The 30 day countdown continues and today we’re at day 17. With just over two weeks left until the season kicks off, we look at which position group might be considered the weakest on the team.
Offensive Line
This one is simple. Last season’s OL was one of the worst in recent memory, and while there should be solid improvement this season, this position isn’t exactly teeming with NFL talent. Perhaps the most impressive player on the line currently is the LT Carver Willis, who will be playing the position for the first
time, having started at RT at Kansas State. His best season was 2023 where he earned honorable mention All-Big 12. Looking at the glass half full, he claims to have received upward of 40 offers when he entered the transfer portal, so he was a player teams wanted.
Next to him at LG will likely be a first time starter in redshirt freshman Paki Finau, though he is being pushed by true freshman John Mills. At center, Landon Hatchett is back from an injury riddled 2024. He had a strong recruiting pedigree as a “true center” prospect, but hasn’t fully lived up to his potential yet. His brother Geirean Hatchett will start alongside him at RG, after missing last season with injury (while playing for Oklahoma, where he did win a starting job, but OU’s offense was a mess so it’s hard to say what that really means). Finally at RT will be Drew Azzopardi, who struggled quite a bit in his first season transitioning from the Mountain West to the B1G. Summed up, Washington in this moment doesn’t have a player proven on the offensive line that can handle the rigors of B1G defensive lines week in, and week out.
There’s just too many “ifs” right now for this unit to considered anywhere except near the bottom of the team: if Willis plays like 2023 version of himself and seamlessly transitions from the RT to LT, if Finau lives up to his recruiting ranking and can handle B1G play as a second year player, if the Hatchetts are completely healthy and ready to be full time starters for the first time, and if Azzopardi improves his game by a couple levels, this group has a chance.
Defensive Line
Just what you want to see heading into your favorite team’s second season in the rough and tumble B1G – that both lines of scrimmage have a chance to be considered the worst position groups on the team. But alas, that’s where this UW team is right now. For this, I am not including the edges/pass rushers, just the true defensive tackles and interior players.
This is a position group with a lot of depth and solid players, but no real standout or returning starters. Players like Javon Parker, Elinneus Davis, Logan Sagapolu, Deshawn Lynch and Bryce Butler all played to varying degrees last season as backups. Davis, and perhaps Parker, were the only two that made plays with any consistency. Excluding true freshman who I don’t think will contribute, the coaching staff also added the following players from the portal:
- Anterio Thompson (6-4, 306, Western Michigan)
- Simote Pepa (6-3, 350, Utah)
- Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei (6-4, 280, Arizona)
Anterio Thompson has received good reviews since spring practice, and figures to be a contributor. But, his best season was at Western Michigan with 34 tackles, two passes batted down, and a sack. Simote Pepa seemingly isn’t standing out as much in practice, but is arguably the most established DL on the Husky roster. Two years ago he was a first team All Pac-12 player for conference champion Utah, and earned freshman All-American honors from the AP. However, he’s spent the better part of the past two seasons injured. Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei steadily improved each season at Arizona, and has the size, but like everyone else on this list, isn’t established at the B1G level. The most recent practice reports have Thompson and Uiagalelei starting in the middle of the DL.
There’s some intriguing talent here, and the coaches should be able to rotate guys in to keep them fresh. But is there a star player who could be all conference when it’s all said and done? I’m not so sure.
Safety
Truth be told, competition for the weakest position group is between the OL and DL, but I need a third choice to keep things fair. The crux is that Washington will be be starting a combination of a 6th year player (Makell Esteen) who hasn’t won a full time starting job in his career, an FCS transfer (Alex McLaughlin), and an G5 transfer (CJ Christian). Esteen has been a solid contributor as a ball hawking safety, but hasn’t been good enough to win a starting spot and keep it. McLaughlin piled up big numbers at FCS Northern Arizona with 96 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions on the way to 1st-team All-Big Sky honors, but again that’s at a lower division. And Christian was a two year starter at FIU, but never was an all conference player.
There’s a good chance that the back end of the Husky defense – combined with the cornerbacks – will be a strength this season. But at safety specifically, you just never know how players will transition from FCS or G5 programs to the challenges of the B1G, especially when they weren’t absolutely dominant at the lower levels.
The Verdict
I have to go with the offensive line. Despite lot of exciting talent for the future (Paki Finau, John Mills, Champ Taulealea, and current commit Kodi Greene), the OL combines the highest number of unproven variables with the most critical need for immediate cohesion. With Washington having no proven, reliable starter at any position and facing the physical Big Ten defensive fronts, this unit’s margin for error is slim.
