If there were an award for which position group on Washington's roster had the highest expectations entering this season, the offensive line would be one of the favorites.
Freshman All-American left guard John Mills is back for his second year on Montlake; former five-star Kodi Greene is slated to start at left tackle, and sophomore Champ Taulealea is expected to start at right guard.
While those three have played an inexplicable role in changing the trajectory of offensive line play since Jedd Fisch arrived in 2024, it's the veterans in the room who add the final piece of the puzzle. Joining the young phenoms in the trenches are fifth-year right tackle Drew Azzopardi, senior center Landen Hatchett, and his older brother Geirean at right guard.
The trio of experienced linemen has seen it all during their time at Washington. Azzopardi transferred to UW in 2024, initially committing to Kalen DeBoer before staying true to his commitment after Fisch took over. As a true freshman in 2023, Landen Hatchett played in nine games on the Huskies' run to the national championship game and has since been a sturdy presence up front, while Geirean has played a whopping 38 games in the purple and gold ahead of his seventh season.
After 2023, Geirean transferred to Oklahoma, where he suffered a season-ending biceps injury in the Sooners' season opener before transferring back to Washington.
"We have some vets coming back," Azzopardi said during Washington's media day. "Me, (Geirean Hatchett), and Lando are coming back for our fourth and fifth years in college; Gary's seventh. John's not a vet, but he's getting there, so we're really just trying to put the pieces together as one."
After struggling to hold up against Big Ten fronts during his first season at Washington as part of a patchwork group, the San Diego State transfer has morphed into one of the most reliable tackles in the conference, after allowing just one sack in 2025.
Outside of Azzopardi, the Hatchett brothers present much-needed depth and experience in the trenches. Landen has started fifteen games during his career while asserting himself at center, and Geirean started all 13 games for the Huskies at right guard in 2025.
The Ferndale, Washington natives were also key contributors to the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line back in 2023.
While being limited in fall camp due to injury, Taulealea has gained steam to become the starting right guard, and he's expected to return by the start of the regular season, making the older Hatchett a versatile, reliable piece who can fill in at several different positions.
With the addition of young talent that is already physically ready to compete against some of the best defensive fronts in the nation, the elder statesmen in the room have set the expectation of bringing the Joe Moore Award back to Seattle for the second time in the past four years.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football's Veteran Leadership Completes Offensive Line Unit
