Alabama’s final season with Nick Saban ended with a Southeastern Conference Championship, but there was an issue.
The Crimson Tide’s offensive line could have been better than what it showed.
Every mistake was not their fault; however, many times we can look back at 2023 and say a different outcome would have happened if blocking was better. Alabama sent JC Latham and Darrian Dalcourt to the NFL Draft. Names such as Seth McLaughlin, James Brockermeyer, Terrence Ferguson, and others tried their hand in the NCAA transfer portal.
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Kalen DeBoer inherits an offensive line with three returning starters, including one that came back from the portal.
Kadyn Proctor admitted that leaving Alabama was the ‘worst decision’ he had made. The Iowa native is now back with the team and vows to be much better moving forward. A former five-star in the 2023 recruiting class, Proctor looks to earn his spot back at left tackle. If he does, Alabama’s offensive front — from left to right — may look like Proctor, Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts and Wilkin Formby. It would be a very good group, yet could it be a Joe Moore Award-winning bunch?
Alabama has not won the nation’s top offensive unit award for college football since 2020.
Landon Dickerson was the anchor of that group at center, but Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown, Emil Ekiyor, and Evan Neal made the line special in a Coronavirus shortened season. Pro Football Focus is high on this offensive line for the Tide.
Max Chadwick, a college football analyst for PFF, has Alabama with the top-ranked unit in the nation for the fall.
Top 10 Offensive Lines in College Football💪
(Via: @MaxChadwickCFB) pic.twitter.com/UpoeMdtxQe
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 6, 2024
The Tide has a new offensive line coach (Chris Kapilovic) that wants to have it dominating up front.
We will see if Alabama’s unit can capture marquee awards this season.
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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.
