The first offensive player to leave Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football came at a position where fans wanted the most improvement.
Seth McLaughlin had good moments as a center for the Crimson Tide; however, inconsistency in snapping the ball to quarterback Jalen Milroe plagued the Tide all season in 2023. Everything came to a head in the Rose Bowl Game for the College Football Playoff Semifinal between Alabama and Michigan. Several bad snaps from McLaughlin led to break downs in protection and killed momentum for the offense. Michigan earned a 27-20 victory over the Tide in overtime, and McLaughlin entered the NCAA transfer portal to head to Ohio State. James Brockermeyer, a former four-star lineman in the 2021 recruiting class, had a really good spring — earning first-team reps at center throughout practice.
The coaching staff raved about the growth and development of the native Texan, yet he decided to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday with a “do not contact” tag on him. This means Brockermeyer already knows the school he is transferring to.
What was the issues behind Brockermeyer’s move to leave?
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No one knows, but it has left fans shaking their heads in concern. Alabama supporters want to see a dominant offensive line in the fall.
Brockermeyer was thought to be the player to bring the physicality and toughness up front, but it headed elsewhere.
Parker Brailsford (a transfer from Washington) and Roq Montgomery are the two centers for Alabama now.
Joseph Ionata, a three-star, earned reps at center on A-Day as a freshman, but he was recruited to be a tackle.
It will be interesting if Coach DeBoer pursues someone from the portal on the front line.
If not, Brailsford is the starter for the Crimson Tide and Montgomery is the backup center.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
