessimistic about his ability to start on Friday. Elijah Brown will take all the first team reps at practice today
— Roman Tomashoff (@rtomashoff34) October 12, 2026
Coming out of powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Southern California, the former four-star prospect held 16 offers, with Alabama, Georgia, and Michigan all in the mix alongside former UW coach Kalen DeBoer. However, the Santa Ana native decided to stay close to home. With just three starts in as many seasons, the veteran backup will look to lead Washington to a much-needed win this Friday against Purdue.
After posting a staggering -3 rushing yards in their last outing against Iowa, the Husky offense will need to rely on their new field general to find open targets and push the ball downfield. During his second-half appearance against the Hawkeyes, Brown showcased the ability to do said things, completing 28-of-39 pass attempts.
Fortunately for the first-year Husky, he is set to face a Boilermakers secondary that has allowed 248 yards per game, which ranks No. 101 nationally. With the offense showing few signs of life this season, Brown will have a chance to prove himself in his debut and attempt to lead Washington to its first Big Ten win of 2026.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Jedd Fisch Speaks on Skill Set of Washington's Backup QB Elijah Brown
