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Sam Huard
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Sam Huard (born June 17, 2002) is an American college football quarterback for the USC Trojans.[2] He has previously played for the Washington Huskies, the Cal Poly Mustangs and the Utah Utes.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Huard grew up in Bellevue, Washington and attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School.[3] He was named the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year after passing for 3,432 yards and 34 touchdowns.[4] Huard completed 248 of 395 passes for 4,141 yard with 42 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during his sophomore season.[5] He completed 269 of 426 passes for 4,172 yards with 56 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a junior and was named the Area Offensive Player of the Year by The Seattle Times and the 4A State Player of the Year by the Associated Press.[6] Huard passes 1,473 yards and 21 touchdowns with no interceptions during his senior season, which was postponed from the fall to the spring of 2021 due to COVID-19.[7] He also was invited to play in the 2021 All-American Bowl.[8] Huard finished his high school career with a state record 13,214 passing yards and threw 153 touchdown passes.[9]
Huard was initially rated a four-star recruit.[10] He committed to play college football at Washington as a sophomore over offers from Boise State, California, Florida, Tennessee, and Washington State.[11] Huard was re-rated as a five-star recruit during his senior year.[12]
College career
[edit]Washington
[edit]Huard entered his freshman season at Washington as the Huskies second-string quarterback behind Dylan Morris.[13] He appeared in four games during the season, completing 22-for-42 pass attempts for 241 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.[14] Huard made his first career start in the Apple Cup rivalry game at the end of the 2021 season, completing 17-of-31 pass attempts for 190 yards and one touchdown with four interceptions in a 40-13 loss to Washington State.[15] In 2022, Huard served as the third-string quarterback behind superstar transfer Michael Penix Jr. and Morris.[16] Following the end of the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.[17]
Cal Poly
[edit]
Huard ultimately transferred to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.[18] The transfer reunited him with his former head coach at Kennedy Catholic, Sheldon Cross, who had recently been hired as the Mustangs' offensive coordinator.[19]
Huard opened the 2023 season as Cal Poly's starting quarterback.[20] He played in 9 games for the Mustangs, totaling 2,205 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.[21]
Utah
[edit]On May 7, 2024, Huard transferred to the University of Utah.[22][23]
On December 8, 2024, Huard announced that he would enter the transfer portal for the third time.[24]
USC
[edit]On January 6, 2025, Huard announced that he would transfer to USC.[25]
Statistics
[edit]| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | INT | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2021 | Washington | 4 | 1 | 0–1 | 22 | 42 | 52.4 | 241 | 5.7 | 1 | 4 | 89.4 | 3 | −32 | −10.7 | 0 |
| 2022 | Washington | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 24 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 | 200.8 | 1 | −13 | −13.0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Cal Poly | 9 | 9 | 3–6 | 185 | 304 | 60.9 | 2,205 | 7.3 | 18 | 10 | 134.7 | 19 | −197 | −5.1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Utah | DNP | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | USC | 0 | 0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career | 14 | 10 | 3–7 | 209 | 348 | 60.1 | 2,470 | 7.1 | 19 | 14 | 129.7 | 23 | −142 | −6.2 | 0 | |
Personal life
[edit]Huard is the son of former Washington and NFL quarterback Damon Huard.[26] His uncle, Brock Huard, also played quarterback at Washington and in the NFL.[27] Another uncle, Luke Huard, played quarterback at North Carolina and is currently a member of the USC Trojans coaching staff.[28]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sam Huard, QB Washington". dynastyleaguefootball.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Vessels, Chandler (January 6, 2025). "Utah transfer QB Sam Huard commits to USC". On3. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "UW Huskies have four former Kennedy Catholic standouts on their roster". Tacoma News Tribune. April 29, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Kennedy Catholic's Sam Huard named Freshman of the Year by Maxpreps". The Seattle Times. January 5, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Kennedy Catholic's Sam Huard is The News Tribune's spring 2021 All-Area football player of the year". Tacoma News Tribune. May 7, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "UW QB signee Sam Huard plans to play senior season in spring, but is excited to join 'hungry' Huskies". The Seattle Times. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Sam Huard, former five-star QB recruit with NFL pedigree, signs with Cal Poly". Santa Maria Times. