What is new Alabama football OL coach Adrian Klemm inheriting?

Alabama football has its replacement for Chris Kapilovic.

The Crimson Tide has hired Adrian Klemm as its offensive line coach, Alabama football confirmed Wednesday, Feb. 4 — replacing Kapilovic, who has held the role for each of the first two seasons of the Kalen DeBoer era.

“Adrian Klemm has a reputation for recruiting and developing players at every level, having worked with some of the top offensive lines in his 15-plus years coaching,” DeBoer said in a statement. “He has a deep knowledge and passion for the game, and I know that he will be able to have an immediate impact on our program. We look forward to having him on staff.”

Klemm has been reportedly tied to the Alabama job since Monday, Jan. 26.

“I am incredibly honored and grateful for this opportunity to join Coach DeBoer’s staff at The University of Alabama,” Klemm said in a statement. “The tradition, culture and championship standard in Tuscaloosa is second to none. I’m excited to get to work with our players and this staff, and it feels great to be a part of the Alabama family. Roll Tide!”

Klemm joins an Alabama offensive line room that still has many questions, even as the room begins to take shape with ample additions via the NCAA transfer portal.

Alabama OL has one returning starter from 2025 season

Klemm’s offensive line has one returning starter from a season ago.

A former five-star freshman out of IMG Academy, Michael Carroll did not take long before joining the Crimson Tide‘s starting five, emerging as Alabama’s starting right tackle for the back half of the 2025 season.

Across 14 games, Carroll played 546 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He allowed four total sacks and 15 pressures, nearly half of which came in the SEC Championship Game loss against Georgia and the first-round College Football Playoff win against Oklahoma.

Of the five offensive linemen returning in 2026, two have more than 41 snaps: Carroll and William Sanders, who had 185 snaps, most of which came at left guard.

Alabama added multiple veteran OL via NCAA transfer portal

Alabama has added six offensive linemen for its 2026 roster via the transfer portal. And while the Crimson Tide is adding pieces for the future, two pieces seem to be plug-and-play starters immediately.

Racin Delgatty has two seasons of experience as Cal Poly’s starting center. And in 1,302 snaps across two seasons, Delgatty has allowed one sack — one he allowed in his final game at Cal Poly against Eastern Washington — and 14 pressures.

Jayvin James, a Mississippi State transfer, also has starting experience, playing 855 snaps for the Bulldogs in 2025 mostly at left tackle. Despite allowing 25 pressures, he is credited with allowing three sacks, two of which came against Texas A&M.

Alabama OL is building for the future

While James and Delgatty are seemingly set up as starters, none of Alabama’s transfer additions are rentals.

James and Delgatty have two seasons of eligibility remaining, as does Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields, who has 86 snaps to his name in three collegiate seasons.

Nick Brooks, who played 221 snaps across five games for Texas as a true freshman, has three seasons of eligibility remaining, while Michigan transfers Kaden Strayhorn and Ty Haywood, who each redshirted their freshman seasons, has four years remaining.

Pair the eligibility of Alabama’s newcomers with three seasons for linemen like Carroll, Sanders and former four-star tackle Jackson Lloyd, and Klemm has an offensive line to take well into the next few seasons.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Adrian Klemm is inheriting in Alabama offensive line room