Disneyland is one way to prepare for another Husky season

With his NFL experience, Jedd Fisch is the last guy who’s going to worry about one of his University of Washington football players leaving the program and entering the transfer portal. When freshman quarterback Dermaricus Davis left during spring practice, the Husky coach sort of shrugged his shoulders rather than lament the personnel loss. For him, it’s just about who wants to be here and play for him. Fisch then went out and got another QB commitment pretty quickly.

However, Fisch will probably come back at some point and say that one of the best things that happened when he took over the UW program was the day that sophomore center Landen Hatchett reversed course in the portal and chose to stay in Montlake.

Hatchett is not only a physical talent, he is also a team builder. Last week, he showed up at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., along with teammates Zach Henning and Elinneus Davis, each taking a break from their weight room responsibilities and having some fun before camp began. autumn. One had the distinct impression that this was all Hatchett’s idea. He’s a big kid at heart.

It was three UW linemen, two on offense and one on defense, all from the same 2023 class, riding a roller coaster, having fun and posting their adventures on social media.

Team leaders are guys who pitch in without any prompting, always aware of what their teammates are going through and making sure that some sort of connection is established.

Hatchett, of course, is coming off a knee injury suffered during Sugar Bowl practice last December and was limited in what he could do during spring ball. He should be the Huskies’ starting center once the medicals clear.

Yet when the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Ferndale, Wash., product wasn’t involved in rehab drills during spring practice, like boxing with a trainer in the end zone or passing the ball to his new non-contact shifts, Hatchett was working the room, talking to as many guys as possible, encouraging them, complimenting them and showing interest in them.

This next image of Hatchett shaking hands with kicker Grady Gross is a classic example of his team approach. Kickers often have to rotate in their own orbit. Not with Hatchett.

When the 6-foot-2, 322-pound Davis showed up a year ago as a freshman defensive tackle from Moorhead, Minn., he looked a little overwhelmed by his surroundings at first, even a little wistful . He was injured when he arrived, not very fit and often left alone in training.

Today, he appears fully engaged with his UW teammates, he looks extremely fit as he enjoyed a productive spring, and for a few days this week, Davis was hanging out at Disneyland with two of his offensive guys, two of his best friends and mixing it up with Mickey Mouse and Goofy.

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