Kai McClendon previously played at Mississippi State.
In the world of Washington football, it's not all about Demond Williams Jr. right now.
In addition to dealing with the fallout from the situation with their quarterback, the Huskies are working on building their 2026 roster, and they secured another piece on Friday, landing defensive lineman Kai McClendon from Mississippi State.
On3 had that information on social media.
About McClendon
A sophomore, McClendon did not play in 2025, so he will come to Seattle with three years of eligibility left. In 2024, he played in 12 games, registering six solo tackles and two tackles for loss. He also had 0.5 sacks and should help elevate the Huskies defense.
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About the Huskies
Washington is certainly in an odd place right now. The Huskies went 9-4 in 2025 and boast a good roster with high expectations for 2026, but the Williams situation has thrown everyone for a loop. The star quarterback certainly has a lot of trust to earn back in the wake of his botched transfer portal situation, and it's unclear if or how he'll be able to do that moving forward.
In addition to his situation, the Huskies are set to lose Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston to graduation and the NFL Draft. Running back Adam Mohammed has also transferred and will play his next season at Cal.
Also on campus
--The No. 23 Washington women's basketball suffered a disappointing 15-point loss against No. 15 Michigan State on Thursday night. The Huskies are now 12-3 overall, but 2-2 inside Big Ten play. Three players were in double-figures for the Dawgs, including Ella Ladine, who led the way with 15. Sayvia Sellers had 14. Washington will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at Purdue.
--The men's basketball team lost the other day against Purdue, marking a second straight defeat inside Big Ten play. Danny Sprinkle's team is 9-6 and 1-3 inside the conference. They'll be back in action on Sunday afternoon when they take on Ohio State at Alaska Airlines Arena. Despite the tough stretch, freshman Hannes Steinbach continues to be one of the best freshmen in the country. He leads the way with 18.2 ppg, and he's also shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor.
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