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Kolt Dieterich Coming Off Best Game Ahead of Potential Position Change
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- Kolt Dieterich Coming Off Best Game Ahead of Potential Position Change
(Jeffrey Becker/Imagn Images)
SEATTLE — The Washington Huskies football team will likely have a different look up front for this Friday's game against the No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes at Husky Stadium.
Head coach Jedd Fisch said in a weekly news conference Monday that the team will rotate several offensive linemen at different positions this week in practice in attempts of finding the best starting five for Friday.
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Fourth-year center Landen Hatchett will likely make his season debut after missing the first five games of the season due to a wrist injury he suffered last season. Hatchett's replacement fourth-year Kolt Dieterich, will be one of the linemen rotating in at different positions.
Dieterich transferred to Washington from San Houston State this past offseason. With the Bearkats, the interim center was the highest-graded player in Conference-USA in 2025. He played 11-of-12 games at right tackle and the other at left tackle.
Dieterich played both guard and tackle in his three years at Sam Houston. The five games he's played at center for the Huskies were the first time in his life playing the position.
The Riesel, Texas, native struggled to adjust in his first games at center, but is coming off the best game of his career, which could do him good before readjusting to a more natural position.
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Dieterich posted a 76.4 grade in pass protection in UW's 25-21 loss against the No. 19 Southern California (USC) Trojans on Saturday, per Pro Football Focus.
That grade was the third-highest among Huskies offensive linemen in pass-protection behind left tackle/left guard John Mills (90.8 grade) and right tackle Drew Azzopardi (77.4 grade).
"It's really unique with Kolt, with his ability to come in here and start these first five games at center after never playing it before." UW offensive line coach Michael Switzer said in a weekly news conference Tuesday . "I think he's growing in confidence and ability. Played one of his better games last week, which was awesome for him. How does that play into the future of moving to a possible guard spot? I think it is fantastic for him. I think he should feel a great confidence in being able to bump over and find the best combination of that five up front. I think he's excited about the opportunity."
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When Dieterich was brought into the team, it was thought that he could be a rotational player on the offensive line who could provide the team depth.
Hatchett's injuries and first-year left tackle Kodi Greene's struggles have led to the current rotation have prevented the team from having the offensive line it envisioned in the offseason.
Now, with Hatchett healthy, the team has a better scope of the offensive line room and can put the best starting five up front.
