SEATTLE — Drew Azzopardi has only been on Montlake for eight months. He’s already experienced more turnover than many players see in their entire careers.
Gone are coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive-line coach Scott Huff, the staff that recruited Azzopardi to Washington from San Diego State. Right guard Nate Kalepo, center Parker Brailsford and left guard Julius Buelow, the starters Azzopardi likely expected to play with in 2024, are gone, too.
The players Azzopardi spent spring practices next to aren’t even the same. Washington added three offensive linemen from the spring transfer portal as new position coach Brennan Carroll tries to rebuild the Huskies’ front five from scratch.
“It’s going great so far,” Azzopardi said. “We’re all obviously from new spots, but we’re all just trying to come together, be a collective unit, and communicate well. And really, that’s the biggest thing for the offensive line, just getting the communication down and making sure we’re all on the same page.”
Washington held its fifth practice of fall camp on the practice field behind Husky Stadium on Monday. The Huskies had some of their longest 11-on-11 periods and did some light 7-on-7 work, too, as they started to ramp up out of the seven-day acclimation period.
For Azzopardi and the offensive line, one of the largest question marks for Washington entering the 2024 season, the focus of fall camp has simply been integrating the new faces and building their chemistry as a unit under Carroll, who also serves as offensive coordinator.
“We’re working through it and working to it,” Carroll said. “The guys are learning how to play with each other. There’s a lot of new partnerships and teammates that are side by side.”
Washington’s top 10 linemen have been fairly set since fall camp started. Azzopardi, junior Maximus McCree and redshirt freshmen Elishah Jackett and Soane Faasolo are competing for the two tackle spots.
The 6-foot-7, 308-pound Azzopardi, who made six starts at right tackle and 15 appearances overall during two seasons with the Aztecs, is the most experienced at the FBS level by a significant margin. He enrolled in the winter and was one of the most consistent presences during spring practices, when UW only had seven active offensive linemen. Sophomore center Landen Hatchett praised Azzopardi’s athleticism, intelligence and competitiveness.
“He’s kind of everything you want in your tackles and your offensive line,” Hatchett said. “He’s been a great addition.”
The rest of Washington’s options at tackle are fairly unknown quantities. Jackett and Faasolo didn’t play a game as true freshmen in 2023. Both got significant repetitions during spring practices. Carroll said Faasolo, who’s listed at 295 pounds, is close to 320 pounds entering fall camp and the staff is excited about where Faasolo is in his development entering his second season of college football.
McCree is probably the largest enigma. The 6-foot-6, 272-pound tackle was a two-time junior college All-American at Iowa Central, then transferred to Maryland where he played two games.
He abruptly stepped away from football during the 2023 season because of personal reasons, before finding his way back onto the gridiron at Washington. Carroll said the coaching staff is being patient with McCree as he works his way back into football shape and adds weight.
“He’s a natural ballplayer,” Carroll said. “He knows how to play the position.”
Inside, Washington’s leaned on four players competing at guard: sixth-year senior Enokk Vimahi, junior Gaard Memmelaar, redshirt freshman Kahlee Tafai and freshman Paki Finau, an early enrollee. Tafai and Finau handled a majority of the guard snaps during spring practices.
Vimahi, a former four-star prospect from Hawaii, spent the first five seasons of his career playing at Ohio State before transferring to Washington during the spring. He made 35 appearances for the Buckeyes but wasn’t able to secure a starting job before entering the transfer portal. Azzopardi said Vimahi has brought great energy to the offensive-line group, and has been a strong culture fit since his arrival.
Memmelaar’s involvement has been particularly important for Washington. The 6-foot-4, 299-pound guard suffered a season-ending ACL injury before the 2023 season but has been a full participant essentially since fall camp started.
Hatchett, recovering from his own ACL injury, said he appreciated watching Memmelaar embrace the rigors of rehab as they worked through their recoveries together. Carroll added Memmelaar was cleared to participate in the end of spring practices, but the coaching staff held him out as a precaution to keep him healthy for the fall.
Perhaps no spot on the offensive line had more questions surrounding it in the spring than center. Carroll said he was planning on teaching all his available offensive linemen to snap, and coach Jedd Fisch said the centers showed the most growth of any position group after spring practices ended.
The early investment has paid off during fall camp, where the center battle has come down to redshirt freshman Zachary Henning and Portland State transfer D’Angalo Titialii, who played at Eastside Catholic High School. Both centers have worked with the No. 1 offense and while there have been some low snaps, it’s been a significant improvement on the first couple spring practices.
Hatchett is the wild card in Washington’s offensive-line situation. The Ferndale native is around eight months off tearing his ACL. He’s been dressed for practice but limited since fall camp started, mostly doing conditioning, snapping drills and some one-on-one work with defensive lineman Zach Durfee, who’s also been limited after having elbow surgery.
Carroll said Hatchett has been cleared for contact, but the team is holding him out of full-team activities as a precaution. Hatchett said he’d like to play in Washington’s season-opening game against Weber State on Aug. 31, but admitted he doesn’t have a specific return date.
He’s also been working on staying mentally engaged with Carroll and the coaching staff, learning the new offense’s terminology and watching film to keep up as he waits to fully participate.
“I want to be out there so bad,” Hatchett said. “I’m trying to get as many mental reps as I can. There’s nowhere else I want my head to be at.”
With all the new faces to incorporate, Azzopardi said the offensive line has been trying to spend as much time together as possible. They try to eat meals together and bond over watching UFC fights — Azzopardi is a Dustin Poirier fan — to build their chemistry.
“Everything off the field comes on the field,” he said. “Whether that’s communicating, or just being with each other, learning each other and getting to know each other better.”
Notes
* Freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. threw the first interception of fall camp on Monday during an 11-on-11 period. The right-handed signal caller tried to hit a receiver over the middle but wasn’t able to get the ball over fifth-year linebacker Carson Bruener lurking under the route. Williams responded by throwing a 6-yard touchdown to junior running back Sam Adams II on a swing pass to end practice.
* Fifth-year quarterback Will Rogers threw his only touchdown of the day on a 7-yard slant to sixth-year receiver Giles Jackson.
* Sophomore wide receiver Denzel Boston was limited for the first time this fall, and Carroll said redshirt freshman wideout Rashid Williams, who has barely participated during the first five practices, is dealing with “some injury issues.” Freshman receiver Audric Harris was given some opportunities Monday, while fifth-year wideout Jeremiah Hunter commanded a majority of the targets from Rogers with Boston sidelined.
* Sophomore edge rusher Lance Holtzclaw had a strong outing, sacking Williams and blowing up a wide receiver screen to walk-on receiver Camden Sirmon for a loss of yards.
* Washington’s College Football Playoff signage has been updated. After initially honoring the 2016 and 2024 seasons — UW won the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, despite it being part of the 2023 season — the years have been changed to reflect the campaigns they represented: 2016 and 2023.
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