2026 Alabama Crimson Tide Fall Football Preview: Offensive Line Depth Chart Predictions

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After losing all five starters on the offensive line, Alabama opened fall camp with just Michael Carroll owning the entire allotment of starts (six) as a member of the Crimson Tide. With crimson and white losing so much experience, one would think that chaos and uncertainty would rule the day. Hoeverd, it appears that the Tide is in pretty good position.

COACHSPEAK

At the SEC Media Days last month, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer went all Pollyanna when asked about the offensive line. He also basically leaked three favorites of the five starters:

“The guys that either returned, a Michael Carroll who took a lot of snaps for us, Will Sanders has taken a lot of snaps for us. There are some guys within our program, like a Jackson Lloyd. We brought in some players that have been at other places that have been on the football field in the conference, outside the conference.”

It was surprising that he named names, but the ones he mentioned were not. Later in his long response, DeBoer added a little mystery as if he wasn’t sure who would lineup against East Carolina on September 5th:

Hopefully we can find a group here in fall camp that really gels well together, is the best unit as a whole.

It’s that word “hopefully”. Are the quintet of starters already set as some of us believe and he is just hiding behind his cards? Or are there battles still to be won in fall camp?

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Working for ESPN at SEC Media Days, Nick Saban said it all:

“I think offensive line is one of the positions in football that if you do a really good job of teaching and coaching fundamentals at that position, footwork, hand placement, playing together, communicating well, understanding the defense and how you’re attacking it and how you’re going to block it, you can make huge improvements.”

There are the ingredients. Now, go bake us a cake.

DEPARTED

COACH

• Coach Chris Kapilovic

Coach Kap was Coach Krap! Coming into the 2025 season, there were high hopes that the OL unit would be one of the best in the SEC if not the nation. Bama boasted three Preaseason All-SEC players in left tackle Kadyn Proctor, center Parker Brailsford and right guard Jaeden Roberts. However, the season was a total mess. Nick Saban’s philosophy was always guided by the principle of having five guys that you ride all season. Last fall had so many different guys play that it was hard to keep track who was in the game and in what spots at any time in a game.

The Crimson Tide struggled to run the football, producing inefficient 104.1 yards per game, which was next-to-last in the SEC (LSU was a fraction behind at 104.0) and 125th out of 136 FBS teams. Bama’s leading rusher Jam Miller finished with a paltry 504 net rushing yards. That total represents the lowest single season leading number by an Alabama running back since Chris Anderson tallied 492 over 12 games in 1990.

The offensive line allowed 32 sacks on the season – 4th most among SEC teams in 2025. They also allowed four sacks on four occasions.

Kap had to go.

STARTERS

• LT Kadyn Proctor – 1st round pick, 12th overall by the Miami Dolphins. Pro Football Focus reports have it that the All-American was in on 935 of Alabama’s 989 offensive snaps in 2025.
• C Parker Brailsford – 5th round pick, 146th overall by the Cleveland Browns. Also according to PFF, the Tide team captain logged 905 plays.
• RT/RG Wilkin Formby – Transferred to Texas A&M. The Tuscaloosa native turned his back on his hometown school to go chase the bag and reportedly Alabama did not put up much of a fight to keep him. He opened the year at right tackle but moved to right guard midway through the year. He played 816 snaps per PFF.
• LG Kam Dewberry – UDFA, signed by the Falcons for reportedly $262,500 in guarantees. Played 596 offensive snaps (PFF), starting 13 games at left guard but missed the SEC Championship Game due to an injury.

SEMI-STARTERS

• Geno VanDeMark – UDFA, signed by the Colts. The Swiss Army Knife played approximately 409 total snaps, earning nine starts in 14 games, including six games at right guard, two at left guard and one at center.
• Jaeden Roberts – UDFA, signed with the Eagles. A returning starter from 2024, he was limited to just four starts at right guard last season at various points in the season. He registered a total of 313 offensive snaps across 10 game appearances.

RESERVES

• Joseph Ionata – Transferred to Georgia Tech, projected starting center.
• Olaus Alinen – Transferred to Kentucky, projected starting left guard.
• Micah DeBose – Transferred to Vanderbilt, projected starting strong guard [ED.NOTE: I didn’t know teams still did the “strong”/“quick” thing anymore].
• Arkel Anugwom – Transferred to Northwestern – Alas, poor Arkel. We hardly knew ye.
• Roq Montgomery – Transferred to Western Kentucky. Okay then.
• Naquil Betrand – Came in from Texas A&M and did not even make it through September. Transferred to Syracuse and looking like back-up LT.

RETURNING

FULL-TIME STARTERS

• None.

RESERVES WITH STARTS

• Michael Carroll (True So., 6′ 6” 324) – Recently named to the Outland Trophy Watchlist. Depending on the source, the SEC All-Freshman had between 529 and 546 snaps – primarily at right tackle – and made 6 starts. He probably should have been starting much sooner. He has NFL first round potential. Carroll will no doubt be a starter. The only question remains is where.

OTHER RETURNING RESERVES

• #70 – William Sanders (R-So., 6’3’’ up 13 lbs to 321) – Sanders had an expanded role last season of blocking on PAT and field goal attempts. He also had significant playing time with the offense compiling a reported 185 offensive snaps playing at left guard – and not just on mop-up duty. His big debut was subbing in for Kam Dewberry at left guard against Georgia and playing 25 snaps with two knockdowns. He saw increased playing time against Vanderbilt working 35 snaps and registering four knockdowns. From that point on, Sanders was rotated in in several games, as well as his work on special teams. Logic dictates that he will be the starter at left guard in 2026.

• #77 – Jackson Lloyd (RS-Fr. 6′ 7” up 9 lbs to 326) – This Carmel, California native is a guy many Tide fans have been chomping at the bit to see on the field since his buzz-worthy debut spring performance in 2025. Last fall, he worked in five games during the regular season. The fifth game was against Oklahoma in the CFP. Prior to the 2024 season, the NCAA passed legislation that postseason contests no longer count against the four-game limit for redshirt eligibility. Lloyd only participated in 41 snaps, but displayed his versatility by splitting time between left tackle and right tackle. He is an excellent candidate for one of those two spots.
• #52 – Mal Waldrep (RS-Fr. 6’ 5’’ 324) – Played in two games vs ULM and Eastern Illinois. He will take some time to develop – but daggumit – at least he hung around! He played a good deal at A-Day, but mostly because Sanders was injured. Waldrep might be the back-up center and/or guard this fall.

NEWCOMERS

COACH

Adrian Klemm comes to Tuscaloosa with coaching experience in both on the collegiate and NFL levels. There have been some mystery and conjecture surrounding his recent history.

After being a a four-year starting offensive tackle under legendary Hawaii coach June Jones, he was a second round draft pick by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. Over five pro seasons, Klemm participated in 42 games with 18 starts, and earned three Super Bowl rings with the Pats. Following his playing days, he reunited with Jones at SMU. He then joined Jim Mora Jr. at UCLA for five seasons, followed by three campaigns with Mike Tomlin’s Steelers. However in 2021, Klemm left the Steelers with 2 games remaining in the regular season to become an offensive line coach at Oregon. It was rumored that he and Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada did not exactly get along very well. Further talk said that Tomlin to agreed to release Klemm in the knowledge that Klemm would not have continued in his role in the following year. [ED.NOTE: Interestingly, Canada would be fired mid-season in 2023. Only 51 years old at the time, Canada has not worked in coaching since that day.]

Klemm’s tenure with first-time head coach Dan Lanning and OC Kenny Dillingham at Oregon would last only one season but it was a good one. His Ducks offensive line led the FBS in least sacks allowed with only five over 13 games, and the rushing game was rated the twelfth best with 215.8 yards per game. It is unclear why Klemm left Oregon after one season, but the departure of Dillingham for the head job at Arizona State and Will Stein’s arrival could have had something to do with it. A chance to return to the NFL seems to be a more logical reason.

The next stop was joining his former NFL coach Bill Belichick for his historically disastrous final Pats’ season of 2023 that yielded a 4-13 record. Klemm would not last the entire campaign as he left New England in mid-season as he dealt with what was called a “major” medical issue – a condition that has never been shared with the public. However, there was speculation that Klemm was again not playing nice with others. The Boston Herald reported that Klemm confronted Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh “early in the season in a loud exchange that reverberated through the organization.” Belichick was canned after the season as were most of his assistants.

After a year away from football, Klemm spent last season back in his hometown as a defensive (??) analyst under Lincoln Riley at Southern Cal.

