Washington is set to begin spring practice next week, the Huskies roster is rife with uncertainty as they turn over 20 starting spots from last year’s team. Perhaps the cloudiest spot is at center. Last year’s starter Parker Brailsford transferred to Alabama, leaving the Huskies young and inexperienced at the position.
Offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll was asked about the turnover at the pivot spot during a media luncheon on Wednesday.
Our first meeting [with the offensive line group] I walked in and asked them, ‘Who plays center?’ A couple guys raised their hands. I said, ‘That’s not right. Everybody put your hand up. We’re all playing center.'”
Carroll was joking – sort of – but confirmed what coach Jedd Fisch said during his signing day press conference, that returning linemen Landen Hatchett and Gaard Memmelaar won’t be able to participate in spring practice due to injuries they suffered in 2023.
Hatchett and Memmelaar figure to play major roles in the starting battle in fall camp, but for now, the Huskies have to find a contingency plan. Carroll gave three names who will take the first crack at center reps starting next week.
Redshirt freshman Zachary Henning is listed as an offensive tackle on his 247Sports recruiting page, but the previous staff brought him to Montlake as a player who could also move inside to guard. Now, the 6-foot-5 Colorado native will be in the mix at center, despite being a bigger player for the position.
Parker Cross, a walk-on redshirt freshman from nearby Seattle Prep, already lists himself as a center for the Huskies on social media and the 6-foot-2, 277-pound lineman is closer to the size of centers in the past for Washington, but comes without a strong recruiting pedigree.
Michael Watkins joins the Huskies from Apollo High School in Glendale, AZ as one of a handful of 2024 recruits to flip to Washington after Fisch and Carroll made the move from Tucson.
After Carroll mentioned Watkins among the contenders at center, it’s clear why he was a priority: he may have a path to playing time, or at least a spot on the two-deep, rather quickly. Watkins stands at 6-foot-3 and 282-pounds, but offensive linemen rarely start for Power 4 programs as true freshmen.
Fisch and Carroll also emphasized that they will continue to be active in the transfer portal, which is open from April 15-30. Fisch revealed that the Huskies have 79 scholarship players as of Wednesday, six under the NCAA limit of 85. That gives them plenty of room to add another player if they’re underwhelmed by the returns in spring practice.
But one thing is certain: everyone is going to get a shot.