NEW ORLEANS — Dylan Morris’ farewell tour has been admittedly bittersweet.
Morris — UW’s 6-foot, 197-pound junior quarterback — entered the transfer portal on Dec. 11, seeking a second home for his final collegiate season. He did so after starting in 2020 and 2021, then sitting behind and supporting transfer sensation Michael Penix Jr. each of the last two seasons.
So, while Washington went 24-2 under Penix and Kalen DeBoer, Morris put patience and collective success ahead of individual aspirations.
“Ultimately why I stuck it out so long, through all the ups and downs, is the loyalty I have to the guys in this program and the love I have for the program,” Morris said on Saturday, during UW’s Sugar Bowl media day. “I’ve dreamed of playing at UW my whole life. I was able to do that. The last two years haven’t ultimately gone my way, but there’s so much happiness I have for everyone in the locker room and the guys I spend so much time with.”
sugar bowl coverage Washington 37, Texas 31
Which, for Morris, made the last month — and his decision — unavoidably complicated.
“I had a lot of conversations with [offensive coordinator Ryan] Grubb, coach DeBoer and [quality control coach] Mitch Dahlen about what I should be doing,” said Morris, who threw for 3,355 yards with 23 total touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 16 games (and 15 starts) in 2020 and 2021. “They left it open to me. They told me, ‘We’re going to bring in a guy. It’s still going to be a fair competition between you and whoever it is. The coaches want you to stay, but as people who care about you and love you, it might be better to get a fresh start somewhere else.’ It was definitely left to me to make a decision.”
In the weeks since, Washington brought in a guy — soon-to-be senior Will Rogers, who completed 69.4% of his passes and threw for 12,315 yards (second-most in SEC history) with 94 passing touchdowns (a school record) and 28 interceptions in four seasons at Mississippi State. And while Rogers appears the presumptive starter, freshman Austin Mack is perceived as Washington’s long-term answer under center as well.
Morris, meanwhile, was allowed to remain with the program through the College Football Playoff, while simultaneously exploring the portal.
“Coach Grubb was like, ‘I don’t want us doing some practices in the beginning of December to hold you back from what your future might hold,’” said Morris, who missed two practice to take a recruiting visit to Marshall. “So that’s made it easier for me to handle it. It’s been a unique experience with me staying. I know a lot of guys will leave their teams, as you see across college football. But for me, that was never a question.
“It was very mutual between me and the coaches. They wanted me to stay, and I wanted to stay. It just comes back to the loyalty I have for these guys. I didn’t want to be a distraction. I was very hesitant to get in the portal, honestly. I didn’t know if I should wait until we’re done playing. But with how things are moving, it’s best for me to get into the portal and try to find somewhere new to play.”
Multiple Muhammads
It’s a family affair at the College Football Playoff.
Go check the group chat.
On Monday, Jabbar Muhammad — UW’s junior corner and Oklahoma State transfer — will confront some familiar faces, with a first cousin (defensive back Malik Muhammad) and a second cousin (edge Billy Walton III) both residing on Texas’ roster.
But that’s just the beginning.
“I can’t even explain it, but I’m going to try to. I’ve got like 60 first cousins, and we’re all tight knit,” Jabbar Muhammad said with a laugh. “Every family get together, every gathering, we’re all there. We all stay within like a three-mile radius of each other. Go to the city of Dallas and say, ‘Do you know the Muhammads?’ and everybody will say yeah. I’m telling you, it’s that type of vibe.”
The Superdome, which will host Monday’s Sugar Bowl, touts a capacity of 83,000.
But considering the Muhammad brothers and cousins and mothers and fathers and daughters and sons, it might have to add more seats.
“When the playoff rankings came out the group chat went ballistic,” said Muhammad, who shares a group chat with roughly 20 of his cousins. “It went crazy. Everybody’s like, ‘I need a ticket! Ticket, ticket, ticket, ticket, ticket.’ I just had to mute my phone, because I couldn’t even soak it all the way in. It was surreal. But we’re blessed, for sure.”
For Jabbar, the blessings go both ways. The 5-10, 183-pound junior has brought an immediate boost to UW’s once struggling secondary, recording 42 tackles with 12 pass breakups, five tackles for loss, three interceptions and two sacks in his first season in Seattle. Malik Muhammad has also made an impact as a true freshman at Texas, contributing 28 tackles with four pass breakups and an interception in all 13 games.
Given the age difference, Jabbar estimates he’s only played against Malik and Billy in an organized scrimmage with the little league DeSoto Cowboys. But he knows his opponents well enough.
“I’ll put it like this: They used to cry when they couldn’t spend the night at my house on school nights,” Jabbar said. “That’s how tight we were. I know the both of them like the back of my hand.”
Beyond the family affair, Jabbar faces a decision: whether to declare for the 2024 NFL draft. He admits he’s considered the enticing options.
But for now, it’ll have to wait.
“We were able to go home a few times and I was able to talk it out with my pops,” said Muhammad, sitting at a table in the Superdome. “He’s really done a good job of keeping my grounded. He was like, ‘Man, just go out there and ball. Everything will take care of itself.’ I talked to my big brothers and they said the same thing. I’ve got to enjoy this. This doesn’t come to people often.
“Of course I’ve thought about it. I’ve tried not to, to be completely honest. But every time I talk to my pops, and he keeps me level-headed, reminds me to be where your feet are. Right now, my feet are in a big place.”
Mack settled in Seattle
Rogers’ impending arrival hasn’t dampened the spirits of freshman quarterback Austin Mack, who enrolled at Washington a year early to learn from Penix and Grubb. The 6-6, 226-pound Mack has earned rave reviews from UW’s coaches during his season behind the scenes.
“There’s always going to be competition in college football,” Mack said Saturday. “Being a 17-year-old and having a 22- or 23-year-old [arriving in Rogers], there’s always going to be more room for opportunity and growth for me. At the end of the day, it’s best man wins. I’m super glad he’s coming. I’m very glad to get to work with him.”
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