Seth McLaughlin showed his skills at the center position in 2021.
He earned the trust of coaches, teammates, and fans for his performances in marquee matchups against Auburn, Georgia (SEC Championship), Cincinnati (CFP Semifinal), and the Bulldogs again (CFP National Championship). McLaughlin did not allow a sack in four games, and he pushed the Crimson Tide to three victories. He played in ten games — including three starts — with 310 snaps. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder enters spring practice as the starter, but who emerges behind him at the position for the Tide?
Nick Saban spoke on Darrian Dalcourt as an option.
Dalcourt, a senior, earned the starting job last year in fall camp. He posted 15 knockdown blocks in 713 snaps, but Dalcourt surrendered 5.5 sacks, 2.5 quarterback hits, and two quarterback pressures. The Maryland native sustained two ankle injuries, but he had problems snapping the ball correctly to Bryce Young. Alabama switched to McLaughlin in the second half of the Iron Bowl, and the issue got corrected. Dalcourt makes for a viable backup if the Crimson Tide does not switch him to a different role.
Saban also brought up having a third name emerge at center. It will be interesting to see who the player becomes, especially with James Brockermeyer and Emil Ekiyor Jr. Brockermeyer, a four-star from Texas, was one of the top high school prospects at the center position in the 2021 recruiting cycle. Ekiyor excelled as a center in high school and has practiced there for Alabama.
On Wednesday, Stephen Smith of Touchdown Alabama Magazine discussed the center role via In My Own Words.
He wants to see McLaughlin continue as the starter, but Smith is interested to see who emerges to help him.
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