As the Transfer Portal begins to slow to a crawl and the Rosters for the 2026 season begins to solidify with contractual ink beginning to dry, we will take some time and look at each of the position rooms. No one other than the Washington staff knows exactly what went on over the past four weeks. But, one is left with a few observations.
First, the portal did not make the team better than the Huskies were last year. Any improvement on the 2025 season will have to come from the development of players already on the roster. In many ways, I was left with what I call Post-Portal Depression. Less than impressed with what the Dawgs brought in. It is obvious, most of the Husky NIL soft-funds (outside money) was spent on the current roster.
Players such as Jonah Coleman and Adam Muhammad were not replaced with players of equal skill. Nobody came in that will make you forget Denzel Boston. It continues at every position. The philosophy of filling holes with top talent has changed since Jedd Fisch has taken over. In 2023, despite having Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillon on the roster, the former staff still went out and brought back Germie Bernard. Jabbar Muhammad, Dillon Johnson, Ralen Goforth (big time hitter from USC) were players that were solid at their other P4 schools. They were better at Washington.
There are no known P4 known starters such as Carver Willis (Kansas State), All-Pac 12 Jacob Manu. Jonah Coleman as in the past. Even Jeremiah Hunter, who had a higher contested catch percentage than Rome Odunze (still can’t figure out why they didn’t throw him the ball more), was a starter at a Pac 12 school. There is no corners such as Tacario Davis or Ephesian Prysock.
Since it is obvious the Huskies will be building from within, lets begin to look at each position room.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
Graduates: Carver Willis (OT)
Starters: Landen Hatchett (OC), Geirean Hatchett, Drew Azzopardi (OT), John Mills (OG)
Major loses: Paki Finau (OG/T), Zach Henning (OC/G)
Additions: Kolt Dieterich (OT)
Top Returners: Champ Taulealea (OG)
Top Freshman: Kodi Greene (OT)
There is a lot to look forward to with this group. It is arguably the top returning room on the team. It starts with having four returning starters.
Center Landen Hatchett has been a solid pivot for two years. There is still room to improve and this spring will be key to him becoming the man in the middle that can lead to a tremendous year on the offense. Sophomore Zach Henning left the program, leaving no experience to serve as a backup center. Look for Geirean Hatchett to move over to center should anything happen to Landen.
Both guards return. Geirean Hatchett and freshman All-American John Mills. However, there is no guarantee that either will be starting in those positions. Washington will need to replace Willis at left tackle, and how that plays out could determine a lot at Guard.
Mills will line up first at left tackle during spring ball. However, they brought in 6’6, 315 lb. Kolt Dieterich from Sam Houston State for a reason. The big factor will be high school freshman All-American recruit Kodi Green. At 6’6, 320 lbs. he is physically ready to play. The question for both, can they use spring ball to get mentally ready to play in the Big 10. Our guess is Dieterich will settle in as the backup to Azzopardi on the right side for one season, then take over in 2027. Mills will start at left tackle, but by game four, Greene will work his way into the left tackle spot with Mills returning to guard.
The Guard spot is less settled. Washington really lost a couple good ball players in Paki Finau and Zach Henning. Rather than be patient, continue to develop and start in 2027, they decided to move on. That leaves 6th year Gierean Hatchett to return at right guard. But, there is RsFr. Champ Taulealea that had been pushing for playing time all of 2025. Look for Champ to make a push at either guard spot.
Other than not bringing in solid P4 offensive guard to compete and bring quality depth after the loss of Henning and Finau, leading to step one in my Post-Portal Depression, the offensive line is in good shape. The UW will need to stay healthy inside.