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Ramos, Gus (November 11, 2020). "Five-Star University of Washington Commit Sam Huard Welcomed to 2021 All-American Bowl". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "What's the plan for UW QB Sam Huard's freshman season? Is there a plan?". Union-Bulletin. October 24, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Newport, Kyle (November 23, 2018). "4-Star 2021 QB Sam Huard Commits to Washington". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Kennedy Catholic QB Sam Huard, No. 1 pocket passer in 2021 class, makes commitment to UW Huskies". The Seattle Times. November 23, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Eklund, Scott (January 27, 2021). "Husky 2021 QB Signee Sam Huard Gets Fifth Star From 247Sports". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Freshman QB Sam Huard makes brief appearance for UW as Dylan Morris exits for one series with an injury". The Seattle Times. October 22, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Sam Huard's first goal is to win UW's QB competition. His next is to avenge the Apple Cup". The Seattle Times. April 5, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ "Five-star freshman Sam Huard makes first career start for UW in Apple Cup". Tacoma News Tribune. November 27, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Caple, Christian (January 10, 2023). "Caple: Sam Huard, the transfer portal and the price of elite talent acquisition". The Athletic. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Huskies backup QB Sam Huard says entering transfer portal was 'hardest decision I've had to make in my life'". The Seattle Times. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Rittenberg, Adam (January 30, 2023). "Ex-Washington Huskies QB Sam Huard to transfer to Cal Poly". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Sallee, Barrett (January 30, 2023). "Sam Huard transfers to Cal Poly as former Washington QB, five-star prospect reunites with high school coach". CBS Sports. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ Ho, Matthew (September 2, 2023). "New QB Sam Huard dazzles for Cal Poly in 27-10 season-opening win over San Diego". The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA) Web Edition.
- ^ "Sam Huard 2023 Stats per Game - NCAAF". espn.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Kosko, Nick (May 7, 2024). "Former Washington QB Sam Huard announces transfer commitment to Big 12 contender". On3. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Utah adds QB Sam Huard: Former 5-star shores up key position group entering potential CFP campaign". cbssports.com. May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
- ^ Katson, Alex (December 8, 2024). "Former high-profile Washington recruit re-enters transfer portal". Huskies Wire. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ Morrissette, Connor (January 6, 2025). "USC football receives commitment from Sam Huard: Trojans land former Washington, Cal Poly and Utah QB". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "The next Huard quarterback has arrived: Damon's son Sam excelling as Kennedy Catholic freshman". The Seattle Times. October 9, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Booth, Tim (April 1, 2022). "Washington QB competition getting started with spring ball". APNews.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Caple, Christian (October 5, 2020). "'Pressure is a privilege': The football life of future Washington QB Sam Huard". The Athletic. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
External links
[edit]Sam Huard
View on GrokipediaEarly life and high school career
Early life and family
Sam Huard was born on June 17, 2002, in Bellevue, Washington. Raised in the Seattle area, he grew up immersed in a football-centric environment due to his family's deep ties to the sport. This early exposure shaped his foundational interest in the game, with family discussions and events often revolving around football strategies and histories.[11] Huard is the son of Damon Huard and Julie Huard. His father, Damon, enjoyed a distinguished career as a quarterback, first at the University of Washington from 1993 to 1995, where he lettered all three years and concluded his college tenure as the Huskies' all-time leading passer with 5,692 yards. Damon then played 12 seasons in the NFL, serving as a backup for the Miami Dolphins from 1997 to 2000—including a roster spot in Super Bowl XXXIII—with the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2003, and starting games for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004 to 2007 before remaining with the Chiefs in 2008. This legacy provided Sam with direct mentorship on quarterback fundamentals and the demands of professional football from a young age.[1][12][13] Huard has two older sisters, Holly and Brooke, who have pursued paths outside of football; notably, Brooke competed in volleyball at the University of Washington. The immediate family's emphasis on athletics and education fostered a supportive home dynamic, though Sam's siblings were not prominently involved in football themselves.[14][15]High school career
