Henning Takes Center Stage for Huskies Out of Program Need

When it changes hands, the University of Washington center position almost goes through a coronation. Trumpets sound for a guy such as Coleman Shelton, Nick Harris and Luke Wattenberg when he heads to the NFL and again when a veteran player is hand-selected as his replacement.

Except in this case, redshirt freshman Zach Henning was rushed into this all-important position for the entirety of spring football without much deliberation -- designated as the emergency fill-in for the injured Landen Hatchett -- almost because there was no one else to do it.

Which prompts the following question: Is the 6-foot-5, 292-pound Henning, who spent his first season almost exclusively at offensive guard, merely watching the store until Hatchett is fully recovered from knee surgery or is it his intent to claim the job and make his teammate play elsewhere?

"I'm just trying to get better every day, whether that be at guard or center," Henning said diplomatically. "When he comes back, we'll see what happens. Obviously, we're really good friends. We talk about it. We know what's going on. He knows it."

From a well-regarded 2023 recruiting class of five offensive linemen, Hatchett and Henning were the only ones who got their feet wet and played in Husky games last season, in nine and two outings, respectively. At times, they were side by side, with Hatchett manning center and Henning at guard.

Henning has had to get comfortable snapping the football, both at the line and in shotgun formation. He's had to be the leader in making sure everyone is in the right spot, in communicating directives across the line. He's also needed someone on the spot to consult. It's no mystery who that might be.

"I go to Landen a lot, even today after a couple of plays where I struggled," the Colorado product said. "He's played center his whole life."

Henning actually took his first center snaps last December at the request of Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff right after Hatchett tore up his knee during practice for the Sugar Bowl, when then-redshirt freshman Parker Brailsford was the No. 1 guy and a second-team All-Pac-12 pick.

However, Brailsford transferred to Alabama to remain with DeBoer. New offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll next asked Henning to changes positions for this month of spring football practices.

Unlike Brailsford, Henning never considered changing schools following the coaching change from DeBoer to Jedd Fisch. He just wished his offensive-line coach well after Scott Huff left for Alabama before changing direction and ending up with the Seattle Seahawks.

As the Huskies ran through their second workout on Thursday, Henning spent most of his time at center but he took a few plays at guard just in case. Carroll says his makeshift center has had just one bad snap over two days.

Henning has made it a point to spend extra time working with the new quarterbacks, in particular Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers. They snap until it feels comfortable. He likes how everything the linemen do is patterned after the NFL. He doesn't have a preference for an offensive-line role as he becomes this versatile player.

"I don't really know yet; I've played all over," Henning said. "Wherever coach Carroll puts me really. Wherever I can get better and play the most."

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