Given the ongoing exodus along UW’s offensive line, Jalen Klemm looked primed to compete for a starting spot this fall.
At least, that’s how it looked.
Klemm — a 6-foot-5, 281-pound sophomore — has entered the transfer portal, according to reports by Rivals and On3.com. He has three seasons of remaining eligibility.
A Mars, Pa., product, Pine-Richland High School alum and U.S. Army All-American, Klemm was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 20 offensive tackle in the 2022 class by 247Sports. He signed with Kansas State and redshirted in 2022, before transferring to UW last offseason.
Klemm — the son of New England Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm — participated in seven games as UW’s backup left tackle last fall. He was an occasional contributor on an offensive line that took home the Joe Moore Award, which honors college football’s premier front.
Less than a month later, all five of that line’s starters have left — with left tackle Troy Fautanu and right tackle Roger Rosengarten declaring for the NFL draft and center Parker Brailsford (who committed to Alabama), left guard Nate Kalepo (Ole Miss) and right guard Julius Buelow (Ole Miss) all entering the transfer portal. Two other guards, junior Geirean Hatchett (Oklahoma) and true freshman Paki Finau, have plunged into the portal as well.
A total of 26 Huskies have entered the transfer portal this offseason — with 14 committing to outside schools, six returning to Washington and six more still on the market.
UW is left with just 10 scholarship offensive linemen — though Klemm and Finau could conceivably withdraw from the portal and stay in Seattle, as sophomore center Landen Hatchett did this week. UW will undoubtedly add to their line via the offseason’s second and final transfer portal window in April as well.
Regardless, it’ll be a challenge to capably block for quarterback Will Rogers, running back Jonah Coleman and Co. this fall.
At least, that’s how it looks.
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