Sam Huard attended Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien, Washington, where he started as quarterback for four seasons from 2017 to 2021, with his senior year played in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Influenced by his family's football legacy, he quickly emerged as one of the top high school prospects in the nation.[16] During his sophomore year in 2018, Huard completed 248 of 395 passes for 4,141 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, leading Kennedy Catholic to a strong season. As a junior in 2019, he threw for 4,172 yards and 56 touchdowns on 269 of 426 attempts with 11 interceptions, earning recognition as the Seattle Times' area offensive player of the year and guiding his team to an 11-1 record and the Washington 4A state quarterfinals.[16][6] Huard's senior season in spring 2021 was abbreviated to three games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he passed for 1,473 yards, 21 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. In his final game on March 26, 2021, against Kentwood High School, Huard threw for 514 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking the Washington state career passing yards record. Over his high school career, he amassed 13,218 passing yards and 153 touchdowns. For his freshman performance in 2017, which included 3,432 yards and 34 touchdowns, he was named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.[3][16][17][8][18] Rated as a five-star recruit and the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the class of 2021 by 247Sports, Huard committed to the University of Washington as a sophomore on November 23, 2018, and reaffirmed his pledge through coaching changes and national interest from other programs.[19][3]College career
Washington Huskies (2021–2022)
Sam Huard enrolled early at the University of Washington in March 2021 as a highly touted five-star quarterback recruit.[20] As a true freshman, he served as the third-string quarterback behind starter Dylan Morris and backup Jacob Sirmon, receiving limited playing time amid a depth chart that prioritized experienced players. Huard appeared in four games during the 2021 season, completing 22 of 42 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.[21] His debut came in a blowout win over Arkansas State, where he went 2-for-5 for 31 yards in mop-up duty.[22] He saw brief action in subsequent games against California (3-for-5, 20 yards) and one other matchup before earning his first career start.[22] Huard's most notable performance came in the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington State on November 26, 2021, a 40–13 loss for the Huskies. Starting in place of the injured Morris, he completed 17 of 31 passes for 190 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown—a 16-yard strike to Rome Odunze in the fourth quarter—but threw four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. This outing accounted for the majority of his season production and highlighted both his potential and the challenges of transitioning to college football under pressure.[20] In 2022, Huard's role diminished further with the arrival of transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the starter, relegating him to third-string behind Penix and Dylan Morris. He appeared in just one game, a season-opening win over Portland State, completing 2 of 2 passes for 24 yards in garbage time.[20] Over his two seasons at Washington, Huard played in five games total, accumulating 24 completions on 44 attempts for 265 passing yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.[21] Following the Huskies' 2022 campaign, he entered the NCAA transfer portal on December 19, 2022, seeking more opportunities elsewhere.Cal Poly Mustangs (2023)
In January 2023, Sam Huard transferred from the University of Washington to Cal Poly, an FCS program in the Big Sky Conference, where he signed a financial aid agreement and reunited with his high school coach, Sheldon Cross.[23][24] Huard sought increased playing time after a limited role at Washington, and he was named the immediate starting quarterback for the Mustangs under new head coach Paul Wulff.[25] Huard started all nine games he appeared in during the 2023 season, leading Cal Poly to a 3-6 record in those contests as part of the team's overall 3-8 mark.[2] He completed 184 of 303 passes for 2,247 yards, with a 60.7% completion rate, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, ranking second in the Big Sky Conference in passing yards per game (249.7) and touchdown passes.[26][27] Huard also contributed on the ground with 19 rushing attempts for a net loss of 97 yards, often scrambling under pressure but scoring no rushing touchdowns.[9] Notable performances included his debut against San Diego, where he threw for 364 yards and a touchdown in a 27-10 victory, and a six-touchdown passing outing (tying a program record) in a 41-20 win over Lincoln (CA).[28][29] Against Big Sky opponents, Huard passed for 333 yards and two scores in a 24-17 upset of Northern Colorado, but faced tougher outings like a 483-yard, 38-completion effort (a school record) in a loss to No. 9 Sacramento State.[30] The Mustangs' offensive line struggled with protection, allowing 36 sacks on Huard—the fourth-most in the Big Sky—contributing to his 10 interceptions and frequent negative-yardage rushes.[26] At the smaller FCS program, Huard emphasized personal development and academics alongside his on-field role, benefiting from a less pressured environment to refine his skills after earlier limited opportunities at a Power Five school.[31] Following the season, Huard entered the NCAA transfer portal on April 29, 2024, aiming to return to a Power Five program with two years of eligibility remaining.[32][33]Utah Utes (2024)
