Alabama has had some impressive offensive units in the Nick Saban era, but this front line gives him and Crimson Tide fans something to be very excited about.
Eric Wolford, the Tide’s offensive line coach, has a group that could win the Joe Moore Award. On Wednesday, Coach Saban addressed to reporters how much he likes the leadership, mentality, and toughness of the line. The veteran players such as Seth McLaughlin, JC Latham, Tyler Booker, and Darrian Dalcourt are holding younger players accountable to do their jobs.
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Terrence Ferguson II, a redshirt sophomore, has earned his degree in three years. The 6-foot-4, 318-pounder came as a four-star offensive guard in the 2021 signing class from Fort Valley, Ga. He has played six games in his career — including five in 2022 — but Ferguson is now considered a starter. Saban has witnessed his emergence on the field and is proud of how he’s progressed.
“Terrence Ferguson is playing really, really well,” Saban said. “He has gotten bigger and stronger, and he’s always been very explosive and had explosive power and body quickness. He is confident in what he is doing. We are playing him at center some too, which he’s done a good job of that. He’s shown a lot of maturity, and I look at him as a starter on our team. I think we have six or seven guys who may be starters, so we will see what the best combination is as we go through camp.”
Ferguson got first-team reps at left guard in Alabama’s Open Practice/Fan Day. He continues to see time at that position in a battle against Dalcourt. Dalcourt, a fifth-year senior, has more experience, but Ferguson gives the Tide more upside.
RELATED: Alabama’s offensive line excited about wanting to ‘make teams quit’ with rushing attack
Tyler Booker, a sophomore, shared on Monday about what’s impressed him about Ferguson.
“Ferg has grown so much,” Booker said. “You guys call him TJ Ferguson, Coach calls him TJ, but that’s Ferg to us. He has flipped a switch. He brought me up last year. I played a lot last year, but he didn’t get to play last year. I feel like that lit a fire under him, and he sees the opportunity. He saw that if you know what you are supposed to do you are going to get to play. You will get what you deserve, and his mindset has changed. He is ready to play.”
Alabama has its first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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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.
