It’s inevitable that college teams will lose and add players through the transfer portal. Sometimes — such as after the 2023 Washington Huskies football season — losses are nearly catastrophic. Other times, it’s just part of the deal for modern college football. UW added more talent in the portal last season than the group that went out the door. There are additional layers in 2026, as teams must manage to keep revenue share amounts paid to players under the maximum allowed by the House settlement.
Athletes enter the portal for many reasons, including a larger portion of revenue share or NIL money, more playing time, better scheme/coaching fit, family reasons, or a perceived higher level of team.
Players can enter the portal from Jan. 2-16. An additional window opens from Jan. 20-24 to players on the two teams that play in the Jan. 19 College Football Playoff championship game. For programs that undergo coaching changes, an additional 15-day window opens five days after a new coaching hire becomes official.
Should there be panic in the streets?
Avoid lighting torches and running down Montlake Boulevard for the time being. Though there are undoubtedly discussions behind the scenes, players can’t sign with a new team until Jan. 2. So, right now, many teams are seeing players say goodbye without knowing who might be signed once the portal officially opens. If a large number of starters bids farewell, that’s obviously a concern. Several departures are normal, and it’s all about weighing what was lost vs. gained once the roster closes in on being finalized.
See each player below for the Level of Concern Meter. In each case, that concern could later drop to zero if an equal or better replacement is signed when the portal opens. A 10 is along the lines of if Michael Penix Jr. had transferred after the 2022 season. Level 1 is a player who was unlikely to ever see the field in a meaningful part of a game for UW.
Who’s Out
Here’s a running list of Washington players reportedly set to enter the transfer portal when it opens Jan. 2, along with the perceived concern level and impact to the program as of the day each departure was reported.
All snap counts per Pro Football Focus.
Adam Mohammed, RB
Concern meter: 8
Impact: A second stunner today, and perhaps an even bigger surprise than receiver Raiden Vines-Bright’s portal entry. Mohammed, a true sophomore, originally signed with Fisch at Arizona and followed the staff, including running backs coach Scottie Graham, to Washington. Mohammed played a significant role behind senior Jonah Coleman in 2025, carrying the ball 106 times for 530 yards and five touchdowns. His best game came against Oregon in the regular-season finale, when he rushed for 105 yards on 14 carries.
Mohammed, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was the presumed starter going into the 2026 season. Early on, he did not display elite elusiveness or breakaway speed. His feel for the game seemed to improve with more carries late in the season when Coleman was limited by a knee injury. He has the look of a solid power runner if the blocking in front of him is good.
It did seem odd that Mohammed saw just 19 snaps and two carries in the LA Bowl when he appeared to be fully healthy. His departure seems a little puzzling, but perhaps there’s a better revenue share/NIL opportunity for him elsewhere.
Mohammed’s absence creates a major need for UW to find an experienced back in the portal. Jordan Washington, a redshirt freshman, possesses elite speed but at 185 pounds is more of a change-of-pace back. Freshman Quaid Carr showed some promise in the fall, but he’s also smaller back. Julian McMahan, who did not play as a true freshman this year, is the only other scholarship running back currently scheduled to return.
Washington signed four-star recruit Brian Bonner (6-1, 185) and three-star Ansue Sanoe (6-1, 210) for the 2026 class.
Raiden Vines-Bright, WR
Concern meter: 7
Impact: This is the first portal stunner so far for UW, as the true freshman earned a starting spot at the slot position in 2025 with a strong spring game and fall camp. He technically started seven of 13 games, as that can be formation-dependent for receivers.
Vines-Bright showed star potential at times during practices, though he finished the season with just 24 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown. He seemed a likely starter again next year, especially if Denzel Boston heads to the NFL. He was fifth on the team in receptions behind Boston (62 catches), fellow true freshman Dezmen Roebuck (42), tight end Decker DeGraaf (32) and running back Jonah Coleman (24). Vines-Bright’s snap count peaked at 63 in the sixth game of the season, at Maryland. He played 60 total in the final two games of the season against Oregon (27 snaps) and Boise State (33 snaps).
Washington is loaded with young talent at receiver, and has a very talented 2026 class coming in. Vines-Bright, at 6-1, 200 pounds, appeared to have the versatility to play outside or in the slot. Washington has three four-star recruits (Jordan Clay, Trez Davis, Mason James) with varied skill sets coming in this winter that will vie for playing time right away, plus Blaise LaVista, a three-star signee who could surprise.
After signing five receivers across the 2025 and 2026 classes, some attrition seemed inevitable. Still, they’ll lose senior Omari Evans, and likely Boston, leaving a group high on talent but low on experience. UW may consider finding some experience in the portal to balance out a very young group.
Bryce Butler, DL
Concern meter: 7
Impact: The fourth-year junior was a key part of the defensive line rotation in 2025. He played in 305 of the team’s 885 defensive snaps, which was fourth among interior defensive linemen. Butler played two seasons for Garden City CC, meaning it’s possible he could be granted additional eligibility if he seeks it. He did not play in the LA Bowl after participating in all 12 regular-season games, including one start.
