Transfer Talk: Oklahoma’s Experience in OL Geirean Hatchett
The Sooners coaching staff, led by Bill Bedenbaugh, searched the transfer site extensively for a replacement for the offensive line. What they found was a “smart” veteran from Washington.
Bill Bedenbaugh is a fan of flexibility. It’s more crucial than ever in the transfer portal era.
Because he can genuinely play all five positions and more, Bedenbaugh and Oklahoma placed a high value on Washington offensive guard Geirean Hatchett.
Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies stated of him, “He’s an interesting guy.” “Able to play any upfront position. He is the only man who is truly capable of doing it. They were low on tight ends in (coach Kalen) DeBoer’s debut season (2022), thus in a few games, they used Geirean as a blocking tight end and were ready to throw it to him if necessary. 300 pounds and 6 feet 4 inches tall.
With Hatchett joining North Texas’ Febechi Nwaiwu, Michigan State’s Spencer Brown, and Florida/USC’s Michael Tarquin, the Sooners’ 2024 transfer class now has four o-linemen.
Hatchett is enrolled in classes and working out at OU right now, but he arrived later than the others because the transfer portal was only open for 30 days following DeBoer’s departure to take over as Alabama’s head coach.
Modern times see the gateway opening in large waves followed by smaller ones, thus Bedenbaugh, as a quick-witted offensive line coach, must be prepared.
Bedenbaugh was that with Hatchett.
Raley said to AllSooners, “Everyone wanted him when he was a recruit.” We are discussing Alabama, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. All of the nation’s elite universities desired him.
Hatchett was a 4-star recruit back then, hailing from Ferndale, Washington, which is only 14 miles from the Canadian border. 247 Sports ranked him as the nation’s No. 8 guard and the No. 212 overall talent in the class of 2020. Washington was his choice over OU.
Most people assumed Hatchett was an instantaneous plug-and-play offensive lineman because of his qualifications. He wasn’t, though. Instead, throughout his first two years in Seattle, he didn’t even visit the field.
According to Raley, “you assume (high-profile recruits) gonna come in on a real fast track, take a spot and excel.” “Well, that wasn’t done by Geirean, who is a really intelligent and athletic guy. For the first two years, he didn’t play. COVID was one. However, the second year was only a year of growth for him.
Then, in 2022, Hatchett finally received some snaps—DeBoer’s first year at UW.
Specifically, one hundred and one: 58 on the offensive line throughout four games, 13 as a jumbo tight end, 25 on punt coverage, 3 on kickoff returns, and 2 on placekicks.
It seemed like Hatchett might be ready for a breakthrough season after the Huskies stormed to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the offensive line took home the Joe Moore Award as the top offensive line in the country this past season.
During non-conference play, Hatchett began his greatest season to date as a rotational player off the bench. When the Huskies started Pac-12 play, Hatchett saw his first action in the starting lineup.
After starting four straight games against Cal, Arizona, Oregon, and Arizona State, Hatchett had 33 plays as a backup right guard in a victory over Michigan State. However, he lost his starting position, suffered an ankle injury, and didn’t play offensively again until the postseason victory over Texas.
Pro Football Focus reports that he played 264 offensive snaps at the end of the season, earning a PFF offensive grade of 59.8. In addition, he played in 12 games overall, including the Pac-12 title game victory over Oregon, the late-season victories over Stanford and Washington State, and both CFP playoffs. He also recorded 86 special teams snaps.
In the previous season, Raley stated, “you would have thought that maybe Geirean Hatchett would have been the starting center or starting guard. But, he started the season as a reserve and then started four games when somebody got hurt.” “He has undoubtedly played. But in addition to being a good, consistent player, he had a super star-like reputation. He was a sub, thus, at the end of the season. He didn’t play from the beginning.
In the Huskies’ arduous 15-7 victory over Arizona State in 2023, Hatchett’s career ascent did encounter a roadblock. Against the Sun Devils, Hatchett’s pass blocking grade was a mere 17.6. This was one week after they had defeated Oregon 23.5. While his pass blocking, which had previously featured grades of 80.0, 79.6, and 75.3, peaked late in the season, his run blocking (62.0 for the season) was enjoyable.
The coaches, DeBoer and his assistant coaches, wanted to tout how good a run blocker he is, but Raley indicated that he was substituted due of a breakdown in his pass protection against Arizona State. He finished the season as a sub because of this.
One of the highlights of his career was the game in East Lansing, where Hatchett finished the game at right guard and the coaching staff started his younger brother Landen Hatchett, a true freshman, at center.
Raley remarked, “The other intriguing aspect of his circumstances is that he has a younger brother who is going to be among the greatest linemen to have ever played at Washington.” “Last year, his younger brother attended Washington and participated in nine games. He ultimately forfeited his redshirt and followed our presumption that Geirean would do. However, Geirean may still be a competent player.
“They’re probably close, but sometimes it might be difficult to handle when your little brother shows up and he might be better than you.”
According to Raley, 2024 might have just felt like the perfect time for Hatchett to start over at the other school he had looked at as a recruit, following another coaching change at Washington.