Washington may be getting a major piece back just in time for Big Ten play.
Center Landen Hatchett, a fourth-year lineman and one of the Huskies’ seven captains, is targeting a return for Washington’s conference opener against Minnesota on Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. PT at Husky Stadium, according to Jedd Fisch’s weekly news conference Monday.
Hatchett has been sidelined throughout the offseason and through Washington’s first two games with a broken wrist he suffered last season. That absence has forced the Huskies to lean on fourth-year offensive lineman Kolt Dieterich, a Sam Houston State transfer who has started the last two games at center. Those two games are the first of Dieterich’s career at the position.
Washington’s offensive line has been one of the team’s biggest issues early, even in wins over Washington State and Utah State, and offensive line coach Michael Switzer acknowledged that after the Huskies’ 24-10 victory over WSU in Week 1. The group has also been juggling a few different looks, with five-star Class of 2026 recruit Kodi Greene starting both games at left tackle as a true freshman and second-year Champ Taulealea and seventh-year Geirean Hatchett splitting time at right guard.
Fisch said Monday he believes those problems can be cleaned up, and Hatchett’s return would go a long way toward settling things down. The center was also named to the preseason watchlist for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top center.
If Hatchett is ready by the time the Big Ten schedule starts, Washington could have a better chance to hold its own in a tough stretch ahead. After Minnesota, the Huskies travel to face No.
12 Southern California on Oct. 3, then come back home to meet No. 18 Iowa on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m.
PT.
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