Huskies Enter Spring Ball on Lean Side with Just 10 Fully Healthy Offensive Linemen

Jedd Fisch will have to stretch the manpower up front to get through 15 practices.

Landen Hatchett was inactive for part of 2023 spring football, waiting to enroll. A knee injury will limit him this time. / Skylar Lin Visuals

Zach Henning and Landen Hatchett were side by side as they navigated their way through the overflow University of Washington Pro Day crowd at Dempsey Indoor, watching former teammates on Thursday try to impress some 100 NFL scouts, assistant coaches and execs from all 32 pro franchises.

It won't happen during the upcoming Husky spring practice -- with Hatchett ruled out of contact drills while still in recovery from a knee injury -- but he and Henning eventually stand to become cornerstones for an offensive line ready to receive a complete makeover in the days ahead.

The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Hatchett has been stamped as the UW center of the future while the 6-foot-5, 292-pound Henning stands to hold down that position for him during the 15 practices and spring game ahead over the next month.

Come fall, they should be together again, coming out of a stance, manning center and guard positions in no particular order. Henning might become so comfortable snapping the ball this spring that Hatchett moves to guard. Or they'll come out in reverse order.

Either way, expect Jedd Fisch's new coaching staff to build around this pair as it looks for five new starters to pick up the slack from the Huskies' national runner-up team that has sent tackles Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten to the NFL Dratt, center Parker Brailsford to Alabama, and guards Nate Kalepo and Julius Buelow to Mississippi. Got to love that pro football and SEC NIL money.

With spring ball set to unwind on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in Husky Stadium, and the public invited in to see how Fisch puts together his first Husky team in a hurry, restocking the offensive line will be a priority and something to see. Midway though the practices, the transfer portal will open and close once again, and the new UW coach has vowed to be very active in looking for some experienced help up front.

With all of that in mind, the following is a quick look at each of the dozen O-line candidates -- scholarship and non-scholarship, with only 10 fully healthy -- who will give the Huskies just enough bodies to fill out a pair of lines at all times:

Gaard Memmelaar -- The old guy of the bunch, the 6-foot-4, 299-pound junior offensive guard is coming off a fall knee injury and will be limited this spring similar to Hatchett. He's entering his fifth season in the UW program and has just four 2022 game appearances to his name. He can play center if needed.

Drew Azzopardi -- As the only one among this group with college starting experience, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound sophomore and San Diego State transfer opened six games for the Aztecs at offensive tackle last season. At this point, he would be the leading candidate to claim a No. 1 UW tackle spot.

Landen Hatchett -- He played the most of the five linemen brought in last season, appearing in nine games and was the only one who didn't redshirt. One of the more athletic Husky linemen when healthy, Hatchett was used at both center and guard in his debut season.

Zach Henning -- He played next to Hatchett when both made their college debuts at Michigan State and was alongside him again against California. Normally a guard, he'll like run as the No. 1 center throughout spring ball. Expect him to play a lot this coming season.

Kahlee Tafai -- At 6-foot-5 and 327 pounds, Tafai is the heaviest UW offensive lineman by a wide margin. The redshirt freshman didn't appear in any games, but he ran with the No. 2 offense at offensive guard for a couple of weeks when vets were injured.

Soane Faasolo -- Should he and Azzopardi claim the starting tackle spots, they would give the Huskies some towering bookends. Faasolo goes 6-foot-8 and 290 pounds, with maybe another 20 pounds to come. The redshirt freshman awaits his first game time.

Elishah Jackett -- Pronounced Jack-Ett, this 6-foot-7, 259-pound offensive tackle arrived with Hatchett as the two highest rated linemen in last year's class, both sporting 4-star labels. He, too, is building a lot more bulk and hasn't played in a game yet.

Paki Finau -- This Southern California prospect is considered one of the prize players of the incoming recruiting class and the 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive guard will be given every opportunity to play, if not start, right away.

Michael Levelle Watkins -- A late flip from Arizona, the 6-foot-2, 315-pound freshman is an early enrollee and will be tried at center and guard once spring ball opens. He's already off to an impressive start by claiming No. 55, which belonged to All-Pac-12 tackle Troy Fautanu.

Parker Cross -- A 6-foot-2, 277-pound walk-on and redshirt freshman, he'll join the competition for center. He could stand to add a few more pounds.

Aidan Anderson -- Another walk-on and redshirt freshman, Anderson carries a 6-foot-4, 313-pound frame and likely can play guard or tackle.

Roice Cleeland -- Cleeland is a name that resonates in Husky football. Roice's father, Cam, was a UW and NFL tight end. This 6-foot-2, 297-pounder is a redshirt freshman and walk-on who should be competitive at a guard spot most likely.