Restoring Husky Offensive Line Remains Fisch's Biggest Challenge
It's as if Jedd Fisch bought a car off someone in Seattle that came with everything as advertised — big engine, low miles, great suspension, leather seats — with the exception of one crucial item.
Someone removed all four tires; five, counting the one in the trunk.
In other words, this thing sits up on blocks, not going anywhere any time soon until Flsch slaps on some new rubber.
This would be the University of Washington offensive line.
When Fisch addresses this daunting subject as the new Husky football coach, it's as if he's doing a voiceover for a movie trailer.
"It's a Montlake mystery never seen before on the shores of Lake Washington, one that brought a brave man out of the Arizona desert to see if he can solve it."
On Wednesday, the three-week-old Husky leader hardly seemed perturbed or panicked by the situation, almost enthused to come up with enough able bodies to replace an entire starting lineup from the UW's national championship runner-up team.
Fisch said he might sign 4-5 guys out of the transfer portal in May after spring practice ball concludes. He could start freshmen or redshirt freshmen if warranted. He'll for sure turn this thing into a madcap competition and see who wants to play.
"If we build it the right way, there's some great opportunity out there for guys to come in and compete to be starters," he said. "The guys who are here have a great opportunity to be starters."
However, Fisch's top returning UW player, sophomore center Landen Hatchett, and his most veteran returning offensive lineman, fifth-year junior guard Gaard Memmelaar, are recovering from knee injuries and won't take part in contact drills this spring.
Newly signed 6-foot-8, 315-pound recruit Justin "Moose" Hylkema from Santa Clara, California, won't report to the UW until June, which likewise could be the case for 6-foot-5, 298-pound Davit Boyajyan, an incoming freshman from the Fresno area.
That leaves nine players available, though one of them might be out with an injury, as well, to take all of the April snaps. That's barely two full offensive lines, which probably rules out a spring game.
Just one of these guys has appeared in a Husky regular-season outing in 6-foot-5, 292-pound redshirt freshman guard Zach Henning, who finished up in blow-out victories over Michigan State and California.
The good news is Fisch already has a few intriguing newcomers on campus who should settle in and draw a lot of spring reps in San Diego State transfer and sophomore tackle Drew Azzopardi and 4-star freshman guard recruit Paki Finau from Hesperia, California.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Azzopard started six games for his Mountain West team last season. Finau, who has a lean 6-foot-5, 253-pound frame that needs to fill out a great deal more, is one of the more decorated UW recruits coming in after selecting the Huskies from 26 scholarship offers that included Penn State, Miami and Auburn.
Henning, Azzopardi and Finau, now that's a start.
Besides Hatchett and Henning, the Huskies have three other players from the class of 2023, all redshirt freshmen who are well regarded, have been adding strength and weight for several months now and could be ready to play soon enough in 6-foot-8, 290-pound tackle Soane Faasolo from East Palo Alto, California, 6-foot-5, 327-pound guard Kahlee Tafai from Los Angeles and 6-foot-7, 269-pound tackle Elishah Jackett from Orange, California. Tafai ran with the UW second unit at times last fall.
Three local walk-ons, all redshirt freshmen, are on the roster and could get more of a chance to audition their skills in 6-foot-2, 297-pound Roice Cleeland, who's from Vancouver and the son of former UW and NFL tight end Cam Cleeland and Husky softball player Mindy Williams; 6-foot-4, 313-pound Aiden Anderson from Olympia, and 6-foot-2, 277-pound Parker Cross from Seattle. If all are healthy, they'll pull significant spring snaps.
"Whatever we have, we'll play," Fisch said. "We're going to play the best five, or six, and certainly believe there's going to be opportunity in April for who wants to join one of the best teams in the country."
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