THEORY, AND JUST A THEORY: Klemm’s “major” health issue might have been psychological. Maybe he has a temper problem and someone reached him before he destroyed his coaching career. He likely spent 2024 back home in the L.A. area to reboot. Once he dealt with his problems, he reached out to Riley. [ED.NOTE: Kalen DeBoer was at Washington when Klemm was at Oregon.]

Ryan Grubb asked last Wednesday about Klemm at practice:

“I think the biggest thing about Klemm is that when you’re looking at a position coach here, does this guy’s got command, and is he a master teacher? And when I hear Klemm at practice, it’s always coaching points. Even if he’s upset, not upset, it doesn’t really matter. There’s a coaching point, there’s a process going on. That’s what has always impressed me: there’s an immediate answer; there’s a solution. And the guys know what that is, and they can move on quickly.”

TRANSFERS

• #54 Jayvin James (RS-Jr. 6′ 5”/317, Akron>Mississippi State, Deerfield Beach, FL) – Alabama may have only one guy back with starting experience in Bryant-Denny, but James has plenty of playing time including a season of blocking SEC pass rushers. The south Florida native began his collegiate career at Akron where he spent two seasons. As a 3-star recruit, he weighed all of 255 pounds. The Zips got him up to 285 and he played in all 12 games with nine starts during their 2024 campaign. After transferring to Mississippi State, he beefed up to 320 last season and saw time in 12 contests while starting nine at left tackle where he totaled 856 snaps and allowed just three sacks for the year. Alabama has James down to 317 lbs. He started the spring game at left tackle and looks to be a top candidate at one of the two tackle spots.

• #55 Racin Delgatty (RS-Jr. 6′ 3”/305, Cal Poly, La Cañada Flintridge, CA) – Delgatty was a 3-star recruit out of suburban Los Angeles area in 2023, but did not garner much FBS interest. He settled on one California Polytechnic State University located in San Luis Obispo, California – a program that had not had a winning season since 2016. After a redshirt season, Delgatty played 10 games with multiple starts for Poly at center during the 2024 campaign. Last season, he started 11 games at center which included Utah, FCS semifinalist Montana, and FCS champ Montana State. For what it is worth, despite the Mustangs’ lousy 4-8 record, they were 20th in passing offense in the FCS with 253.1 ypg and tied for 20th in passing TDs at 24. Interestingly, Poly was ninth in yards per completion with a 13.74 average which translates to quarterbacks having better protection and time in the pocket to throw longer balls. On the flipside, the ‘Stangs rushing was not great – 128.6 ypg. Delgatty is athletic and quick with 1,316 career college snaps under his belt.
• # 71 Nick Brooks (True So. 6′ 7” 333, Texas, Cedar Rapids, IA) – Brooks signed with the Longhorns as a 4-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He too has some SEC starting experience playing in five games as a true freshman at Texas and started in three consecutive October contests against Oklahoma, Kentucky and Mississippi State – primarily left guard. He played 225 total snaps as a true freshman. It is unclear why he did not play much after the MSU game. Brooks was listed at 6-foot-7 and 349 pounds as a freshman in Austin. Bama has “slimmed” him down 16 lbs.
• # 75 Ethan Fields (RS Jr. 6′ 3” 313, Ole Miss, Geismar, LA) – Fields is next on the list in experience. In three seasons at Ole Miss, he saw time in 19 combined contests across the last two seasons, but has no starts. Last fall, he played in all 15 games as a reserve lineman but mostly on special teams during the Rebels’ College Football Playoff run in 2025.
• # 79 Kaden Strayhorn (RS Fr. 6′ 2” 310, Michigan, Novi, MI) – Kaden’s father, Jason Strayhorn, is a former standout center and team captain for the Michigan State Spartans and played under a guy named Nick Saban. The younger Strayhorn was originally recruited to Alabama and had some unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa while at IMG Academy, but signed with Michigan. He saw game action in two games for the Wolverines during the 2025 campaign as a true freshman. He can play guard or center but will probably be groomed for the latter.
• # 72 Ty Haywood (RS Fr. 6′ 5” 318, Michigan, Denton, TX) – Once upon a time, Haywood was committed to Alabama but flipped to Michigan. In his one year in Ann Arbor, he played in three games, splitting time between offensive line and special teams, but no real significant minutes. UM was working him at left tackle.

FROSH

Bama has four freshmen and a Juco transfer in the 2026 recruiting class.

