Analysis

Camp Takeways: Huskies Offensive Line Continues to Shape Up

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Washington Huskies offensive linemen Landen Hatchet (66) and John Mills (72) practice on Thursday, August 7 at Dempsey Indoor Center in Seattle, Washington. Credit: Aaron Coe/Emerald City Spectrum [/caption]

SEATTLE, Wash. — Though the Washington Huskies’ first-team offensive line has looked pretty much the same through most of spring ball and the first seven practice of fall camp, first-year offensive line coach Michael Switzer isn’t writing it down in Sharpie quite yet.

“Still a lot of camp left,” said Switzer, who served in an analyst role last season. “So in terms of depth, we’re going to keep on moving guys here and there, and guys are going to get chances with the ones. Guys are going to maybe flips sides and see some reps in different positions.”

Though Switzer may tinker here and there, it’s a far cry from 2024, when the Huskies were trying to find five healthy bodies who had a chance to compete against Big Ten defenses.

Carver Willis, a senior right tackle at Kansas State, was brought in this spring to stabilize the left tackle position, and Geirean Hatchett returned to play right guard after a season at Oklahoma. The development of younger players and the two vets should make a strong difference this season.

“I can’t really speak to last year because obviously I wasn’t here,” Willis said. “… So I really don’t know what it was like, but being here, I can say I like the physicality, the effort of this group.”

Willis said during the spring that he needed to continue to work on his move from right tackle to the left side, because of the different foot and hand work involved. He believes progress has been made.

“I’m feeling way more comfortable,” he said. “It’s come a long way.”

Junior center Landen Hatchett, happy to see his brother back by his side at guard, also likes seeing more bodies in the offensive line room. The Huskies had seven healthy scholarship offensive linemen during most of 2024 spring ball. Though the group is still young, Washington has more than enough now than the 15 needed to set up first, second and third team groups.

“Obviously, it’s nice to have all those numbers, and then especially being guys that are good at ball and can play well. We have a lot of young guys that are coming in and are pretty new to the offense, but they’re picking it up really well.”

Joining Willis and the Hatchett brothers most of the time in the first-team line has been redshirt freshman left guard Paki Finau and junior right tackle Drew Azzopardi. True freshman John Mills has received a solid number of reps with the first team at guard, and fellow true freshman Champ Taulealea has also run with the ones on occasion. Second-team center Zachary Henning has worked at guard with the first team as well. Maximus McCree and Soane Faasolo have been mainstays on the second unit at left and right tackle, respectively.

If all are healthy, Mills would appear to be the most likely to break through to the first unit, though Finau has held him off so far.

“Both of those guys have a unique skill set,” Switzer said. “We’ve got to be able to protect the passer, whether it’s dropback or our run actions, and be physical in the run game. … “John Mills, little bit bigger body, a little bit more powerful in the run game. Paki has experience in terms of being here, being in the system a little bit longer. Natural athleticism in terms of some of the wide zone stuff."

Through the first six practices, Washington coaches reminded players to “stay up” off the ground during team sessions. There was some hitting, but tackling to the ground earned a talking-to from a player’s position coach.

That was not the case on Thursday.

The team practiced inside Dempsey Indoor Center with some rain threatening to fall as practice began, but it was bodies that were hitting the ground indoors. Quarterbacks were still off limits, but running backs and receivers were hunted by defensive players.

Highlights included linebacker Taariq Al-Uqdah making a fourth-down goal-line stop of running back Adam Mohammed to the delight of the defense. Cornerback Tacario Davis also tracked down running back Jordan Washington as he tried to bounce a run outside.

Davis knocked away a couple of passes. True freshman cornerback Dylan Robinson also tipped a pass, and safety Alex McLaughlin made a nice adjustment to haul it in for an interception.

The risk of physical practice is injury. True freshman edge Devin Hyde was down on the field for a bit after a play, but he was able to walk off the field on his own after spending some time with trainers. I did not notice senior edge Zach Durfee on the field today. It’s possible he’s just getting some extra rest, but it’ll be something to keep an eye on over the next few practices.

Cloudy Receiver Competition

Audric Harris, in a battle to start in the slot, got behind safety Paul Mencke Jr. for a 40-yard touchdown thrown by true freshman quarterback Kini McMillan. Omari Evans, a senior transfer from Penn State, made a number of plays Thursday as he tries to hold off a young, talented group for a starting job either outside or in the slot. True freshman Dezmen Roebuck keeps catching everything, including a 20-yard TD. Justice Williams, a 6-4 redshirt freshman, also made several catches to reassert himself into the competition. While No. 1 receiver Denzel Boston continues to be held out of team drills, the next three spots in the rotation appear to remain up for grabs.