Huskies Have 3 O-Line Starters in Place, Still Have Pair of Openings

Seven players legitimately have a shot at landing the two remaining jobs.

The University of Washington offensive-line overhaul, according to clues from spring practice and decisions out of NCAA headquarters, appears to have three starters firmly in place.

Jaxson Kirkland, the two-time, first-team All-Pac-12 selection finally approved for a sixth season of college eligibility, will reclaim his left tackle position without any arguments.

Troy Fautanu, who kept left tackle warm in Kirkland's absence, was so productive this spring he guaranteed himself a starting spot somewhere. He'll get his pick of right tackle, right guard or left guard.

Then there's Corey Luciano, like Kirkland a senior, who took over as the starting center this spring and seemed like a natural fit. 

That's 66 percent of the positions firmed up for an offensive line that last year mistakenly thought bigger was better and suffered through a forgettable season. Kalen DeBoer's new Husky coaching staff has slimmed down these guys and could possibly have three seniors starting up front.

Kirkland is the most decorated player in the Pac-12 at any position coming back. Fautanu, a sophomore with three previous starts last season at tackle and guard, is being promoted as a rising star.

"I’m always wowed by his athleticism," said Ryan Gruff, UW offensive coordinator, of Fautanu. "He’s just got to do better at one-on-one opportunities. He should never get beat. That’s how I feel."

Now comes the hard part — finding the other two Husky O-line starting pieces. 

This is crucial because the Huskies, with a potential first-round draft pick in Kirkland, one of the Pac-12's biggest players in former offensive guard Ulumoo Ale and a eventual fifth-round draft pick in center Luke Wattenberg, often floundered because one of the five starters didn't do his job, ruining it for everyone. 

The Husky lineman took a post-spring photo.  / Dan Raley

The list of candidates for the two UW vacancies is so long it stretches around Husky Stadium. 

Junior Vic Curne and senior Henry Bainivalu are returning two-year starters at right tackle and right guard, with 16 and 18 consecutive starts, respectively. However, Curne moved to right guard this spring and a banged-up Bainivalu was held out of contact, putting their job security up in the air.

Sophomore Nate Kalepo and junior Matteo Mele held down the No. 1 jobs at left guard and right tackle throughout the spring. Mele had a previous start at center in 2019. They've played a lot, just not as starters.

Redshirt freshmen Geirean Hatchett and Roger Rosengarten, two of the most heralded players on the roster, are pushing the veterans hard for those starting spots. 

Hatchett, in fact, is so versatile he could play any one of the five offensive-line positions. He could be the next Fautanu, a starter before next season is out.

Add to this group sophomore Julius Buelow, who started five games at left guard last season, but spent spring practice as a second-unit left tackle.

Henry Bainivalu (66) and Nate Kalepo (71) are UW offensive guards.  / Dan Raley

What's different in a year's time is the five guys up front have to demonstrate they can pass-block at a high level for DeBoer's spread offense rather then try to make former offensive coordinator John Donovan's ill-fated pro-style offense work. 

Grubb, the new Husky OC, has suggested the newly installed spread offense will take pressure off the guys up front by opening up the field and upping the tempo. Of course, these guys will need to be in shape.

Kirkland, just a spectator this spring, senses a distinct difference in what's happening with his football team with a new staff.

"Immediately I got the vibe we're on the attack mode around here," Kirkland told KJR radio. 

With three starting linemen firmly in place, the competition for the other two slots with seven candidates continuing to audition for them should be interesting in how it plays out.

Bainivalu is a 2020 All-Pac-12 honorable-mention selection, someone who needs to make himself an NFL prospect.

Curne also has 2020 All-Pac-12 honorable-mention credentials on his resume' and, based on his experience, it will be hard to sit him.

Hatchett and Rosengarten, however, look ready to play and might have the older guys looking over their shoulders..

The Huskies have two holes to fill in order to open some holes better than before.

Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Husky FanNation stories as soon as they’re published.

Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.

Find Husky FanNation on Facebook by searching: Husky Maven/Sports Illustrated

Follow Dan Raley of Husky FanNation on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven