Huskies Offensive Line Growth Critical for 2025 and Beyond
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The Washington Huskies break the huddle and approach the line of scrimmage during a game against Weber State at Husky Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024. Credit: Landen Hatchett/Instagram [/caption]
Football has changed dramatically since Washington first formed a team in 1890 and lost 20-0 to the “Eastern college alumni.”
But if there’s one common thread that links the best teams the Huskies have put on the field, it’s probably the big boys up front. It’s hard to say what kind of defensive line the Eastern college alumni put on the Jackson Street baseball park field that day in 1890, but there’s a good chance they whipped UW’s front.
Struggles up front appeared again in 2024 when UW lost five games in its new conference. Huskies second-year coach Jedd Fisch, his offensive coaches and his beefed-up personnel department are tasked with identifying, recruiting and developing offensive linemen who can compete with the best in the Big Ten.
While it takes a complete team to compete at the highest level, offensive lines have been a big part of Washington’s historical success. The 2023 unit won the Joe Moore Award while blocking for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on the way to the National Championship. All five starters on UW’s 1991 National Championship team were drafted at one point, including first-round pick Lincoln Kennedy after the 1992 season. Teams from other glory years like 1985 and 1960 featured similar stories.
So, where are the Huskies now?
It was clear last season — particularly on a certain play at the end of the Apple Cup — that line was perhaps the team’s biggest flaw. As Fisch has stated, even in the transfer portal era, you can’t just go to the offensive line store and buy one. There just aren’t many out there on the open transfer portal market. And if they are, everyone wants them. Perhaps as much as any position, recruiting the right high school offensive linemen and developing them is the key.
The rapid growth of the 2025 unit will determine how close electric sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. can get to his high ceiling.
The good news is the Huskies didn’t lose any great linemen after the season. The bad news is they didn’t exactly have a bevy of great linemen to lose, though several showed promise. The new offensive staff, led by offensive line coach Michael Switzer, must get the most out of this year’s talented but young group while restocking for the future.
As the Huskies begin spring practice in a couple of weeks, one thing will be very different than last year: Assuming relatively good health, they’ll have enough offensive linemen to form two teams for the May 3 Spring Game. UW lists 22 offensive linemen on the roster, including 17 on scholarship. Though there could be some significant shifting around and starting battles during spring and summer practices — plus another portal period starting April 16 — here are the projected starters for 2025:
Left tackle: Maximus McCree (Sr., 6-6, 295 pounds) showed promise at left tackle during four Big Ten starts before missing the final five games of the regular season with an injury. Soane Faasolo (Soph., 6-8, 325) started three games and would seem to be the primary backup. Former Kansas State tackle Carver Willis could also factor in here.
Left guard: Paki Finau (RS-Fr., 6-5, 300), a four-star recruit who saw action in four games but redshirted, seems poised to take over at a guard spot. True freshman Champ Taulealea, another strong recruit, will battle some returning players to be depth at one of the guard positions.
Center: Landen Hatchett (Jr., 6-2, 310) tore his ACL in December of 2023, but returned in time to play all 13 games in 2024 — starting six. Having him healthy in the spring will be huge for the UW line. Zach Henning (6-5, 300), who saw action in all 13 games, would seem to be a solid backup.
Right guard: Geirean Hatchett (Sr., 6-2, 310) returns after transferring to Oklahoma for the 2024 season, where he missed most of the season with a biceps injury. Hatchett, a big part of the 2023 Huskies line that won the Joe Moore Award, was a key re-add this offseason. Michael Watkins (RS-Fr., 6-2, 320) could factor in as a backup at either guard spot.
Right tackle: Willis (Sr. 6-5, 291), comes in as a sixth-year senior from Kansas State to add stability to a young tackle group. Willis started at right tackle the past two-plus seasons at K State, but could be under consideration on UW”s left side. Drew Azzopardi (Jr., 6-7, 315) was initially signed out of the transfer portal from San Diego State by former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer. Azzopardi started all 13 games for the Huskies last season but appeared overmatched at times.
Others who could factor into the depth — and cause some of the above to shift around — include Elisha Jackett (Soph., 6-7, 271), Davit Boyajvan (RS-Fr., 6-5, 307) and Justin Hylkema (RS-Fr., 6-8, 323).
The health of the Hatchett brothers is a major key to the stability of a unit that has some strong talent but a lot of youth and a lack of experience.
Speaking of youth, Washington’s incoming 2025 class includes three tackles and two interior offensive linemen. Taulealeau is the lone four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. UW has six overall commits for the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports — none of which are offensive linemen — though that will likely change in the coming weeks. Fisch and Switzer will have to look outside the state for 2026 big guys, as there are currently no four-star-rated recruits in the state and only two three-stars.
The 2030 version of the Huskies — yes, 2030 — may well be counting on this year’s UW coaching staff to find the line of the future over the next few months.
