Bury the Hatchett? Husky Lineman Turns Up Everywhere

The UW sophomore gets a trial run in three spots.

With the way University of Washington spring football practice is going for him, Geirean Hatchett might consider wearing an avalanche locator beacon.

He keeps moving between mountains of men, going deeper into the back country than anyone else, just to see where he ends up.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-4, 297-pound Hatchett, a sophomore from Ferndale, Washington, took snaps at center, right guard and right tackle, one after the other, in the controlled scrimmage portions of the Huskies' second practice, no easy feat.

While several teammates are being cross-trained at multiple positions this spring, in particular in the secondary and at linebacker, no UW football player is getting a trial run in so many different roles as Hatchett.

"I'll just play wherever the coach tells me to," he said of offensive-line coach Scott Huff. "I'm trying to do anything to help the team out. Wherever he needs me, I'll be glad to do it."

Huff said it's a welcome coaching quandary for him to have a player such as Hackett who presents with so many options. 

"Guard would be my first thought," the coach said. "Credit to him that he's able to play at all these positions."

Performance will dictate everything, but Hatchett seems more likely to play guard, where he spent the past season and a half. While tackle is a relatively new position to him, family ramifications might ultimately might steer him clear of center.

His younger brother, 6-foot-3, 300-pound Landen, is a highly regarded freshman center who will join the Huskies after they stop for spring break this weekend and then resume practice near the end of the month.

"I'm sure he'll be able to play wherever he wants to or needs to," Geirean Hatchett said. "He's athletic enough to do that for sure."

The Hatchetts, Landon at left and Geirean at right, are never far from each other.  / Dan Raley

The ultimate dream football scenario for the Hatchetts would be to play together in Montlake, something they did for the 2019 season as a senior and a freshman at Ferndale High, respectively.

"This is definitely going to be a whole different level of football obviously, so it's going to be really exciting," Geirean Hatchett said. "Good for us, good for our parents."

Both Hatchetts were heavily recruited, with Geirean also fielding offers from the likes of Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, while his sibling was pursued by Miami, Michigan, USC and Texas A&M. 

Geirean Hatchett made his move last season by appearing in all 13 games as a back-up, including a unique stint as a blocking tight end, previously showing off his versatility.

For now, he'll work toward narrowing down a starting job somewhere. With the Huskies seeking three new offensive-line starters, Hatchett is ready to fill the need wherever that might be.

"I feel like it's definitely my year," he said. "I have the opportunity to go out and make a big wave on the offensive line and be one of those guys. It's just going to come to how I play here and how I play in the fall. 

"We've got some good competition between a few of us interior guys — and I have the ability to do that."

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