However, for those of us who think about these kinds of groundbreaking accomplishments, it started earlier for the UW than tackling Troy Fautanu, the eventual NFL first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers who n opened a game against the Husky only in his third. season in his eighth appearance.

Hatchett rose to prominence as a first teamer long before tackle Roger Rosengarten, the Baltimore Ravens’ second-round selection last April and now a starter for his professional team, and someone who waited out his third season with Husky and his sixth game played to enter. opening programming.

He entered the Husky lineup quicker than guard Julius Buelow, now at Mississippi, who didn’t become a starter until his third UW season and fifth game played, and guard Nate Kalepo, also at Ole Miss , who had to wait until his fourth Husky season and 14th game appearance to draw an opening assignment.

Hatchett even beat his brother, now at Oklahoma, with Geirean patiently waiting for his fourth UW season and 17th game to start for the first time.

The younger Hatchett became a starter faster than each of his teammates last year except Parker Brailsford, who also started in his second season in the UW program and did so in the very first game college he played in, before transferring. at Alabama this year, where he was named a first-team preseason AP All-America center.

Still, there is one caveat when comparing these two promising players and former teammates: Brailsford redshirted as a true freshman and did not appear in any UW games in 2022, while this Hatchett never once thought about redshirting and immediately took the field in 2022’s first season, playing in nine games as a reserve.

Oh, and it’s worth noting that Hatchett did all this climbing the Husky ladder while recovering from a serious knee injury and subsequent surgery, something none of his peers have had to manage, and he became a starter just 10 months after suffering the knife.

The extra-thick and uniquely athletic Hatchett is destined to be one of UW’s best. A rapid start to a career, like his, is always a true barometer of great things to come.

Imagine what could happen when he takes over at center in 2025, as promised by Husky coach Jedd Fisch. The lineman says he just wants to please and fit in anywhere, but he finds his calling by picking up the football.

“I would say I’m more comfortable playing center because I played all four years of high school at center and I took a lot of snaps here at center,” Hatchett said. “But I’m happy to play any of the three inside positions.”

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