As a true freshman in 2025, Washington Huskies left guard John Mills proved to be one of one in college football.

Although a midseason sprained ankle hindered the 6-foot-6, 338-pound road grader's ability to end his first season with the most snaps of any freshman interior offensive lineman, finishing 177 snaps shy of Georgia's Dontrell Glover for that honor, Mills still graded out with the highest Pro Football Focus pass blocking and offense grade of any first-year OL—regardless of position.

The San Francisco, California, native and St. Ignatius College Preparatory graduate received an 80.2 pass blocking grade, more than five percentage points higher than Glover, and a 70.2 offense grade for his 589 snaps combined between left guard (445), right tackle (142), and one as an in-line tight end blocker.

Going into his second full offseason—Mills was one of roughly a dozen 2025 signees that enrolled for the start of winter quarter last January—as a sophomore, the 11-game starter is trimmed down and even more confident going into year two.

"I feel more athletic and agile," Mills said after Thursday's spring practice, giving a shoutout to UW strength and conditioning coach Tyler Owens, assistant strength coaches Lance Ancar and Cadillac Mitchell, and Director of Football Performance Nutrition Tanner Graves.

Mills is one of four returning starters along the Huskies' offensive line for the 2026 season, with senior center Landen Hatchett, right guard Geirean Hatchett, and right tackle Drew Azzopardi being the other three. However, he's made the fewest starts of the four, but his lack of experience hasn't stopped Mills from finding his voice as a leader.

"John Mills has certainly elevated his voice, and for another young player has done an incredible job of leading," Fisch said of the sophomore before the start of spring camp on March 31. "Geirean Hatchett, Drew Azzopardi (and) Landen, that offensive line group in general has been elite in leadership—elite. But John has certainly elevated his voice from coming in here last year at today's press conference; he hadn't even taken a snap with us. A year later, he's coming off an All-American year and great confidence."

Mills has been a stalwart at left guard this spring in between true freshman Kodi Greene, an incoming five-star recruit who's been competing with junior backup Soane Faasolo while Sam Houston State transfer Kolt Dieterich recovers from an undisclosed injury, and a combination of redshirt freshmen—Lowen Colman-Brusa and Jake Flores—which gives him an opportunity to grow his voice as a leader while bringing along some of the younger offensive linemen.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies Sophomore John Mills Growing into Leader Along OL