To jump start his college football career, Washington center Landen Hatchett left high school 3 months early. He enrolled at the University of Washington for the Spring quarter.
I’m doing do, he could acclimate to the college life of a football player. It was somewhat of a gamble, but at 6-2 and 309 pounds he appeared to be physically ready for the rigors of an offensive lineman.
He had to sit out the first 3 Spring Practices as the team actually started before he was enrolled. When his time came to put on his purple practice jersey he was ready for the moment.
All Spring long he looked like he belonged on the field.
Flash forward 3 weeks to Washington’s Spring Game and on the final drive off the game, trailing by 6, Landen lined up over the ball for one final drive to try to win it.
The Washington QB’s of Michael Penix and Dylan Morris threw a few interceptions, digging a big hole.
It would be the offense’s final drive of the day, but it wasn’t the final one of the day for Hatchett.
Moments earlier Morris found receiver Denzel Boston wide open in the end zone to pull the Purple Team to within 6 points.
The game’s outcome would be determined by two of the more improbable participants: the battery of center Landen Hatchett and junior college transfer QB Alex Johnson.
On the second play of the drive Hatchett cleared a nice hole up the middle but freshman Tybo Rogers bounced the play outside. A few plays later Johnson dropped a perfectly-thrown 30-yard TD to receiver Owen Coutts to give the purple their only lead off the day, and securing the win.
On the play, Hatchett won his one-on-one battle to give Johnson a window to complete the pass.
After the play he can be seen on TV pulling off his helmet and his now-famous shoulder-length blonde hair flopped down—drenched with sweat.
But that drive wasn’t Hatchett’s longest or last one of the day. After sticking around and signing posters, gloves, helmets, and politely posing for pictures he went outside to his family’s car to be taken back to his hometown for his senior prom.
After a quick stop at his dorm to clean up a bit and to grab his dirty clothes to drive the 98 miles home to get ready.
“It was probably about 4:30 that we (left Husky Stadium),” his mom Jana said.
But there was a small detour before nothing I-5 North.
“We stopped at his dorm to grab his clothes (and his dirty laundry for me),” she said. “We got to Ferndale about 6:30.”
Landen cleaned up quickly and back on the road they went.
“We headed down to Zuanich Park where they were taking pictures,” she recalled. “I think we arrived there about 7 o’clock.”
As nearly flawless as the final drive of the Spring Game, Landen and his future Husky teammate Jake Mason arrived in time for their 7:30 dinner reservations with their friends group.
Landen will have one final “official” drive later this Spring to receive his high school diploma from Ferndale High School.
In between then, however, Jana says that she’s incentivized trips home for Landen and his brother/teammate Geirean.
“He’s a dorm kid now so not so easy to do his dirty laundry. I always tell him and G to bring it home with them when they come. A perk of our household,” she chuckled.
