Analysis: Huskies’ Offensive Line Holds Key to Big 2025 Season
SEATTLE, Wash. — If the Washington Huskies ultimately play in significant games come November, it will be an improved offensive line that leads them.
Yes, 19-year old starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s development is important, along with injury luck and everything else a college football team needs to be relevant when the first round of College Football Playoff rankings appear on ESPN on November 5. No position group, though, needs a better showing in coach Jedd Fisch’s second year than the big guys blocking for Williams and star running back Jonah Coleman.
The offensive line was supposed to be dismal in 2024, and for the most part, it lived up to those poor expectations. After the NFL draft and transfer portal entries due to the departure of the former coaching staff and some injuries, the Huskies had seven healthy offensive linemen during spring ball last season. Three-fifths of the line that started the 2024 opener were not part of the team yet.
This year, the big Dawgs are healthy and much more experienced. Carver Willis, a senior transfer from Kansas State, looks to stabilize a left tackle position that saw four different players take meaningful snaps during games last season. Right guard Geirean Hatchett, who was part of the unit that won the 2023 Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best offensive line, returns after a year at Oklahoma to join his brother Landen, who will start at center. Paki Finau, a redshirt freshman, so far has held off the competition at left guard. Drew Azzopardi, who was spotty at right tackle last season, appeared much improved during spring ball and seems to have locked down the right tackle spot.
Though there was some rotation during spring practice, that’s likely to be the unit when Colorado State visits for the season opener on August 30, though Huskies offensive line coach Michael Switzer remained noncommittal.
“We don’t want to decide anything, even at the end of spring,” Switzer said in April. “We’re continuing on, and everybody’s getting shots. Everybody’s getting chances.”
Short of an injury or drastic change during the summer, Switzer, who was promoted from offensive analyst after the 2024 season, should find his five and let them grow together. Last year, before taking off to join his father with the Las Vegas Raiders during the offseason, offensive coordinator/o-line coach Brennan Carroll rotated some players during the first few games of the season in an attempt to find the right mix.
There was no right mix to be found.
Switzer, with a more veteran group, appears to be working on former cohesion with a more consistent group in the first team. He’ll likely continue to rotate players into the first and second units to develop depth, but must as much as he can out of a unit that still has much to prove in 2025.
If the line can stabilize this season, the Huskies could be an 8-3 or 9-2 team on the verge of a CFP bid as they try to upset Oregon in the regular-season finale at Husky Stadium. Anything resembling the 2024 line, and UW may be hoping for a bowl with Pop-Tarts or Frosted Flakes attached to the name.
With reasonably good health, this line should take a step forward, rather than being pushed back like last season.
Azzopardi, in particular, seems to have improved this offseason, showing up in the spring with increased strength and speed. That enabled the Huskies to place Willis — mostly a right tackle at Kansas State — on the left side. Azzopardi also held off Maximus McCree, who started several games at left tackle in 2024. McCree spent most of spring on the right side of the second unit.
Though Fisch said in April, “We got 10 solid guys that could start,” if someone on the first unit goes down this season, the line gets young very fast. Massive true freshman guard John Mills and Champ Taulealea, who weighed in at over 330 pounds apiece when they arrived at Montlake in January as early enrollees, look to be next up at the guard spots. Both saw first-team reps during spring, as did redshirt sophomore Zachary Henning, who appears next up at center. Soane Faasolo, who also started at left tackle in 2024, has taken most of the second-team left tackle reps this spring.
My guess is those 10 are the most likely to hold on to their spots on the depth chart. It’s hard to say how much shifting around would occur in case of one or more injuries. Third in line during spring appeared to be Justin Hyklema (LT), Aidan Anderson (LG), Parker Cross (C), Jack Shaffer (RG) and Elishah Jackett. Lowen Colman-Brusca, a true freshman out of Kennedy Catholic, will enroll in the fall. Michael Levelle Watkins entered the mix a few weeks into spring ball.
