Jedd Fisch has been loud and clear about building the Washington Huskies program through high school recruits, not leaning on the transfer portal. But Kolt Dieterich, a transfer from Sam Houston State, is absolutely proving to be one of the most critical pieces on the offensive line right now, stepping into a role he’d literally never played before. This dude is making it happen when it counts, and everyone at Montlake is taking notice.
From Bearkat Tackle to Husky Center? You Bet.
Dieterich played three seasons at Sam Houston State, logging 28 games split between right and left tackle. He came to the Emerald City as one of six offensive players Fisch brought in via the portal this offseason, a rare move for a coach who prefers the prep ranks. But then disaster struck the O-line, right? Starting center Landen Hatchett was sidelined for “significant time” after hand surgery in the spring. Then, Landen’s brother, Geirean, got banged up too. That’s when Fisch and the coaching staff pulled a wild card, asking Dieterich to slide over to center, a position he had absolutely zero experience playing at any level. Talk about being thrown into the fire! But he’s held his own ever since, which is just insane.
The Numbers Are Looking Up, And Depth Is Key
Now, it wasn’t a cakewalk from day one. Dieterich struggled in his Huskies debut against Washington State, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 57.2 in the Apple Cup. Oof, tough start. But you gotta love a guy who learns and gets better. In his most recent outing against Eastern Washington, his PFF grade jumped to a much improved 60.8! That’s the kind of early season growth we wanna see. Not only is he plugging a massive hole for the injured Hatchett, but he’s also gonna add insane depth. When Landen eventually comes back, Dieterich can slide back to his natural tackle spot, giving Fisch and offensive line coach Michael Switzer even more flexibility. They aren’t scared to mix things up, either, with guys like Geirean Hatchett and Champ Taulealea splitting time at right guard, and John Mills even taking a few series at left tackle for freshman Kodi Greene against EWU. This willingness to rotate six players, soon to be seven, is a huge strength!
The Huskies struggled through most of their non-conference schedule, but now it’s time to buckle up for some Big Ten action. They’ve gotta establish dominance up front this weekend against the Golden Gophers, who roll in ranked No. 59 nationally in rush defense. This is where Kolt Dieterich, the unlikely center, can really shine and help the O-line take that next step. We’re watching, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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