Alabama had two centers — Seth McLaughlin and James Brockermeyer — leave its program via the NCAA transfer portal, but Kalen DeBoer brought a guy from Washington that has the Crimson Tide wanting to be great up front.
Parker Brailsford, a native of Mesa, Ariz., has been a great addition to Alabama. The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder is set to anchor arguably the best interior offensive line in college football. He came out of Saguaro High School as a four-star in the 2022 recruiting cycle, leading the program to a 12-1 record and a state championship in 2021.
Brailsford was rated as an offensive guard, yet he made his mark at center in 2023 for the Huskies.
He played in 15 games last year, including 13 at center.
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Brailsford captained a group that won the Joe Moore Award and pushed Washington to a Pac-12 Championship. The Huskies advanced to the College Football Playoff, beat Texas in a semifinal matchup, and faced Michigan in the national title game.
Brailsford’s fit right in to Alabama’s offensive unit in fall camp. He and Tyler Booker, a junior, have a chemistry up front and DeBoer said the group feels the confidence Brailsford plays with. The offensive line now feels like a strength for the Tide.
“He knows the offense, so he had a lot of people looking to him to come up with solutions for where it starts,” DeBoer said Sunday about Brailsford after practice. “He is pointing out linebackers or where the protection will be set. He is confident in that way.”
DeBoer said Brailsford and Booker really help each other out. The offensive line is player led and that’s huge for Alabama.
Everything starts in the trenches and Brailsford is the right piece to anchor the Tide.
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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.
