Kalen DeBoer excited to welcome homegrown offensive lineman back this fall

Alabama offensive lineman William Sanders (70) walks off the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Photo | Alabama Athletics

Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer is excited to welcome Will Sanders back to the Crimson Tide this fall.

Sanders is a native of Brookwood High School in Brookwood, Alabama. Brookwood is located right outside the Tuscaloosa area. DeBoer feels the homegrown talent brings tools the Tide can lean on at offensive guard.

“We’re excited about Will Sanders, who’s homegrown here,” DeBoer told Greg McElroy on “Always College Football.” “Really expecting some things, coming off of just some rehab and some injury stuff that he’s had here this spring, being more of an interior guard spot.”

The Alabama native was sidelined with an injury during the Tide’s spring practice. He played in all 15 games for Alabama last season on special teams and as a rotational piece on the Tide’s offensive line. DeBoer shared he felt Sanders would be in the mix to earn a starting role during spring practice.

“You guys know that Will Sanders is not in there right now,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, he would be thrown into the mix with his experience and ability.”

Jackson Carroll is expected to start at left tackle for the Tide this fall, and Jayvin James is trending to start at right tackle. All signs point to Racin Delgatty starting at center, with Michael Carroll expected to start at one of the guard spots. This leaves Sanders with an opportunity to compete for the other guard spot alongside fellow Alabama native, Mal Waldrep, and other players like Ole Miss transfer, Ethan Fields.

Sanders was known as a mauler of an offensive guard as a prospect coming out of Brookwood High School.

Brookwood (AL) 2024 OL William Sanders is inching closer to announcing a decision.

Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State are his top 3.

READ: https://t.co/Vg9c5XSHHi

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— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) July 8, 2023