• #63 OT Bryson Cooley (6′ 6”/328, Top 200, 4-star, Laurel, MS) – Big boy can play guard or tackle. He is probably the closest to being college-ready among the freshmen.
• # 73 IOL Chris Booker (6′ 4”/288, 4-star, Atlanta, GA) – Played tackle and defensive line in high school He has a mean streak but probably needs to beef up a tad.
• # 65 IOL Tyrell Miller (6′ 5”/312, JUCO, College of San Mateo, CA) – Looking like a guard. Assuming he has three years remaining.
• # 66 OT Jared (fka Doughty) Graham (6′ 6”/300, 4-star, Atlanta, GA) – As a summer enrollee, he is going to be a little behind.
• # 57 OT Bear Fretwell (6′ 7”/290, 3-star, Brooklet, GA) – Also a summer enrollee.

While all are good prospects, there are not too many reasons to think any of them will breaking into the starting lineup this fall.

WAY TOO EARLY DEPTH CHART

At Ryan Grubb’s press conference last Wednesday, the local media was very interested in the offensive line. After a fruitless question about the quarterbacks, attention turned mostly to the line. The Alabama OC was first asked whether he planned to rotate OL like last season (ugh) or go with “best five”. His response was “best five”.

A follow up question came in regards to the battle between James and Brooks “at right tackle”:

“They both did a good job. They battled back and forth in the spring. Nick did a good job. We moved him around quite a bit. Jayvin really was just at right tackle. So seeing Nick in some different spots was really good. But both those guys, obviously Nick’s massive, uses his size well. He’s an incredible athlete for his size. And then Jayvin is probably one of the most savvy players we have up front. So I think both those guys are getting their footing and trying to show demand, like this is my job. So, doing a great job.”

The next query was on left guard:

“Left guard, Will Sanders is back. It’s been fun seeing him out there. We haven’t seen Will for a little bit, full speed because he had an injury in the spring. And then even going through the summer, he didn’t get a rep very much. So seeing him out there and building reps right now has been exciting. Because, I mean, I thought Will was a heck of a player last year as well. He’s done a really good job. And then Mal (Waldrep) has been a guy that just really has grabbed on that spot. Tough, smart, and he’s an excellent communicator, really done a nice job. So I think it’s gonna be a heck of a battle there.”

On how close he is to knowing the five best offensive linemen:

“I think we’re a little ways off yet, if I’m being honest. I think we got some time here. We got a lot of banked reps. So we’ve seen all these guys, with the exception of Will; most of these guys have been out there quite a bit. So I don’t think, obviously, he’s gonna take all or can’t. But you’d love that to sync up with your quarterback decision, so that you can get some unity going in the game.”

Grubb on Jackson Lloyd…

“Jackson’s really stoic, to the point where you wonder about like what’s this guy’s confidence level and things like that. And I think that’s one of the things that I’ve seen with Jackson even in camp so far is just the confidence is starting to come with his ability. He’s super talented guy, big, physical, crazy athletic. But I think the savvy he’s already playing with at the age he’s at already is impressive. His communication skills are still getting better, but yeah, he’s done a really good job of that.”

Either Grubb has a serious poker face or the starting lineups are far from decided. It looks like the quarterbacks might not be the only players auditioning versus East Carolina.

BEST FIVE

After last season’s tag team blocking, it is encouraging to see Grubb return to sanity. If you are not aware. “best five” means finding the “best five” overall blockers (really it’s the best four, plus the best center) and then deciding where to place them.

The strength of this unit is tackles over guards and centers. It is hard to argue that Carroll is not the best offensive lineman on the team. Because of his skill level and versatility, he can ably slide from right tackle to right guard.

The local beat writers have been teasing Waldrep as a possible interior starter, but that doesn’t seem likely.

You definitely want your best guy at left tackle. IMHO, Carroll and Lloyd are both better overall OL than James. But he is probably third best. And if we are talking “best five”, they need to find a spot for him. James has good technique on the left side – a position of which he has played his full career. I am curious if can adjust to the right side. If not, we may see him at left and Lloyd at right.

At center, it has to be Racin by default that nobody else has really played center in live action. I hope DeBoer and Grubb know what they are doing.

• LT – Lloyd > Miller/Haywood
• LG – Sanders > Waldrep
• C – Delgatty > Strayhorn/Poe
• RG – Carroll > Fields
• RT – James > Brooks

Share your depth chart in comments below.

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