With starters Anterio Thompson and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei out of eligibility, Butler seemed in line to once again be an important part of the defense in 2026. UW will likely look to the portal to bring in a couple of interior linemen who can contribute right away as the Huskies continue to build depth through high school recruiting. Washington may be able to find a suitable replacement for Butler, but big defensive linemen are not always readily available in the portal.
Zachary Henning, OL
Concern meter: 5
Impact: The third-year sophomore was a valuable backup on the offensive line who started the final four games at center when starter Landen Hatchett had a cast on his snapping hand. Henning, who played in all 13 games in each of the past two seasons, also filled in as a blocking tight end against Illinois this season — a role he filled in 2024 as well. He could be a potential starter at the FBS level with two years of eligiblity remaining.
The Huskies will have Lowen Colman-Brusa, who redshirted this year, as a possible backup to Hatchett, or offensive line coach Michael Switzer could move Gereian Hatchett from right guard to center if needed. Henning filled in at both center and guard, so the Huskies will have to evaluate whether younger players are ready to step in as key backups or if a veteran addition through the portal is needed. Washington’s 2025 and 2026 classes have potential long-term answers, but it remains to be seen if they will be ready to jump in against a good Big Ten team if needed next season.
Deven Bryant, LB
Concern meter: 4
Impact: Bryant started 10 games for Washington and was the team’s third-leading tackler. The reason for the 4-level on the concern meter is that linebacker could be UW’s deepest position next season. Bryant played 60-plus snaps in three straight games in the middle of the season after senior Taariq Al-Uqdah was lost for the year, and before senior Jacob Manu and true freshman Zaydrius Rainey-Sale were cleared to play after 2024 knee surgeries.
Manu played in just four games this season to preserve a redshirt. Al-Uqdah played in three games prior to his season-ending injury and is also expected back. Bryant, who struggled in pass coverage at times, saw his snaps drop significantly during a late three-game span against Wisconsin (21 snaps), Purdue (17) and UCLA (7) with the emergence of Rainey-Sale and Xe’ree Alexander. Though a capable starter for a Power 4-level team, Bryant would have some trouble seeing the field much with four experienced linebackers in front of him, plus a new crop of freshmen coming in.
Vincent Holmes, S
Concern meter: 4
Impact: Originally a four-star recruit in Kalen DeBoer’s 2023 class, the third-year sophomore played in 25 of 26 games the past two years, mostly on special teams. He switched to wide receiver briefly after Jedd Fisch was hired and entered the portal at one point before returning to UW. Holmes played just 100 defensive snaps this season, fourth-most among safeties.
Holmes appeared to be the fifth safety in fall camp, behind transfers Alex McLaughlin and CJ Christian, as well as sixth-year senior Makell Esteen and true freshman Rylon Dillard-Allen. Christian, a senior, missed the entire season with an injury, though he would seem to be a candidate for a medical redshirt. That would seemingly put Holmes in the No. 4 spot again, and he would need to hold off promising 2026 safety Gavin Day. He may be able to find an opportunity to start at a Group of 5-level school or again provide valuable depth at a Power 4 program.
Leroy Bryant, DB
Concern meter: 5
Impact: Lauded by two different coaching staffs at UW, Bryant started five games for the Huskies, entering the season as the starting nickel and key backup to outside cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock. But the redshirt sophomore struggled in coverage this season, eventually giving way to redshirt freshman Rahshawn Clark at the nickel spot. Washington coaches seem to prefer Dylan Robinson and other young talent on the outside, meaning playing time would have been tough to come by for Bryant in 2026. UW, however, will likely search the portal for an inexperienced corner to contribute.
Davit Boyajyan, OL
Concern meter: 2
Impact: The interior lineman did not get on the field during his two seasons at UW. With true freshman John Mills and Champ Taulealea moving ahead of Boyajyan on the depth chart at guard, and Geirean Hatchett being granted an additional year of eligibility, it seemed Boyajyan was unlikely to find a role at Washington.
Dyson McCutcheon, DB
Concern meter: 3
Impact: McCutcheon, a fifth-year senior, played 254 snaps in 2024, but missed the 2025 season with injury after appearing to fall behind Clark and Bryant at the nickel spot. He’s likely to be granted a medical redshirt to retain one year of eligibility. Like Bryant, it was going to be tough to carve out a significant role at UW in 2026.
Audric Harris, WR
Concern meter: 3
Impact: Harris, a sophomore who played in eight games during the 2024 season and six in 2025, appeared to be a contender to start in the slot during spring ball. True freshmen Dezmen Roebuck, Raiden Vines-Bright and Marcus Harris seemed to pass him by in the receiver rotation in the fall, however. Though Denzel Boston may declare for the NFL draft, Washington has a talented group of young receivers, and expects opening-game starter Rashid Williams back from injuries that kept him out most of the year.
This story originally appeared at www.emeraldcityspectrum.com
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