The opening of spring practice provides clarity in several places, especially for programs like the Washington Huskies, who return only two starters under new head coach Jedd Fisch.
One of the frequently asked questions of Fisch and his offensive staff is what the offensive line will look like. Tackles Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten left for the NFL, while interior starters Nate Kalepo, Julius Buelow, and Parker Brailsford entered the portal. (Kalepo and Buelow committed to Mississippi, while Brailsford followed Kalen DeBoer to Alabama.)
Backup tackle Jalen Klemm left for Arizona State, swing guard Geirean Hatchett transferred to Oklahoma, Matteo Mele graduated, Samuel Peacock left the program in February, and RJ Wyrsch medically retired.
That’s ten offensive linemen total, most of whom were on the two-deep depth chart at some point last season, who are not on Montlake to start 2024. The remaining one, interior lineman Landen Hatchett, is out for spring practice with a knee injury.
All this to say: there were a lot of new faces on the line to open spring practice Wednesday.
The Huskies put multiple groups on the field during practice, as they will continue to do during the remainder of spring camp. But team period provided some potential insight on where Fisch and offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll are leaning.
The first team offensive line for the majority of practice was, from left to right: redshirt sophomore Drew Azzopardi, true freshman Paki Finau, redshirt freshman Zachary Henning, redshirt freshman Kahlee Tafai, and redshirt freshman Elishah Jackett.
Azzopardi, a transfer from San Diego State, and Jackett swapped sides for the end of practice. Finau, who briefly entered the transfer portal this winter, also saw time at right guard while Tafai sat out the final period of practice with what appeared to be cramping issues. Redshirt freshman Parker Cross took reps with the first team in Tafai’s stead.
On the second team, from left to right: 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman Soane Faasolo, redshirt freshman Roice Cleeland, Cross, true freshman Michael Watkins, and redshirt freshman Aidan Anderson.
You’re reading that correctly: only one of the Huskies ten offensive linemen on Wednesday is not a freshman. And he just got to Montlake this year, too.
Asked after practice if he was concerned about the line, Fisch had this to say:
Well, I’d be more concerned if there wasn’t an opportunity to bring in more players. But there is that opportunity. We’ve got guys coming in that are freshmen that signed with us and we’re going to have guys coming in through the transfer portal. We’re going to bring in some big guys.
Center is the most pressing need at this stage, it would seem, considering that the only players on the roster with experience at the position are injured. But from the sounds of it, Fisch plans to add more competition at every spot on the offensive line while continuing to cross-train the players that are on Montlake to find the best unit.
Spring practice continues Thursday and runs through the rest of April, concluding with the Washington spring game on Friday, May 3.