Alabama’s offensive line lacked consistency and physicality under Doug Marrone, but players and fans are excited about what Coach Eric Wolford can do for the group.
Nick Saban hired Wolford in the spring. The 51-year-old has experience in the Southeastern Conference, coaching offensive linemen at South Carolina (twice) and Kentucky. As a former offensive guard at Kansas State, Wolford propelled the Wildcats in 2021 to be a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. Crimson Tide fans want to see those results in the fall, and Wolford has started dominating on the recruiting trail. Tyler Booker, a freshman offensive lineman, was featured via In My Own Words on July 13.
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Booker, a former five-star from IMG Academy, got recruited by Wolford to South Carolina and Kentucky. When the Tide hired Wolford to Tuscaloosa, Booker got excited. He said he has a ‘great feeling’ about Wolford and what he will do with the O-Line.
“Coach Wolford and I have always had a great relationship,” Booker said. “He is helping me grow so much as an offensive lineman. He knows how to coach my technique. He understands that people process things differently. He is going to teach and show me a play until I understand it. Once he knows what verbiage hits my brain, he continues to teach me that way and has done some of my teammates the same. He is out there working as we are. He works like he’s one of us. You can tell that he cares.”
Wolford did not have a lot of five-star athletes at South Carolina and Kentucky, but he was very successful.
He has marquee talent in Tuscaloosa, and it will be exciting to see how he uses it.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
