Michigan OT transfer Ty Haywood might be changing positions at Alabama

Michigan offensive lineman Ty Haywood (79) warms up with offensive lineman Andrew Sprague (54) ahead of the Purdue game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

Even with both of its starting tackle positions filled, Alabama will spend the next few weeks experimenting across the offensive line. With Jackson Lloyd and Michael Carroll set to serve as the Crimson Tide’s bookends and Cal Poly transfer Racin Delgatty leading the competition at center, the next step will be filling the two openings at the guard positions. 

Michigan transfer Ty Haywood is a candidate for either one of those roles. However, before the 6-foot-5, 312-pound redshirt freshman attempts to fight his way up the depth chart, Alabama is looking to decide where it wants to develop him moving forward. That’s the case with all of the Tide’s young linemen at this point in spring camp.

“We’re trying to figure out a spot where we can get them off the ground, get them feeling good,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said following Thursday’s practice. “Ty started out with a little bit of tackle, we’ve moved him inside to play some guard. He’s looked fine at both, honestly. He’s so young that we’ve just got to keep working with him.”

Haywood was originally committed to Alabama but ultimately signed with Michigan as the No. 39 overall player and No. 6 offensive tackle in the 2025 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. 

During his lone season at Michigan last year, he appeared in just 15 offensive snaps over three games, spending six snaps as a right tackle against Central Michigan, eight snaps at left tackle against Maryland and one snap as a jumbo tight end in the Citrus Bowl loss to Texas. 

Haywood has the athleticism to play tackle at Alabama, but his fastest route to the field this fall will be at guard position, where Alabama is dealing with the departures of Kam Dewberry, Geno VanDeMark, Jaeden Roberts and Wilkin Formby. 

Alabama returns redshirt freshman William Sanders as a possible candidate for one its guard openings. The Tide added six offensive line transfers, including Haywood, Delgatty, Nick Brooks (Texas), Ethan Fields (Ole Miss), Jayvin James (Mississippi State) and Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan).

James (6-foot-5, 318 pounds) appears to set to serve as Alabama’s swing tackle. The redshirt junior started 10 games at left tackle and two at right tackle for Mississippi State last season. His experience makes him a logical plug-in starter should Alabama suffer an injury early in the season. 

Brooks (6-7, 339), Fields (6-3, 319) and Sanders (6-3, 315) figure to be Haywood’s main competition at the guard positions. How Haywood fares in that competition this spring will likely play a huge role in where he begins his Alabama career.

If he can compete for playing time, a move to guard will likely be in order. However, if he is unable to make any headway inside, it might make more sense to develop him at tackle as a depth piece.

For now, things are looking bright for the Michigan transfer three practices into camp. 

“I see a hard worker,” Carroll said. “He can play both ways. He’s a versatile guy. I’m really proud of him and the way he’s worked.” 

Alabama will return to the field on Friday for its fourth of 15 spring practices. The Tide will conclude camp on April 11 with its A-Day game.