Breaking Down 11 Projected Husky Offensive Starters

LG John Mills -- Of all the ready-to-play freshmen who've joined the UW this season, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound Mills might be the only one who starts at the beginning of the season. He's just been too big and powerful to keep out of the lineup. Yet if he's deemed not ready, the job belongs to redshirt freshman Paki Finau, who's waged a close competition with Mills this fall.

C Landen Hatchett -- Teams such as Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M and USC each envisioned this 6-foot-2, 315-pound Hatchett as their starting center one day and recruited him hard. The Huskies finally get to show everyone what that looks like with him over the ball full-time after a freshman season in which he was indoctrinated to the college game and a sophomore year spent getting past knee surgery. He's a team captain and a potential honors candidate.

RG Geirean Hatchett -- The Huskies got pushed around a lot in places such as Iowa, Indiana and Oregon last season. With the older Hatchett back in the lineup, following a brief sojourn to Oklahoma that ended with a biceps injury, that shouldn't happen very often. The UW is a lot more physical up front with this 6-foot-4, 306-pound sixth-year senior involved.

RT Drew Azzopardi -- As the only returning full-time starter from a fairly mediocre line, Azzopardi has heard a lot of backlash, even from some of his new defensive teammates trying to get a reaction out of him. At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, he has a frame made for the NFL. He just needs to become a lot more ruthless in handing out punishment.

WR Denzel Boston -- Just like Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan before him, the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Boston looks like a highly polished receiver headed for the NFL real soon. Getting cleared from hernia surgery 10 days ago, he was just better than everyone on the roster now, showing off speed that was exceptional, routes more crisp than anyone else and hands that are highly dependable. He's a first-round draft pick waiting to happen.

WR Rashid Williams -- Just like Boston and Odunze before him, Williams has patiently waited his turn and honed his craft as a Husky wide receiver, and stands to put up big numbers this coming season in becoming a first-time starter. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound pass-catcher is a natural target for his quarterback: Williams to Williams, coming to a T-shirt near you.

WR Omari Evans -- This guy has played some big-time football, emerging from the highly competitive Texas high school ranks to play three seasons for Penn State. He's had his moments, such as a CFP touchdown catch against Boise State, just not enough of them. He's come to the UW for a bigger profile, to make himself into an NFL prospect. He has more speed than anyone and should consider it a disappointment if he doesn't go 60 yards or more to score multiple times.

QB Demond Williams Jr. -- He's been carefully groomed to run the UW offense, might be the fastest QB not only across college football but in Husky football annals, and is a dual threat who will make all opposing defensive coordinators very nervous. Not to be a spoil sport, but the biggest thing with the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Williams, with a running quarterback of his nature, will be to go to great lengths to keep him healthy. All it takes is one ruthless hit to ruin everything for him and his team. Ask Michael Penix Jr. about that.

TB Jonah Coleman -- Coleman was pretty good in 2024, rushing for 1,035 yards practically on his own. He now has a new offensive line, an elusive quarterback to take more of the spotlight off of him and a new body, some 14 pounds lighter yet more muscular, to mete out punishment. He's also an NFL draft pick waiting to happen.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: