NFL legend blasts ‘broken’ college football after $6m quarterback U-turn

Washington Huskies quarterback Demond Williams’ decision to enter the transfer portal has sparked a frenzy online.

The 19-year-old announced on social media on Tuesday night that he intends to leave the Huskies just days after he agreed to return for the 2026 season.

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NFL legend Chase Daniel, who joined ESPN as an analyst last summer, slammed the “broken” college football system that allows such moves to happen.

Daniel shared his criticism above a video that showed LSU head coach Lane Kiffin sitting beside quarterback Sam Leavitt, who recently left Arizona State and is also in the portal.

“So one of the better QB’s in the portal Demond Williams committed back to Washington a few days ago & signed papers for $4M/Year…then tonight announces he’s entering the portal,” he wrote on X.

“LSU is considered the landing spot for $6M/Yr…and this is all going on while stud QB Sam Leavitt is at a basketball game with Lane Kiffin.

“College football is broken.”

A fresh twist emerged Wednesday with the claim that Washington had refused to enter Williams’ name into the port from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, who claims that the agreement including “included a provision prohibiting him from entering the transfer portal.”

Daniel joins a chorus of fans and pundits who have criticised the transfer portal system.

Before 2018, players had to sit out a year if they transferred but now they can move freely, leading to a staggering increase in players who leave teams after a season.

While that was chaotic at the time, players could only transfer once without sitting out.

Things became worse when, in 2024, a series of lawsuits stripped the NCAA’s ability to limit transfers, meaning players are now able to transfer multiple times and play immediately.

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Furthermore, NIL has complicated this even more as it created a pay-for-play system.

High-profile recruits can command multi-million dollar figures and cause bidding wars.

In 2018, when the system first changed, just 700 entrants were in the portal, while in this current cycle there are over 4,500.

LSU searches for a QB as Leavitt and Williams look for new teams

Daniel’s decision to slam the college football system by using the examples of Williams and Leavitt is totally valid.

Williams signed a deal with the Huskies, but has left the team amid reports that LSU is a top landing spot for him.

LSU is reportedly offering $6 million per year to whoever their new quarterback will be.

“I have to do what is best for me and my future,” Williams wrote on Instagram.

However, Williams’ future won’t be decided easily as Washington are reportedly exploring legal avenues to enforce the contract he signed just days ago

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Meanwhile, with Leavitt, while he spent two days at LSU and was spotted with Kiffin, he is still expected to visit more schools.

As per On3, Leavitt is scheduled to go north and take a campus tour with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Should Leavitt sign with the Volunteers, it is expected that Williams would become the main target for LSU.

But what happens to Williams if LSU do get Leavitt, which other college would be willing to match what they or the Huskies are reportedly offering?

All in all, what is clear is that Daniel is right when he says that the system is broken.

The fix is a tricky prospect as the legal challenges down the years have shown.