Landen Hatchett, one of nation’s top centers, commits to in-state Washington Huskies

A three-star prospect, Landen Hatchett is one of the nation's top centers

Growing up in Ferndale, Washington, elite center prospect Landen Hatchett couldn’t escape the love of the Washington Huskies.

Not that he ever wanted to.

Home of former NFL quarterback Jake Locker, Ferndale is a “Husky town.”

So, when Landon Hatchett’s brother, Geirean Hatchett, chose Washington over dozens of offers as part of the 2020 recruiting class it was hardly a surprise.

In the 2023 recruiting cycle, it's Landen’s turn.

Rated one of the nation’s top centers, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound has racked up offers from Arizona State, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, USC, Washington and others.

But like his brother, the opportunity to play for the in-state Huskies was too good to pass up.

On Wednesday, Hatchett announced his commitment to Washington, becoming the program’s ninth new pledge since June 20:

Here…WE…Go!!!!!! BOW DOWN pic.twitter.com/y5uuClc0Dw

— Landen Hatchett (@LandenHatchett) June 29, 2022

“It means a lot to commit to Washington,” Hatchett said. “Growing up in Ferdale, specifically, there’s always that UW fanbase around here… and the culture. It’s going to be a really cool opportunity. Jake (Locker) has been a mentor for awhile. He never told me where to go or recruited me, but he’s had a great impact on me. With my brother there, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Hatchett’s decision comes after taking a visit to Seattle for Washington’s big recruiting weekend.

For the in-state lineman, it was the latest of several trips to campus, but he said he fully stands the growing buzz that has come out of the multi-day event.

“It was definitely a great weekend,” he said. “I’ve been around 2,000 times now around that facility and those people. The coaching staff did a really good job of making everyone feel at home. But they kept all the fluff out and really laid exactly what to expect.”

Often interior offensive line prospects are recruited to play center or either guard spot as they develop, but Washington has been clear with Hatchett all along that he possesses unique center attributes and could use those to hit the ground running at the collegiate level.

“They said anywhere interior, but (offensive line coach Scott Huff’s) main message to me is that I’m the first true center he’s recruited. He said having that to start is a big advantage for me.”

Being one of the top players in America at one’s respective position tends to mean a high star rating in the recruiting services, but not so at the center position.

Hatchett said he doesn’t care that centers are under-appreciated. He takes great pride in being the man in the middle of an offensive line.

“I love being a center,” he said. “It’s said a whole bunch, ‘It’s like being the quarterback of the offensive line.' I don’t think people understand how much goes into being a good center at the collegiate level.”

Hatchett is rated the nation’s No. 28 interior offensive lineman, but is arguably a top-three center nationally. He is also rated the No. 7 prospect in the state of Washington, making him the highest-rated in-state recruit for Washington so far in the 2023 recruiting cycle. 

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