Alabama’s offensive line is the most significant positional unit that needs to emerge in the fall.
Eric Wolford, who is now back at Kentucky, became the second OL coach that did not work out. The Crimson Tide allowed 44 sacks of Jalen Milroe in 2023, including 3+ sacks to Texas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Michigan. Alabama’s failure to protect Milroe cost it in losses to Texas and Michigan last season.
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It lost Seth McLaughlin to Ohio State, Terrence Ferguson to Florida State, and JC Latham to the NFL Draft, but the Tide returns experience and depth up front. Alabama needs the right offensive line coach that meshes well with the offense Kalen DeBoer brings from Washington. The Huskies allowed only 11 sacks of Michael Penix last year, propelling him to be a Heisman finalist.
Washington earned the Joe Moore Award for having the nation’s top offensive unit.
How the Crimson Tide look on the O-Line for spring practice? No one knows until we get our first look at sessions before the annual A-Day Game. For now, an early projection for the starting offensive line is below.
Early projection for Alabama’s starting OL in spring
-Left Tackle: Elijah Pritchett, Wilkin Formby
-Left Guard: Tyler Booker, Olaus Alinen
-Center: Parker Brailsford (transfer from Washington), James Brockermeyer
-Right Guard: Jaeden Roberts, Roq Montgomery
-Right Tackle: Miles McVay, Naquil Bertrand (transfer from Texas A&M)
Spring enrollees to compete for a starting spot
-Joe Ionata: 6-5/294
-Casey Poe: 6-4/290
-Will Sanders: 6-3/290
Some changes could be made, but this is the projection as of now. If the Tide has a dominant offensive line, it has a firm opportunity to return to the College Football Playoff and end a three-year national championship drought.
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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.