Following his starting role at Cal Poly in 2023, Sam Huard transferred to the University of Utah in May 2024, where he enrolled as a senior with two years of eligibility remaining.[34][35] During the 2024 season, Huard did not appear in any games for the Utes, remaining as the third- or fourth-string quarterback on the depth chart behind starter Cam Rising and backups Isaac Wilson and Brandon Rose.[3][36][37] Utah's quarterback room was regarded as one of the deepest and most talented in the nation that year, featuring multiple high-profile options amid the program's transition to the Big 12 Conference.[38][39] Media coverage of Huard during this period was limited, with reports emphasizing his participation in practices and team preparation rather than any on-field action.[40] Huard entered the NCAA transfer portal on December 8, 2024, after just one semester with the Utes, citing an offensive coordinator change as a factor in his decision to seek new opportunities.[41][40]USC Trojans (2025–present)
On January 6, 2025, Sam Huard announced his transfer to the USC Trojans from Utah, entering the NCAA transfer portal to seek greater playing opportunities as a redshirt senior quarterback.[42][43] He joined a quarterback room led by starter Jayden Maiava and backup Husan Longstreet, positioning Huard as the third-string option behind them on the depth chart.[44][1] Throughout the 2025 season, Huard has seen limited action in USC's Big Ten schedule under head coach Lincoln Riley's up-tempo spread offense, which emphasizes quick passes and explosive plays but has kept the backups on the sidelines amid a 7-2 start.[45] Huard's most notable contribution came on November 7, 2025, during a 38–17 home win over Northwestern, where he executed a trick-play fake punt in the second quarter.[46] Disguised by wearing punter Sam Johnson's No. 80 jersey instead of his usual No. 7, Huard took the snap and threw a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Tanook Hines, securing a crucial first down that extended USC's scoring drive.[47][48] This play marked Huard's only completed pass of the season to date, contributing to his limited statistics through November 15: 1 completion out of 1 attempt for 10 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.[49][50] The play sparked controversy when the Big Ten Conference reviewed it on November 9, 2025, ruling that it violated NCAA Rule 9-2-10-b on unfair tactics, warranting a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty enforced on the ensuing kickoff—though no flag was thrown on the field during the game.[51][52] Despite the post-game clarification, the non-call stood, and USC benefited from the momentum shift. As of November 15, Huard remains in a developmental backup role, with potential for increased snaps in the Trojans' late-season games against Notre Dame and in bowl preparations, depending on injuries or strategic decisions.[53][54]College statistics
Sam Huard appeared in 15 games over his college career, compiling 209 completions on 348 attempts for 2,522 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.[9]Year-by-Year Passing Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Completions/Attempts | Completion % | Yards | TDs | INTs | Yards/Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Washington | 4 | 22/42 | 52.4 | 241 | 1 | 4 | 5.7 |
| 2022 | Washington | 1 | 2/2 | 100.0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 12.0 |
| 2023 | Cal Poly | 9 | 184/303 | 60.7 | 2,247 | 18 | 10 | 7.4 |
| 2024 | Utah | 0 | 0/0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | USC | 1 | 1/1 | 100.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10.0 |
| Career | — | 15 | 209/348 | 60.1 | 2,522 | 19 | 14 | 7.2 |
Rushing Statistics
Huard's rushing contributions were minimal across his career, totaling 23 carries for -142 yards and no touchdowns.[9]| Year | Team | Games | Carries | Yards | Yards/Carry | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Washington | 4 | 3 | -32 | -10.7 | 0 |
| 2022 | Washington | 1 | 1 | -13 | -13.0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Cal Poly | 9 | 19 | -97 | -5.1 | 0 |
| 2024 | Utah | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | USC | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Career | — | 15 | 23 | -142 | -6.2 | 0 |
Key Game Logs Summary
- Apple Cup (November 26, 2021, vs. Washington State): 17/31 completions for 190 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 interceptions in a 13-40 loss.[55]
- vs. Lincoln (CA) (2023, Cal Poly): Threw for 6 passing touchdowns, setting a school record.[3]
- vs. Northwestern (2025, USC): 1/1 completion for 10 yards in a 38-17 win.[50]

