For the first time in Jedd Fisch’s tenure at Washington, the offensive line can point to a true sixth man in its rotation. Over the winter, offensive lineman Kolt Dieterich transferred from Sam Houston State to Washington, and he brings with him over 1,300 snaps of blocking experience. Outside of the five starters in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons, no lineman brought more than 64 total snaps of experience to the depth chart in their respective year. The same cannot be said about this year’s offensive line room. Dieterich provides the depth the Huskies have not had under Fisch thus far.
Kolt Dieterich, UW’s Sixth-Man
Pieced Together in 2024
Looking back at the two seasons with Fisch at the helm, the offensive line has been a focal point. In 2024, there were as few as seven offensive linemen dressed for spring practice at one point in time. In season, the five starters were pieced together by way of the transfer portal. Drew Azzopardi, Enokk Vimahi, and D’Angalo Titialii all started as transfers.
Gaard Memmalaar and Landen Hatchett were the only two everyday players in 2024 who were on the roster in 2023. Maximus McCree, Kahlee Tafai, and Soane Faasolo were the three main rotational players who filled in for injuries throughout the year. McCree was the only one of that trio who had played a down of college football prior to the year. He was a junior college All-American, but had played just 13 snaps at Maryland in 2022, two years earlier. Tafai and Faasolo were both redshirt freshmen without any playing experience.
Unknown, but Reliable in 2025
Last year, the offensive line was constructed with significantly more durability. It added Carver Willis, a highly experienced tackle in the transfer portal, and got Freshman All-American-level production from coveted true freshman John Mills. Azzopardi and Hatchett were both returning starters, and the right guard position had the return of veteran Geirean Hatchett out of the portal, but a former Husky himself. The starters were solid. The backups proved to be dependable as well, but it was an unknown before the season.
Paki Finau and Zachary Henning were the two most-utilized rotational players last year up front. Finau played in 426 snaps, and Henning tallied 333. But they weren’t proven prior to the season; the two combined for only 115 snaps in 2024. McCree was rotational for the second year in a row as a Husky, and the group also had Champ Taulealea, a true freshman who was serviceable in his 103 total snaps that year.
Kolt Dieterich Provides Depth
With Dieterich now in the Husky offensive line room, the story is much different. A season ago, the 6’-6” and 295-pound lineman was a 12-game starter at right tackle for the BearKats. He played in 763 offensive snaps, allowing just 3 sacks on the year. He was the second-highest graded blocker in the Conference USA last year, according to Pro Football Focus. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Dieterich played in all 13 games with seven starts as a left tackle. He gave up only 3 sacks that season. In total, Dieterich brings 1,312 snaps and 25 games of FBS experience to the Husky offensive line with two years of eligibility remaining.
Dieterich’s experience at tackle was one of the main reasons he was brought in. The left tackle spot is the only position that will not return a starter, or at least some experience, next season. True freshman and former five-star Kodi Greene took all the first-team reps at the position this spring, as Dieterich was limited due to injury rehab. It’s likely Greene holds firm in that role, but Dieterich can be versatile.
At Washington, the coaching staff has provided Dieterich reps both center and guard in addition to his work at tackle. It further strengthens the portfolio of the new Husky, and it provides flexibility for the group in the event of injuries. In each of the last two seasons, Washington has suffered at least two injuries up front, needing to turn to the ‘next man in’. Dieterich is the best option the Husky offensive line has had in that department in the last two years by far. For a group that has stated its goal is to win the Joe Moore Award, Dieterich will be a pivotal contributor in the rotation.
Main Image: Nick Lemkau
