Several players from the 2025 recruiting class ended up contributing in major ways for the Washington Huskies football team last season.

Those players helped the Huskies improve by three wins from the season.

Among the first-year players, arguably none had a bigger impact than offensive guard John Mills.

Mills, who was a three-star recruit in the class of the 2025, started 11 games for Washington last season. The only two games he didn't start were contests against Rutgers and Michigan. He was out for both those games due to injury.

Mills started nine games at left guard and two at right tackle for UW, providing much-needed versatility amidst injuries to the offensive line.

Mills was recognized for his contributions and made On3 Sports' True Freshman All-American Team and was featured on several other All-Freshman lists.

Mills received another accolade earlier this week via a post on "X" from Pro Football Focus.

The publication posted Mills' pass-block grade from this past season. He was graded at 80.2. which was the highest grade for a true freshman offensive lineman in the country.

Mills responded to the post in a quote on "X", saying "All glory to God."

The Huskies have received a bit of praise early this season, with several publications having them ranked in early Top 25 lists, and some even predicting them to make the College Football Playoff.

Mills and the offense at-large plays a significant role in that.

The offense will feature junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who led the Big Ten in total yards last season (3,676), transfer running back Jayden Limar, transfer wide receivers Bodpegn Miller and Christian Moss and transfer offensive lineman Kolt Dieterich.

Returning to the offense from last year's squad will be the team's second-leading receiver, Dezmen Roebuck, running back Jordan Washington and several of Mills' partners under the offensive line, including Landen Hatchett and Drew Azzopardi.

Washington is also expected to get a boost from several players in its 2026 recruiting class, which ranked 12th in the nation, such as five-star offensive lineman Kodi Greene and four-star wide receiver Jordan Clay.

Mills and the rest of the Huskies will begin spring practice in several weeks in preparation of what can be an eventful season.

Washington will play its spring football game, "Dawgs After Dark," at 6:30 p.m. PT on May 1 at Husky Stadium in Seattle. After that, the Huskies will begin their regular season in an Apple Cup showdown against their in-state rivals, the Washington State Cougars, at a to-be-determined time Sept. 5 at Husky Stadium.

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