Huskies’ Offensive Line, Freshmen Roles Take Shape at First Day of Spring Ball
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Washington Huskies true freshman offensive lineman Kodi Greene (76) practices during the first day of UW spring football on March 31, 2026 on the east practice field at the University of Washington in Seattle. Credit: Aaron Coe/Emerald City Spectrum [/caption]
SEATTLE, Wash. — It’s a long time before the Huskies begin the 2026 season with the Apple Cup, but Washington appears ready to roll with true freshmen at key spots on the offensive and defensive lines.
UW coaches wasted no time on Day 1 of spring ball giving five-star recruit Kodi Greene the first crack at left tackle while rolling out the highest-rated in-state recruit, Derek Colman-Brusa, in the middle of the defensive line with the first team.
The team’s not in pads yet, so there will undoubtedly be dog days that lie ahead for the youngsters. But these aren’t your typical freshmen. Greene, listed at 6-6, 321 pounds, appeared to move like very few humans that size. Similarly, Derek Colman-Brusa fit right in at defensive tackle at 6-5, 295 pounds.
"There's certain guys that, just based upon their physical skill set, we're giving some opportunities to," Washington head coach Jedd Fisch said. "Then we'll rotate through that and make sure as the spring goes, different guys will get different opportunities."
Assuming Greene holds off challenges from junior Kolt Dieterich — who is limited for the early part of spring ball by injury — and junior Soane Faasolo, the freshman falling into place on the left side makes the first-team line fairly clear.
John Mills, who starred as a true freshman last season, is the left guard. The much-improved Drew Azzopardi returns at right tackle. Landen Hatchett, still recovering from offseason hand surgery, will eventually start at center. That sets up a battle at right guard between seventh-year senior Geirean Hatchett and redshirt freshman Champ Taulealea. Geirean Hatchett is currently taking the reps at center while his younger brother rehabs.
It’s possible that the elder Hatchett could serve as a primary backup at the three interior positions, while Dieterich, a transfer from Sam Houston State, backs up one or both tackle positions. While some offensive line coaches like to tinker during spring, UW’s Michael Switzer stuck with four of the five first-team linemen from the first 2025 spring practice. John Mills worked in early, and eventually won the guard spot over Paki Finau, who has since transferred.
Colman-Brusa, meanwhile, worked alongside junior defensive lineman Elinneus Daves, surrounded by senior edges Isaiah Ward and Jacob Lane. Ramzak Fruean, a Class of 2026 recruit as an inside linebacker, worked with the second team at the edge position. Jordan Clay, a 6-3, 207-pound freshman receiver, got first-team reps at the X spot, though he’ll have some work to do to hold off Kennesaw State transfer Christian Moss.
One thing is for certain: Most of this freshman class is not small. These are not guys who need to spend two years in the weight room to get ready for the rigors of college football. The size is there, and now it's just a matter of learning how to be a college football player in the Big Ten.
“We took over a Pac-12 program that had one returning starter, and we’re now going into Year 3 in the Big Ten,” Fisch said. “You’ve got to develop your team differently. You’ve got to build your team differently. You’ve got to be able to compete with a completely different level of size in this conference. We had to build to it and get to it, but I think our guys and our strength staff have done a great job. But I also believe that you’ve got to recruit those guys. You’ve got to get guys that started bigger than they were when we got here.”
Ohio State transfer receiver Bodpegn Miller may have been the player that most had observers saying, “Who’s that?” and looking at rosters. Wearing No. 18, the high-waisted redshirt freshman who signed with the Buckeyes as a quarterback, looked every part of his listed 6-3, 200 pounds.
Rashid Williams, who missed most of the 2025 season with injuries, and Dezmen Roebuck appeared most often with the first team. Clay and Moss seem to be in a major battle for the X position, and Lawson mixed in with Williams.
Decker DeGraaf and Baron Naone were the first two tight ends, while Jordan Washington and Quaid Carr were the first two running backs. Senior transfer runners Jayden Limar and Trey Cooley will miss the spring while recovering from surgeries.
The Huskies will practice again without pads on Thursday from 3:30 - 6 PM, and will put them on for the first time for Saturday’s practice, 11:30 AM to 2 PM.
