The Washington Huskies lost an experienced piece of their offensive line when Gaard Memmelaar entered the transfer portal. On Thursday, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound guard announced his plans to go clear across the country for his sixth season of college football, signing with the University of Central Florida Knights.
The Knights went 4-8 in their second season in the Big 12 under head coach Gus Malzahn and need to make some major upgrades in order to compete in the conference. With his announcement, Memmelaar becomes the third player to commit to Malzahn’s class, joining Tulsa defensive lineman R.J. Jackson Jr. and Maryland safety Brandon Jacob.
Depending on how the season goes, Memmelaar may attempt to gain a rare seventh year of eligibility due to the knee injury that kept him out for the entire 2023 season, just like his former teammate, running back Cameron Davis.
Without Memmelaar in the picture, offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll is expected to rely heavily on transfer Geirean Hatchett on the interior, while his brother Landen moves from right guard back to his natural position of center. The Huskies could also attempt to add another experienced player from the portal while developing redshirt freshmen Paki Finau and Michael Watkins, as well as the robust 2025 class.
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